Our Coffee Revolution

On April 1, 1966, Alfred Peet first opened the doors of his coffee store in Berkeley, CA, and quietly ignited a revolution that forever changed the expectations of American coffee drinkers.

1930s
Alfred Peet learns the coffee trade while caring for roasting and grinding machinery at B. Koorn & Company, his father’s coffee and tea business in Alkmaar, Holland.

He forgoes college. Moves to London to pursue the importing of coffee and tea. Continues to make things with his hands and fiddle with machines.

1950s
Works in the tea business in Indonesia. This pivotal experience eventually inspires him to bring darkly roasted Indonesian beans to an unaware coffee-drinking public.

Temporarily resides in New Zealand. Declares it boring. Sails to the U.S.

Arrives in California. Goes to work in the coffee import business. Soon discovers that the richest country in the world drinks the lousiest coffee.

1966
Leaves the coffee import business to start his own shop in Berkeley at Vine and Walnut, a working-class neighborhood near the University of California campus.

Vows to only use high-quality beans and a roasting system manually calibrated to achieve an even darker, sweeter roast.

Proudly sends a batch to his mother, who politely suggests it’s “too dark.” Thankfully, he ignores her.

Commitment to Craft

For over fifty years we've been dedicated to crafting the perfect cup. This endeavor shapes every step of our process, from partnering with farmers to roasting by hand, so you can drink the best, freshest coffee knowing it’s from a company that cares.

From Bean to Brew, for the perfect cup.

Selectively Sourced
We source the top 1% of coffee beans from the world’s best growing regions in a way that honors farmers, respects the environment, and recognizes the role of communities.

Roasted By Hand
We use our five senses to unlock each bean's flavor potential. Our roasters are masters of their craft, fine-tuning the nuances of each blend and single origin they roast.

Delivered Fresh
We believe that the freshest coffee is the best tasting coffee—period. That’s why our beans aren’t roasted until they’re ordered.

Sustainability
We work alongside farmers to offer training and educational opportunities, support farm community initiatives, and invest in coffee plant science.

The Uncompromised Cup 
Our elite Coffee Team tastes coffee samples three times before the beans even arrive at our roastery. Our highly trained baristas pull every espresso shot by hand. Everything we do is committed to bringing you the freshest, fullest flavor possible.