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Peet's Coffee & Tea

4 star rating
based on 35 reviews

Category: Coffee & Tea  [Edit]

Neighborhood: Fremont
3401 Fremont Ave N
(between 34th St & 35th St)
Seattle, WA 98103
(206) 267-4688
Price Range:
$
Accepts Credit Cards:
Yes
Parking:
Street
Wheelchair Accessible:
Yes
Outdoor Seating:
Yes
Wi-Fi:
Free

35 reviews for Peet's Coffee & Tea

Review Highlights   

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"…decor, air conditioning, the upstairs seating area overlooking Fremont…" (in 6 reviews)
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"I think it kicks the pants off of Starbucks, however." (in 13 reviews)
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"I ordered an iced sugar free vanilla latte and it's really good." (in 8 reviews)
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Sort by: Yelp Sort | Date | Rating | Elites'
Photo of Inna B.

Elite '10

197

484

Inna B.

Seattle, WA

4 star rating
Updated - 12/15/2009

On my last visit here I discovered the rose lemon tea and the upstairs seating area, while my friend who is a new mom discovered some kind of yummy sounding season de-caf beverage. I'd say we did well!

The barista seemed slightly confused or scatter-brained, but otherwise everything went well and the beverages were both quite good.

I've heard of friends having less than perfect coffee here before, though.... and this was the place that I discovered latte's- unless they're yerba mate latte's- are NOT my kind of drink.

None-the-less.... pretty good place that I generally like. Especially on cold days/evenings.

Oh, and my friend was less than happy to discover that the bathroom does not having any kind of baby changing station or surface. She's used to some places not having that, but likes it a lot more when they do.

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1 Previous Review: Show all »

  • 4 star rating
    3/19/2009

    I've been here before, but the most recent visit was when I dropped in while waiting for a friend to… Read more »

Photo of Jon D.

Elite '10

24

91

Jon D.

Seattle, WA

4 star rating
11/23/2009

"Aaah! - For the love of Peet!"

Like the siren's song - I cannot resist the magnetic lure of Peet's Coffee and Tea.  

I think I first visited a Peet's while I was traveling in San Francisco about 10 years ago.  Blown away by the coffee back then.  For the past 7 yrs or so, I've been going out of my way to go to the Peet's somewhat near my house in San Diego for the same reason.  

So glad to see that Peet's isn't limited to California and that I can still get my Peet's fix now that I'm back here in Seattle.  I've stopped in here pretty much each time I've been in Fremont.  And Peet's has yet to disappoint.  No matter which location I've been in - I'm guaranteed one of the best brews of French Roast, or one of the best made Americanos around.  Always made by friendly and courteous staff and surrounded by a warm and relaxing environment.  

Free wi-fi you say?  Check.

If you stop in here in the Summer, or on the odd day that the sun shows up here in Seattle, pull up a chair outside and just watch the people around Fremont.  it's a great neighborhood that definitely deserves some chill time.  

Good stuff.  Thank you Peet!

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Photo of Caitlin K.

 

18

10

Caitlin K.

Seattle, WA

2 star rating
11/9/2009

I go here purely for the location and the space.  With a purchase, you get free wifi for 2 hours, but it requires you to get a password from the barista.  I get a lot of work done in the second floor in the comfy chairs overlooking the bridge.  There are a bunch of 2 person tables up there too, and a bar overlooking Fremont Ave.  I really like this space, and I like the music so it is easy to spend an entire day here.  Also, it is an easy place to meet up with people.

The coffee is bitter, and unbelievably, they seem to consistenly put FOAM on top of an iced latte.  What prompted them to combine iced milk and steamed milk is beyond me, but it is bitter and terrible.

One redeeming quality, though is the apple bran muffins.  Apples, walnuts, honey, and deliciousness.  I get these every time.  Also, some of the iced teas are pretty good - the fruity ones in particular.

Also, it is convenient for me to have a Peets card that they can swipe each time I go back.  I just wish the rewards were better (like, I wish I got a free beverage every time I loaded the card).  They used to do this, but now they stopped.  I don't know why.

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Photo of Tony Y.

