46 replies to this topic

[redman]

I just don't get it. All the local Starbucks (and there are many in Folsom) are consistently packed with customers every morning, yet the Peets on Bidwell @ Blue Ravine typically has just a modest number of customers. Often they don't even have a line at the register at 7:30 am on a weekday. Yet Peets coffee and espresso drinks taste a hundred times better than Starbucks. Their beans are always very fresh and have deep flavor. They make a perfect latte. If you compare a Starbucks latte to a Peets latte, you'll find that the Starbucks one has coarse bubbly foam and bitterness to the espresso, while a Peets latte has a thick, creamy micro-foam and flavorful espresso without a hint of bitterness. The temperature is just right. And they seem to be much more consistent with the quality. Their baked goods are also quite a bit better (honestly, Starbucks baked goods taste mass-produced).

I know that people get into habits and like to go to places they know. But I'd bet a good portion of Folsom Starbucks customers have never tried a Peets coffee. If you haven't, you really should, especially if the Peets is along your morning route. You will notice the difference, I promise.

I don't own Peets stock or work there or anything. I just appreciate a really good coffee drink. I'm kind of a coffee geek, in fact. I even have my own espresso machine at home (I use Peets beans of course). I feel lucky that we have a Peets in town, and I'd hate to see them go just because people haven't given them a try.

[Andrea V]

sushhhhhhhhhh Don't tell people!!! I like to go there with no lines!! No one has to know it is better!! SUSHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Chad Vander Veen]

I just don't get it. All the local Starbucks (and there are many in Folsom) are consistently packed with customers every morning, yet the Peets on Bidwell @ Blue Ravine typically has just a modest number of customers. Often they don't even have a line at the register at 7:30 am on a weekday. Yet Peets coffee and espresso drinks taste a hundred times better than Starbucks. Their beans are always very fresh and have deep flavor. They make a perfect latte. If you compare a Starbucks latte to a Peets latte, you'll find that the Starbucks one has coarse bubbly foam and bitterness to the espresso, while a Peets latte has a thick, creamy micro-foam and flavorful espresso without a hint of bitterness. The temperature is just right. And they seem to be much more consistent with the quality. Their baked goods are also quite a bit better (honestly, Starbucks baked goods taste mass-produced).

I know that people get into habits and like to go to places they know. But I'd bet a good portion of Folsom Starbucks customers have never tried a Peets coffee. If you haven't, you really should, especially if the Peets is along your morning route. You will notice the difference, I promise.

I don't own Peets stock or work there or anything. I just appreciate a really good coffee drink. I'm kind of a coffee geek, in fact. I even have my own espresso machine at home (I use Peets beans of course). I feel lucky that we have a Peets in town, and I'd hate to see them go just because people haven't given them a try.

Because most people are more concerned with comfort than quality. That's why people love chains, they don't have to risk trying something different.

[swmr545]

I just don't get it. All the local Starbucks (and there are many in Folsom) are consistently packed with customers every morning, yet the Peets on Bidwell @ Blue Ravine typically has just a modest number of customers. Often they don't even have a line at the register at 7:30 am on a weekday. Yet Peets coffee and espresso drinks taste a hundred times better than Starbucks. Their beans are always very fresh and have deep flavor. They make a perfect latte. If you compare a Starbucks latte to a Peets latte, you'll find that the Starbucks one has coarse bubbly foam and bitterness to the espresso, while a Peets latte has a thick, creamy micro-foam and flavorful espresso without a hint of bitterness. The temperature is just right. And they seem to be much more consistent with the quality. Their baked goods are also quite a bit better (honestly, Starbucks baked goods taste mass-produced).

I know that people get into habits and like to go to places they know. But I'd bet a good portion of Folsom Starbucks customers have never tried a Peets coffee. If you haven't, you really should, especially if the Peets is along your morning route. You will notice the difference, I promise.

I don't own Peets stock or work there or anything. I just appreciate a really good coffee drink. I'm kind of a coffee geek, in fact. I even have my own espresso machine at home (I use Peets beans of course). I feel lucky that we have a Peets in town, and I'd hate to see them go just because people haven't given them a try.

They're addicted to their coffee. Just like you don't see many smokers buying a different brand each day. They get the one they like and stick with it.

