Peet's Coffee - Berkeley

This was my first time at Peet's and I absolutely loved it. The coffee here seems stronger than Starbucks, and it was delicious and well-made. The place was very busy, so it may not be the best spot to sit and have a conversation or work on your laptop. There were too many people and too much activity at this location. However, the coffee is exceptional and definitely worth trying. You will be amazed by the quality.

I went to pick up my mobile order at the restaurant. They have a designated order door and a pickup door on the left side of the coffee shop, which is really convenient for avoiding the spread of Covid.

Nice outdoor seating. (Ethical rating: 3.5 Green Stars For my food needs, I?m more likely to get a scone or vegan burrito from Rick and Ann?s or a slice of pizza from Fournée, but Peet?s is probably the best spot on the block for coffee. (Unless you feel like hiking up to the Claremont Hotel and visiting the new Provisions café, which makes a good Americano. The best thing about this Peet?s is the seating area outside ? it?s usually pretty relaxing and there?s a choice of sun or shade (and free WiFi, either way . I do like a couple of Peet?s food items now ? especially the ?Everything Plant-Based Sandwich,? which consists of a sausage patty from Beyond Meat, combined with JUST vegan egg and vegan cheddar, all on a thin bagel. It?s also nice that we can use our own mugs again at Peet?s, avoiding coffee cup waste and the 25 cent charge that Berkeley folk now pay for disposable cups. I?m also giving the Peet?s 3.5 out of 5 ?Green Stars? for social and environmental impact, based on this: ? Reasonable selection of vegetarian items and now one good vegan sandwich and a vegan brownie. ? Beyond Meat (who makes the Everything Plant-Based sandwich patty rates highly in my book (4.5 Green Stars ? Peet?s now allows customers to bring their own coffee mugs again gives a 25 cent discount for using one. ? Peet?s disposable cups and lids are now both compostable. This helps quite a bit in terms of waste sorting, because everything can go into the compost bin. Let?s face it, at many coffee places (hello, Starbucks! customers? trash pretty much ends up in random bins. But bring your own mug, for goodness sake! ? Peet?s main coffee roastery in Alameda is certified LEED Gold? the first in the US. (LEED Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design ? Peet?s have been a bit better than other US chains (Starbucks, Philz at introducing coffee that?s organic, songbird friendly, or processed by the natural method, etc. ? Las Hermanas blend is ?100% women-produced, Fair Trade c

This Peet's location is fantastic. Parking may be a bit challenging and other nearby stores, like the bakery, often have long lines, but Peet's is always accessible. They offer an order ahead option and plenty of charming benches and seating areas. I really enjoy this spot. The staff is also very friendly.

Store number two, a hopeful Outpost and what I am loosely referring to as Domingo Street Mall, a 1970s era construction with a walkway that leads from the parking on Claremont avenue, all the way through to the tennis courts at the Claremont hotel, this place, though now largely dormant, like many other Berkeley alternative hippie style malls, was once a thriving hotbed of culinary activity, and remains a great place to meet people, sweethearts, or family members, and you can sit and sip coffee, or get breakfast at Rick and ann's, while surrounded by nice greenery, as you watch people play tennis across the street at the Claremont tennis club. Coffee here is standard, as the baristas are usually brand new, and in training, but generally speaking it is an acceptable level of Peet's coffee. The pictures you see are of the entire mall and not just Pete's.