Elite '10

8

98

Tony Y.

Mountlake Terrace, WA

4 star rating
1/22/2010

I am currently sitting in Peets right now way too early in the morning. My lady is at the doctors getting some tests done couple blocks away and I have to drive her home due to her being fatigued after the treatments. . I am very very tired.  I am on my work laptop working and yelpin....oh sorry I rambled. Yes Peets, I got a medium drip coffee and it was a good price and good size. It tastes good, smooth. Better than starbucks. The baristas are vey nice too. I like there decor and tables. Nice place to hang out. Yay!

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Photo of Melissa M.

 

2

6

Melissa M.

Seattle, WA

5 star rating
10/4/2009

I'm a Peet's girl.  I just can't see how Starbucks has much to offer anymore... I don't mind their iced, fancy-pants drinks at Starbucks but if you want ANYTHING of substance in your coffee, you should think about hitting up Peet's.  There are so many good local coffee spots, that I am SURE are very special to folks, but as a displaced California girl, Peet's is that spot for me.  The smell when you walk in is always the same: inviting, rich, deep coffee aroma.  The service at this Fremont Peet's is always top-notch; they crank out drinks faster than most coffee places I know and they remember your name after only a few trips there.  I want to Yelp 5 stars for Peet's Coffee overall, but since this particular Peet's is my fave in Seattle, I have to be loyal only to this one.  

Note: If it's fall.... try their pumpkin spiced latte and you'll never go to Sbucks again.

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Photo of JJ W.

 

43

166

JJ W.

Portland, OR

4 star rating
5/23/2009

I'll admit that when my happy arse got to Seattle I thought Starbucks was it. I mean c'mon, who wouldn't? I wasn't a coffee aficionado and wasn't concerned with quality. I was concerned with "being cool." I wanted my $4 latte and was in the city that was home to "said icon." And then...a funny thing happened. I walked into Peet's one day.

I lived right off Fremont Ave under Aurora and I started to come in every night right before I needed to catch the Metro to my late night class at U-Dub. That memory will never go away. Since that moment, I grew. I started to understand the difference in coffee. The vibrance, clarity and beans. The baristas? Wonderful. So I dated a Starbucks barista in my day. I felt more important when a Peet's barista smiled with recognition. They were a chain that maintained individuality. Yes, there are others that steal my heart....Cafe Ladro, Verite or even Fremont Coffee. But location is sometimes ideal and its closeness to the canal on a weekend morning were just too great to overcome. Sitting outside for a spell during the weekend before I went underground to find a vintage t-shirt was a Sunday ritual. And the upstairs? Simply sublime.

Peet's, I miss you. You make a mean cup of joe.

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Photo of Aaron E.

Elite '10

160

310

Aaron E.

Seattle, WA

4 star rating
7/8/2009

As I watched the barista make my Iced Vanilla Latte, the only thing I could think was: Why the F is she putting foam in the bottom of the glass?

Besides my immense confusion in regards to the foam in my iced beverage, I quite enjoyed my Iced Vanilla Latte.  While I've been here before, I've never really loved it.  I'm old school and much prefer Starbucks.  But at 8:30 pm on the 4th of July my options were limited and I was in desperate need of a caffeine fix.  Peet's it was.  

Neither the cashier or barista were friendly (but I suppose I wouldn't be friendly if I was working at 8:30 pm on a holiday) but they made a good drink.  The espresso was nice and smooth and rich, the vanilla was creamy and beany and the very odd addition of foam to an iced beverage made the drink light and frothy.  Huh.  

The drink quenched my thirst, gave me a much needed boost of energy and.... yeah.  It was good.  Yay for Peet's and saving my day!

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Photo of william e.

 

0

5

william e.

Seattle, WA

4 star rating
5/13/2009

This is a pretty easy review to write. Peet's has the best espresso drinks and coffee beans in the city. With a couple of exceptions There is almost no hipster attitude from the baristas and I usually get great service.

I would give 5 stars but sometimes when its busy the place looks like a dump. Piled up trash dirty bathrooms and so on.

