The history of Peet’s Coffee (what is the background of Peet’s Coffee, when did Peet’s Coffee start? + More information)

Peet’s Coffee is widely known for producing mold-free, high-quality Coffee with a superior flavor. However, have you ever asked yourself how this coffee brand came to be? Read on to learn the history of Peet’s Coffee.

The history of Peet’s is quite interesting. Peet’s was founded by a one-man army. Alfred Peet learned the art of roasting Coffee from his father and later founded the now widely-known Peet’s Coffee. I fell in love with Peet’s Coffee in 2002 after it became pretty popular. Peet’s Coffee has a bold and superior flavor that you cannot get over. After reading Howard’s book on how Starbucks was built, I became interested in the history of Peet’s Coffee, as the two are my best coffee brands. Going through the history of Peet’s Coffee was mind-blowing. I was surprised that though Starbucks seems too old, Peet’s Coffee was actually founded first. Stick around to get an in-depth overview of Peet’s history.

Background of Peet’s Coffee?

Who are the founders of Peet’s Coffee?

Peet’s Coffee had one founder, Alfred Peet. Alfred was a Dutch immigrant who learned the art of roasting Coffee from his father. Alfred’s father owned a coffee roastery in the Netherlands. Later, in 1955, Alfred moved to the United States and began working in the coffee industry. After gathering enough skills, Alfred quit his work to execute his dream, where he eventually started his own company in 1966, the now-famous Peet’s Coffee.

When was Peet’s Coffee founded?

Peet’s Coffee opened the doors of its first store on the 1^st of April 1966 in Berkeley. In 1971, Peet’s Coffee expanded beyond its original location in Berkeley. It also opened new stores in San Francisco and someplace in the Bay Area. Peet’s continued to gain a strong reputation for excellent Coffee, which steered its fast growth and expansion.

In 1979, Peet’s Coffee was acquired by Sal Bonavita, a former Lipton Tea executive who envisioned Peet’s as a national brand. Under the leadership of Bonavita, Peet’s continued to produce high-quality Coffee while expanding its products. Its popularity blew in 2001 as it acquired other companies and opened new stores.

Where was Peet’s Coffee first located?

As stated above, the first Peet’s Coffee location was in Berkeley, California. Alfred Peet opened his first store at the corner of Vine and Walnut Streets in the Gourmet Ghetto neighborhood of Berkeley. The first Peet’s store was small, with a simple storefront and a few tables and chairs where customers sat and enjoyed their Coffee.

However, Peet’s Coffee quickly became popular among the local community, including students and faculty from the nearby University of California, Berkeley. Its popularity was mainly because it focused on serving high-quality Coffee. Alfred Peet applied careful roasting techniques to its Coffee which set it apart from other coffee shops in the area, leading to the company’s reputation for excellence growing quickly.

Today, Peet’s Coffee is a well-known specialty coffee retailer with more than 200 stores across the United States. This Coffee is also sold in over 14,000 grocery stores in the US. However, its original location in Berkeley remains an essential part of the company’s history and legacy.

What kind of Coffee did Peeet’s Coffee serve originally?

Peet’s Coffee initially offered coffee beans hand-roasted by the then-owner of Peet’s, Alfred Peet. During then, Peet’s was quite unique as it served dark roasted Coffee, which was a departure from the lighter roasts that were more commonly available in the United States at the time. Alfred Peet learned how to roast coffee beans from his father, who was an owner of a coffee roaster in the Netherlands.

Alfred Peet’s roasting approach involved carefully selecting high-quality beans and roasting them in small batches to retain their freshness and unique flavor. He preferred dark roasts because he believed they brought out the full flavor potential of the beans and provided a richer and more robust taste profile.

FAQ Section

Is Peet’s coffee part of Starbucks?

No, Peet’s Coffee is not part of Starbucks. Peet’s Coffee is owned by JAB Holding Company, a private investment firm that owns several other coffee and food companies, including Caribou Coffee and Einstein Bros. On the other hand, Starbucks is a publicly traded company with its own distinctive brand, products, and retail operations. However, Peet’s Coffee and Starbucks have an intertwined history.

Which one came first, between Peet’s Coffee and Starbucks?

Peet’s Coffee came first as it was founded in 1966 by Alfred Peet, who learned coffee roasting skills from his father. Starbucks, on the other hand, opened its first store in 1971. So, Peet’s Coffee came first, predating Starbucks for several years.