Rating:
***** 5 Stars
Pros:
Fresher standards = the best cup of coffee
Instructional tastings daily/weekly
Free samples
Educated employees
Cons:
Higher price, but worth it!
Hard to find a store in the Mid-West, but available online
Review:
We were introduced to Peet’s when the first store arrived in Colorado in 2005 in Cherry Creek Village (Denver). Addicted to Starbucks’ Carmel Macchiatos at the time, and not knowing much about coffee, we were sucked in by the delicious flavors and the professionalism of Peet’s Coffee & Tea.
The first thing the baristas taught us was that the founder of Peet’s used to be part of the Starbucks team and decided to found his own company based on higher standards of freshness. That’s one thing that’s stuck with us for sure, the freshness of the beans. Coffee is supposed to taste sweet, not bitter, and when the beans are old, the coffee tastes bitter. When they’re still oily and ripe, and some of that oil floats on the top of your cup if you don’t stir it, you know you’re going to get a great fresh, sweet taste.
Next we were taught how to make a cup of coffee. It doesn’t involve an automatic coffee maker and a paper cup, we were told. Peet’s often has taste tests and samples out for educational and tasting purposes. In one of these demonstrations, we were shown that when you run hot water through a paper filter, all you taste is paper. That paper taste can indeed ruin a good cup of coffee. The keys to success: buy a French press, heat up a pot of filtered water, and grind only the beans you’ll use that day. If you drink more than one cup of coffee, make sure to buy a larger sized French press and store what you are not drinking right away in a thermos. I know it sounds like more work, but you’ll appreciate the freshness like we do. It only takes us about 8-10 minutes total each morning to make the most superior cup of coffee we’ve ever tasted.
The downfall of Peet’s cautiousness in freshness is the cost. Because they refuse to keep coffee in the store that’s outdated (their freshness policy only allows them to keep beans in the store for 10 days!) you’re certainly paying for quality. Peet’s isn’t wasteful however and what can’t be sold is donated to local non-profit organizations and other good causes. We’ve found that even coffee that’s a month or two old can still be kept fresh in zip-lock bags, if they are put in them right away.
If you’re near a Peet’s Coffee & Tea (their stores are spreading!) and you feel your company or event is a good cause, apply for their donations in the store directly. But even if you’re paying full price for Peet’s their beans go further than the rest because of the freshness and strength, and therefore worth a little extra in price.
If you’re addicted to the quick fix drive-through Starbucks like we were, re-train yourself. It’s worth it!
Other hints:
We were introduced to Peet’s when the first store arrived in Colorado in 2005 in Cherry Creek Village (Denver). Addicted to Starbucks’ Carmel Macchiatos at the time, and not knowing much about coffee, we were sucked in by the delicious flavors and the professionalism of Peet’s Coffee & Tea.
The first thing the baristas taught us was that the founder of Peet’s used to be part of the Starbucks team and decided to found his own company based on higher standards of freshness. That’s one thing that’s stuck with us for sure, the freshness of the beans. Coffee is supposed to taste sweet, not bitter, and when the beans are old, the coffee tastes bitter. When they’re still oily and ripe, and some of that oil floats on the top of your cup if you don’t stir it, you know you’re going to get a great fresh, sweet taste.
Next we were taught how to make a cup of coffee. It doesn’t involve an automatic coffee maker and a paper cup, we were told. Peet’s often has taste tests and samples out for educational and tasting purposes. In one of these demonstrations, we were shown that when you run hot water through a paper filter, all you taste is paper. That paper taste can indeed ruin a good cup of coffee. The keys to success: buy a French press, heat up a pot of filtered water, and grind only the beans you’ll use that day. If you drink more than one cup of coffee, make sure to buy a larger sized French press and store what you are not drinking right away in a thermos. I know it sounds like more work, but you’ll appreciate the freshness like we do. It only takes us about 8-10 minutes total each morning to make the most superior cup of coffee we’ve ever tasted.
The downfall of Peet’s cautiousness in freshness is the cost. Because they refuse to keep coffee in the store that’s outdated (their freshness policy only allows them to keep beans in the store for 10 days!) you’re certainly paying for quality. Peet’s isn’t wasteful however and what can’t be sold is donated to local non-profit organizations and other good causes. We’ve found that even coffee that’s a month or two old can still be kept fresh in zip-lock bags, if they are put in them right away.
If you’re near a Peet’s Coffee & Tea (their stores are spreading!) and you feel your company or event is a good cause, apply for their donations in the store directly. But even if you’re paying full price for Peet’s their beans go further than the rest because of the freshness and strength, and therefore worth a little extra in price.
If you’re addicted to the quick fix drive-through Starbucks like we were, re-train yourself. It’s worth it!
Other hints:
- Never put your coffee in the freezer, it’s a dry environment and your beans will lose their freshness almost immediately. It might keep your soups from last fall, but not your coffee. Zip-locks in the closet are the best bet.
- Always let your boiling water sit for 30 seconds before pouring it into your press or it will burn the beans and additional reduce the fresh taste.
- Never microwave a cup of coffee. If you know you’re going to drink more than one cup, put it in a thermos. Microwaving cooks out the fresh taste as well.
- Peet’s coffee is 2x as strong in caffeine because of this freshness. Make ½ decaf and ½ regular to avoid the shakes! Or choose a flavored blend like Mocha instead of the typically over-caffeinated French, Sumatra, or Major Dickinson’s blends.
Thanks to the baristas at Peet’s Cherry Creek for the best education in coffee a couple could get!