Oh and to the guy who complained about people mixing dairy in his espresso pitcher: Hello....You are at a cafe. Dairy is  EVERYWHERE. You make your choice to go there and you took your risks. It sounds like the manager bent over backwards to train their staff to your specifications and you still weren't happy. LAME.

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Photo of Jessica E.

Elite '10

10

66

Jessica E.

Seattle, WA

4 star rating
Updated - 4/27/2009

OK. I gave it a second shot and ordered coffee this time. A caramel latte. And I can honestly say that it was the best caramel latte I've found in Seattle so far. So Peet's, I rather like you now. And you are conveniently located across from Dusty Strings so I can take a coffee break before I get my twang on.

So hugs? Can we be friends again?

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1 Previous Review: Show all »

  • 2 star rating
    7/7/2008

    Bleh. That's the only way to describe the Mango Tea Freddo I had during my first Peet's experience… Read more »

Photo of Stacy Y.

 

2

36

Stacy Y.

Seattle, WA

3 star rating
8/30/2009

We love Peet's - Their drip coffee is aromatic with medium to dark roast, a good change from our usual Starbucks. Their bar drinks are great too, freshly steamed milk with just enough foam and shots are pulled just right.

We usually visit this store on Sat or Sun afternoon.  I want to give this store a 4 star but the service is always slow and the store layout really needs some help. First, the line to the only register is long (why do they only have 1 register?!) and staffs likes to take the time and get to know every person.  It makes it hard for people to walk around and shop for merchandise, not to mention feeling crowded and have nothing to do while waiting for your cup of joe.  Second, disorganized staffs.  Staffs are friendly and tried to speed up the service by taking orders before you get to the counter but it does not do the trick, the line is still moving very slow. So many people behind the counter, why do I still have to wait 6 minutes for a cup of drip coffee (after I paid)  that is already brewed and ready to served?  Third, the condiment bar is hard to access.  The line is always right in front of it.  So it's like fighting through the crowd and entering a second line to get your coffee fixed.

Overall, great coffee but badly managed store.  There's definitely room for improvement.

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Photo of Hannah L.

Elite '10

81

178

Hannah L.

Seattle, WA

3 star rating
2/3/2009

I'm so glad Peet's is on my way to yoga and PCC, because that means it's easy for me to get one of life's necessities - coffee.

I will say their drip coffee (what they sell in the store) is not my favorite, although their americanos always do me right. However. What they don't do is brew the REALLY tasty beans, and those are the ones I buy. Highly recommend the Arabian Mocha-Sanani if, like me, you love a dense, dark, rich cup of coffee in the morning, cut with just a little half-and-half. In fact, "love" may be the wrong word. "Need desperately." But whatever.

The staff is very friendly and attentive and actually knows a lot about the beans they sell. In that way, it's like talking shop in a wine store with people who know their product, and it's something I really appreciate. Bonus points for the outdoor patio, which is great on a sunny day like today!

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Photo of nick d.

 

1

5

nick d.

WA

5 star rating
10/7/2009

I come here every morning, even weekends, to get the friendliest Americano in Fremont. Coffee is always delicious, service quick and zero pretension. Love Peets.

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Photo of Jessica H.

Elite '10

175

333

Jessica H.

Seattle, WA

4 star rating
6/10/2008

Talking through the night to someone on IM who's witty, clever and sweet- typing questions and responses and then changing to writing end of quarter essay responses for final the next morning...

4 am comes around and I just have to hear the voice of the person on the other end of this IP connection: I call- he says, "I have to meet you. Let's meet tomorrow at Peet's in Fremont." I hesitate and say, "Okay, let's do it, what time? "

"2 pm. "

"How will I know it's you?"

"I'll be the one with the guitar."

And so it goes... Peet's Coffee in Fremont becomes the place where I officially met the husband, Mr. Right- Especially-When-He-Has-Coffee-And-Is-Fully-Awake. The ups and downs, the breathtaking adventures, the poetry, the learning to love in everyday circumstances, the mishaps and music... it all began in that two-level corner coffee shop...

Here's to almost five blissful years!

