<p>I need you coffee lovers to tell me about Peets (both beans and stores). What’s the image? Who goes there? Compare and contrast to Starbucks. go!</p>
<p>Peets is Burgerking, Starbucks is Mcdonalds- whats to know?
I don’t really go to either- although there are a lot more Starbucks than Peets & if the need arises, it’s nice I know what to expect at Starbucks.</p>
<p>Love Peet’s Coffee; Much stronger than Starbucks (mom)</p>
<p>I don’t like Peets, its acidity and bitterness. But that is my own take…</p>
<p>I dont think it is the coffee so much as the machine/barista.
Cause I used to think Starbucks was burnt, but I have also had some where it was drinkable.
I have had Peets, but doesn’t taste any different/better than Starbucks.</p>
<p>IMO, it comes down to personal preference. People who like their coffee dark roasted and strong seem to like Peet’s. Their Major Dickason blend is known to be one of the best dark roasts out there. Between the two, I tend to prefer a lighter, mellower cup like Starbucks Verona or Breakfast Blend.</p>
<p>Peets = serious “connoisseur” like attitude. Starbucks= want whip on that ?</p>
<p>Umm, Peet’s was started in Berkeley, not The City.</p>
<p>I can’t take Peet’s coffee, it’s too strong and tastes bitter. A regular cup gives me the jitters all day. My H likes it, and if I have to buy from there, I get it half caffeinated/half decaf.
I don’t have similar reaction with Starbucks coffee.</p>
<p>Mmmm, Peets.</p>
<p>I love Peet’s coffee. I think it’s far superior to Starbucks. Alfred Peet learned to roast coffee in his native Netherlands where they like their coffee dark-roasted and rich. The founders of Starbucks learned to roast coffee from Alfred Peet at his original location in Berkeley. The early Starbucks was similar to Peet’s not only because they used his roasting method but because they bought their beans from him. But Starbucks expanded at an exponential rate and in my opinion failed to maintain product quality. They needed too many beans, the roasting is a little uneven, and at the end stage a lot of the baristas are either not well trained or just don’t have enough experience to maintain consistent quality. So what you get at Starbucks varies enormously, but more often than not disappoints. They sell the brand. Peet’s still sells quality coffee. Peet’s business model was different, not hell-bent on expansion like Starbucks, so less dilution of product quality. I’ve never really been disappointed in a Peet’s coffee. But then, it’s been a few years since I lived in California, so what do I know?</p>
<p>I prefer Peet’s … especially when purchasing a brewed cup. Very few Peet’s outlets, unfortunately … so I more often end up with Starbucks.</p>
<p>Peets has really great teas. Starbucks - not so much. In Fremont (yeah, the REAL Fremont) Peets and Starbucks are located less than 50 yards apart, and both seems to be busy. The clientelle in both shops looked the same- Googleites.</p>
<p>Peets = Starbucks before there was a Starbucks on every corner. I lived in Seattle when there were only 2 or 3 Starbucks in existence, all in Seattle. It was about the experience as much as the coffee. You felt like you were in on a secret known to very few; there was a cachet about it. </p>
<p>IMO the Peets coffee is better; it doesn’t have the burnt taste that “Charbucks” sometimes has.</p>
<p>Peets has a shop at which UC Berkeley students can use their meal plan. DD had points left each term and we really enjoyed all the Peet’s coffee she bought home (by the pound)</p>
<p>If you know a Berkeley student living on campus, remind them not to let those points go to waste</p>
<p>I think the main thing about Peets is that it is very very strong and pretty good. We call it the crackhouse. Really each cup is like three cups or something. If you water it down some, like I make it at home, it isn’t too different from Starbucks.</p>
<p>Peets is my crack. When we left California 15 years ago, I went through withdrawl. Now, our local Publix in South Carolina carries it and my morning fix is back. Two days ago, I had such a headache in the afternoon, all I could think about was how massive my brain tumor must be. Then I remembered: no Peets at breakfast. Can’t let that happen again.</p>
<p>SBC trumps Starbucks IMHO. Forgot the brand of the coffee they serve at the big SF sourdough bread chain, but the stuff is great.</p>
<p>I want to hear about brand image, then. Or user imagery. The person who walks into a Peet’s every morning is different from the person who walks into a SBX every morning … how? Age, demographics, lifestyle, psychographics, taste, kind of car drive, house live in, college attended <em>g</em>? Use your imaginations here!</p>
<p>There are two SB’s, one Peets a Coffee Kat and a local Roasting Company in my town of 12K inhabitants. I get the sense that Peet’s tries to cultivate an urban grunge, too cool for soccer mom’s, ‘we are hip and our barristas will give you attitude’ kind of environment. </p>
<p>SB’s requires their employees to cover tatoos and I think prohibits some (facial?) piercings. Peets seems to encourage both…again cultivating a different attitude. </p>
<p>As for the product…I find Peets to be too strong and often bitter.</p>