And if isn't the addiction, it's because they want to be seen with the "name brand" of recgonizable coffe than something else like Peets.

[redman]

sushhhhhhhhhh Don't tell people!!! I like to go there with no lines!! No one has to know it is better!! SUSHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Haha yeah I know what you mean!

But seriously, I don't like lines either, but lines keep a place open. Our Peets just doesn't seem busy enough to stay in business forever. You can't have four people working behind the counter at $10 an hour (or whatever they make) and only sell 20 drinks an hour during peak times.

[Andrea V]

Haha yeah I know what you mean!

But seriously, I don't like lines either, but lines keep a place open. Our Peets just doesn't seem busy enough to stay in business forever. You can't have four people working behind the counter at $10 an hour (or whatever they make) and only sell 20 drinks an hour during peak times.

Yeah, but it is peets... it is a chain too! now sushhhh about the no lines and better coffee! I really don't want to have to drive past 6 starbucks, all the way over there for the better coffee, just to wait in a Starbucks type line!! haa!

[redman]

It would just be nice if Folsomites considered quality a little more when buying drinks and food. Once you get a high quality latte, you'll never go back, believe me.

I recently took a trip to Sydney, Australia. I was blown away by the quality of espresso drinks there. I never knew just how fanatic Australians are about their coffee. Every single establishment, even the cafe at the zoo, serves absolutely perfectly made lattes and cappuccinos. Even McDonalds does this. Their coffee drinks rival Italy. Who woulda thought? Given the stereotypes we have of Australians, many people probably believe that they chew a pound of raw beans and chase it with a Fosters.

What happened there is that many Italians emmigrated there, then once good cafes started opening, people learned what a good coffee tastes like. The market became very competitive, and customers learned to demand very high quality. I think parts of America are slowly headed that way, but we have a long ways to go. The evil empire (Starbucks) needs to be forced to step up, by competing more.

[cw68]

I don't understand it either, but it's because marketing works. Starbucks has their name everywhere and Americans like mass produced things. Guess it started with Henry Ford.

Peet's marble cake is heavenly, but they rarely seem to have it when I'm there. Which is OK because I shouldn't get it all the time anyway.

What I don't understand is how much flipping money people spend on coffee outside of their own homes. Now, I'm a total coffee addict and snob, having trained as a real barista and worked at a coffee roasters. (Not just worked in a store.) I've done the whole cupping thang, many times. Can tell the difference between a mild roast Costa Rican and a Tanzanian Peaberry. I still make most of my coffee at home because it's just so expensive to buy it out. All these people are in debt up to their eyeballs and still feed the Starbucks habit.

I digress... Long live Peet's!

[tgianco]

I'll tell you why I HATE Peet's and would never give them business (and this is the type of thing that all business owners need to keep in mind).

It had to be about 2000 when i went into Peet's on Burlingame Ave (after all, I had heard from the rest of the snobs in the Bay Area...nice generalization by me, but nonetheless true... that Peet's was the best). Well, I had a sweet tooth, so I asked for a caramel latte. The barista, with nose fully raised as high as he could, said in the most snobbish way, "We don't do flavors. You can go to Starbucks for that."

Since then, I have gone to Starbucks and would never consider going to that POS establishment (Peet's, if you're not paying attention). I will not hesitate to bad mouth it, even if they've made changes to menu and attitude.

[Andrea V]

I'll tell you why I HATE Peet's and would never give them business (and this is the type of thing that all business owners need to keep in mind).

It had to be about 2000 when i went into Peet's on Burlingame Ave (after all, I had heard from the rest of the snobs in the Bay Area...nice generalization by me, but nonetheless true... that Peet's was the best). Well, I had a sweet tooth, so I asked for a caramel latte. The barista, with nose fully raised as high as he could, said in the most snobbish way, "We don't do flavors. You can go to Starbucks for that."

Since then, I have gone to Starbucks and would never consider going to that POS establishment (Peet's, if you're not paying attention). I will not hesitate to bad mouth it, even if they've made changes to menu and attitude.

Are you really going to stop going to the best coffee place ever, just because 1 biotch in the Bay area??

Dude, don't miss out on GREAT coffee (and end up at starbucks - blah) just because of that biotch!