Thanks, Peet's! Now start selling your madelines again!

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Photo of Alicia T.

 

0

6

Alicia T.

Los Angeles, CA

4 star rating
11/23/2009

This coffee is great, of course I went to Starbucks when was in Seattle, but they are all over and we have them in LA too, so I wanted to try something different.. This was really tasty coffee, not so burnt(?) tasting.,  I am definitely going to be looking for these beans in LA.

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Photo of Anne B.

Elite '10

27

123

Anne B.

Seattle, WA

4 star rating
2/2/2009

I know that Peet's is a chain, and I know that it's not even a Seattle-native chain, but I'd like to give it a shout-out for the creamy, not-too-sweet perfection that is its chai tea latte. Most places use syrupy concoctions as their chai base, but not Peet's -- it actually tastes like tea, and I presume that it is.

Bonus points for friendly, completely un-surly baristas and the neat balcony hangout space.

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Photo of G R.

 

7

92

G R.

Seattle, WA

2 star rating
12/5/2008

I walk in and find a wide variety of coffee merch & a nice aroma filling the air. Theres a few Baristas hustling about.
I order my drink, and am asked "what name should I put on the order?"
I looked around to see I'm the only one in the place, & I thought to myself...How bout the only f-ing guy in heres order! Doesn't anyone think outside the bun anymore?
I love the fact they spend ten minutes burning the shite out of my iced drink. Not surprised it was started by the same folks as starbucks.
I don't get why people wait in line like zombies for this overpriced crap in a cup....

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Photo of Shekinah S.

Elite '10

110

329

Shekinah S.

Seattle, WA

5 star rating
Updated - 5/4/2009

Last time I was here the girl remembered my name and my drink! Wham Bam Thank You Ma'am!

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1 Previous Review: Show all »

  • 4 star rating
    9/10/2008

    I came to this Peet's to read and sip an iced latte almost every weekend this summer.  I suspect I… Read more »

Photo of Katie S.

 

1667

806

Katie S.

San Francisco, CA

4 star rating
10/16/2007

How have I not reviewed my daily 'head check'? HOW??!

I go here because coffee shops that make a decent Americano in this city have gone by the wayside.. way, WAY to the wayside. Seriously. I don't know what is so hard about pouring freshly pulled espresso shots over the some hot water so you get that 'nice head' I love so much. ;)

Super nice staff and a nice selection of baked goods.

Also the bar has nonfat, soy, 1/2 & 1/2, and whole milk. Go this route, or take it like I take my menz: 'strong and rich'.

Minus one star because it can take up to 45 minutes to get your drink. That's the price you pay for not getting it out of a vending machine (basically)- STARBUCKS.

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Photo of Rebecca R.

Elite '10

71

108

Rebecca R.

Seattle, WA

5 star rating
6/10/2008 3 Check-ins Here

I like the kid-sized hot cocoa and love the tea, I can't have caffiene, so no coffee. I'd write more poetry, but I have to pee, cuz after the hot cocoa, I had too much tea!

I may not be an award-winning poet, but I know caffiene-free tea when I drink it. Peet's has some really unique and yummy tea blends, and, to my glee and delight, they give you a free cup of it when you buy a box! (That's how I got to the "too much tea" part)

The staff was friendly and helpful, made eye contact and even smiled! A lot! I like it there. The part that is really cool, they let you bring your PCC food in there too and give you know grief. Its also a good place to meet folks and talk, the atmosphere is pretty solid for that. And for those that don't notice right away, they have an entire upstairs seating area, so if the downstairs is full, start climbing!

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Photo of Kaitlyn M.

 

60

98

Kaitlyn M.

Seattle, WA

4 star rating
8/3/2007

I am sitting in this Peet's right now. I am normally not a huge fan of this chain. I think I base that off of my one bad experience with an iced Chai Tea that I was expecting to be sweet, but instead was spicy. I hate spicy chai. Anyways, that was my fault for not specifying, and not theirs, so I think it's time to get over it...

I ordered an iced sugar free vanilla latte and it's really good. Like, kind of scary good. Like so good I think i finished it in 30 seconds flat.

Definitely better than Starbucks.

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Photo of James E.

Elite '10

52

202

James E.

Seattle, WA

1 star rating
7/3/2007

It's my fault for not supporting an independent coffee shop, but rest assured I've learned from my mistake.

I have a dairy allergy, and the idea of general swelling in my body after consumption of dairy is not my idea of a good time. I have to always stay vigilant of what I eat because of my allergy, this behavior is no different for anyone allergic to wheat or tree nuts.

On June 12, I sent an e-mail to Peet's expressing my concern after watching a barista pouring milk into an espresso pitcher as she made an iced beverage. As the milk splashed into the espresso pitcher, I imagined myself spending at my doctor waiting for a prescription to help alleviate general body swelling. I could no longer be convinced that ordering an Americano was a safe option if the barista wasn't properly keeping separate the espresso from the dairy.

I received a response from the store manager that explained the technique was used to stop the espresso from degrading and oxidizing. Um, okay, but the quality of the espresso is already compromised the moment it comes into contact with ice. Also? Milk has a pH of 6, slightly less than neutral but still an acid. The manager assured me that the technique would no longer be employed by the staff in order to be more aware of customers with allergies.

Fast forward to last Friday as I watched another barista mixing espresso and milk over a glass of ice. So who cares if the milk spills into the espresso pitcher, right? Right? Wrong.

Another e-mail later, I received this from the store:

Thank you for taking the time to  again share your feedback regarding our beverage preparation and product quality.  From your description, I think that you saw **** mix the milk and espresso while pouring the drink.  Our standard practice while preparing iced beverages is for Peet's baristas to pour cold milk and espresso at the same time, merging the streams, over the ice until the cup is full.  We attempt to ensure that dairy or soy milk does not come in contact with the espresso pitchers while merging the streams, and we always rinse the pitchers after doing so to remove espresso and syrup residue.  However, I sincerely apologize if our standard preparation was a cause for concern and made you uncomfortable.

You are correct, I did assure you that pouring milk into the espresso pitcher would cease in an effort to protect customers with severe dairy allergies.  I would like to express that we truly do care about your well-being .  Your feedback was immediately shared and discussed with my entire team, and we have been focusing on ensuring that no milk is poured into our espresso pitchers while preparing iced drinks.   ****, who is a trainer in our store, has been especially mindful that we adhere to this practice.   Moreover, several store managers, our district manager and our trainers have discussed your feedback in an effort to ensure that we are properly educating our staff and taking appropriate steps in order to ensure you safety and comfort in consuming our beverages.  

At Peet's, a key component of fulfilling our service standards is ensuring that we meet our customer's needs.   Please know that we are paying special attention to our iced drink preparation and to carefully rinsing our pitchers.  Additionally, as I said in my previous email, it is our pleasure to fulfill additional requests for any customer .  For our customers who must ensure that no dairy has contacted their beverages, we will be designating and labeling a shot glass "vegan."  To offer further reassurance,  please feel free to request that we use that shot glass  and/or  ask us to  hand wash and sanitize  our serve ware before we prepare your drink.   Finally, please speak with your barista or any Peet's employee if you are the least bit concerned about your drink, as it is our pleasure to remake a drink or answer any questions that you have.

Before I sent my first e-mail to the company, I asked to speak with a store manager about what I witnessed. The store employee that I spoke with said what the response to my letter said: the milk is used to "stop" the espresso from breaking down.

Eff this. I only go here when I meet my business partners, and now I stick to ordering a short coffee or simply filling my water bottle. I don't care if the sun is five inches from the earth, I won't be ordering espresso drinks from here again.

Know the great thing about my neighborhood Lladro? When I ask for an iced Americano, the barista fills a cup with ice and water (pH of 7!) before adding the espresso shots. When someone orders an iced latte, they fill a cup with milk and ice before adding espresso. How hard is that for Peet's to do? Apparently I know all too well.

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Photo of Brendan M.

Elite '10

15

131

Brendan M.