[cw68]

I'll tell you why I HATE Peet's and would never give them business (and this is the type of thing that all business owners need to keep in mind).

It had to be about 2000 when i went into Peet's on Burlingame Ave (after all, I had heard from the rest of the snobs in the Bay Area...nice generalization by me, but nonetheless true... that Peet's was the best). Well, I had a sweet tooth, so I asked for a caramel latte. The barista, with nose fully raised as high as he could, said in the most snobbish way, "We don't do flavors. You can go to Starbucks for that."

Since then, I have gone to Starbucks and would never consider going to that POS establishment (Peet's, if you're not paying attention). I will not hesitate to bad mouth it, even if they've made changes to menu and attitude.

I assume, too, that you don't go back to the Bay ever because of the snobs that are there?

[redman]

What I don't understand is how much flipping money people spend on coffee outside of their own homes. Now, I'm a total coffee addict and snob, having trained as a real barista and worked at a coffee roasters. (Not just worked in a store.) I've done the whole cupping thang, many times. Can tell the difference between a mild roast Costa Rican and a Tanzanian Peaberry. I still make most of my coffee at home because it's just so expensive to buy it out. All these people are in debt up to their eyeballs and still feed the Starbucks habit.

I digress... Long live Peet's!

Yes, buying coffee out every day is rediculously expensive. But I love my lattes. So I bit the bullet and purchased an Italian-made Gaggia espresso machine (Peets sells these) and all the accessories. The "payback period" on this machine is probably a better part of the year, compared to buying out (though I still let Peets make em when I'm too lazy or rushed to make my own), but there is something really satisfying about pulling a perfect shot of espresso at home. Still working on my milk frothing technique, but I'm getting there. And of course I grind my own beans and buy them fresh weekly. Many would consider all this way too much trouble, but it's actually an enjoyable morning ritual for me.

[tgianco]

I assume, too, that you don't go back to the Bay ever because of the snobs that are there?

I try not to hit the Peninsula (where I was born and raised) because:

1. The traffic blows!
2. The attitude of the people

So, yes, I spend as little time as possible there, partly, due to the people. If you've been to the peninsula much (especially compared to how it was during the 80s and even the 90s...pre-dot-com), you would know what I mean.

[redman]

I'll tell you why I HATE Peet's and would never give them business (and this is the type of thing that all business owners need to keep in mind).

It had to be about 2000 when i went into Peet's on Burlingame Ave (after all, I had heard from the rest of the snobs in the Bay Area...nice generalization by me, but nonetheless true... that Peet's was the best). Well, I had a sweet tooth, so I asked for a caramel latte. The barista, with nose fully raised as high as he could, said in the most snobbish way, "We don't do flavors. You can go to Starbucks for that."

Since then, I have gone to Starbucks and would never consider going to that POS establishment (Peet's, if you're not paying attention). I will not hesitate to bad mouth it, even if they've made changes to menu and attitude.

Yeah I'd be pissed too, but I would also recognize that there are bad employees everywhere. My bottom line is to get the best quality for my money. And the employees at the Folsom Peets are nice IMO. It's true they are coffee purists and don't have all the flavorings. They do however have an amazing blended drink similar to the Frappaccino but 100x better (called the Freddo). Drink half a Frap, and you are left with half a cup of flavorless crushed ice. Not so with the Freddo. Tasty all the way to the bottom.

Okay I'd better stop now before someone thinks I'm being paid by Peets... haha

I just like quality for my money, and the more places like this that Folsom has, the better.

[Chad Vander Veen]

I'll tell you why I HATE Peet's and would never give them business (and this is the type of thing that all business owners need to keep in mind).

It had to be about 2000 when i went into Peet's on Burlingame Ave (after all, I had heard from the rest of the snobs in the Bay Area...nice generalization by me, but nonetheless true... that Peet's was the best). Well, I had a sweet tooth, so I asked for a caramel latte. The barista, with nose fully raised as high as he could, said in the most snobbish way, "We don't do flavors. You can go to Starbucks for that."

Since then, I have gone to Starbucks and would never consider going to that POS establishment (Peet's, if you're not paying attention). I will not hesitate to bad mouth it, even if they've made changes to menu and attitude.

Holy cow, that's some world-class grudge-holding.