Seattle, WA

5 star rating
8/31/2008

Bar none, this is my favorite coffee/espresso place in the entire city of Seattle. The superbness starts when you walk through the store and approach the counter: a wooden sign says "Line Forms Here". Additional hanging signs tell you where to order and where to pick up your drink. The menu board shows the different cup sizes for hot and iced drinks AND the number of espresso shots included in each. After you complete your order, the barista asks for a name to call when the drink is ready. Seriously, the process of ordering and picking up drinks could not be smoother or more fool-proof.

The drinks at Peet's are about as good as anywhere else. My sole complaint is that the smallest size for a hot beverage is a "small," or 12 fluid ounces (it comes with two shots of espresso). Those wanting a "short" or 8-ounce drink may have to ask for a small drink with extra room at the top. Iced lattes come with a layer of foam on top, a delicious (if unusual) bonus.

Other niceties: classy decor, air conditioning, the upstairs seating area overlooking Fremont Avenue N, and a wide variety of (really good) pastries and baked goods. The overall atmosphere at Peet's is so inviting that I frequently walk well out of my way to come here, get a drink, and chill upstairs for a couple hours.

My one other complaint (besides no 8-ounce drink size) is that they appear to have done away with the bus tubs for dishes; they used to have one upstairs and one downstairs. Therefore, you can either (a) leave your cups and saucers at your table, which seems rude to me, or (b) drop them off awkwardly at the drink pick-up area. It's not a big deal, but it's a step backward from the previously perfect arrangement.

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Photo of Priscilla R.

 

10

44

Priscilla R.

Seattle, WA

4 star rating
5/21/2008

2 stars for the Coffee - I'm not a fan of Peet's coffee

4 stars for the open building and loft seating

5 stars for the tea

5 stars for the apple bran muffin

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Photo of Kyle P.

 

0

10

Kyle P.

Seattle, WA

2 star rating
6/7/2009

They have a great location, nice staff, free WiFi,  the only thing they are lacking in is their drinks.  Why does Peets have such mediocre coffee?  Starbucks, Tully's, McDonalds all have better coffee than Peets.  In Seattle, you are competing with Cafes like Vivace, Vitta, Zokka, Ladro, Fuel, etc.  

Please, for the love of pete, get some better coffee and invest in some lessons in how to serve it.

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Photo of Chad J.

 

4

24

Chad J.

Seattle, WA

4 star rating
5/5/2008

I like this place a lot.  

It's one of the few things that I like about the yuppification of the area that was once known and loved as Fremont, but really should now be called West Bellevue.

(Thanks, Suzie.)

This is the only Peet's that I go to, so I have no frame of reference to any of the others.  I think it kicks the pants off of Starbucks, however.

My most frequest purchases are coffee beans and tea in bulk.  The staff is always friendly and eager to help.  The pastries are yummy.  The beans are an exceptional quality -- and you can tell that just by running them through your fingers.  The beans from Peet's just feel better and feel like a higher quality bean when you touch them.

My single gripe of this place is that they seem a bit set in their ways.  I no longer mention that the reason I am buying their scrumptious French Roast is because I'm going to run it through my Expressinator Main Battle Coffee Tank at home.  To a person, they think I'm screwy.

Yes, Peet's Coffee and Tea dearies, you can make expresso from French Roast.  Your French Roast in particular.  You should try expanding your horizons beyond the bull-ring in your nose someday and find that out.

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Photo of Rachel B.

 

9

20

Rachel B.

Seattle, WA

4 star rating
4/24/2007

Ah, Peet's... generally I can be found here every day at the end of my lunch break.

I'm one of those weird Seattlites who doesn't much care for coffee.  And while I'll grant Starbucks may be great for coffee drinkers, if I ask for a pot of loose-leaf tea at a Starbucks they'll generally look at me as if I've sprouted a second head.  Here at Peet's, it's right on the menu.

Perhaps it's part of being a regular, but I find that the Peet's staff are pretty much universally helpful and friendly; in some ways it's more a community than a simple coffeeshop.  You get to know some of the other regulars; I show up to work on my writing over my lunch break, and I sometimes will end up speaking with the screenwriter hoping for her big break, or the struggling poet, and so on.

As someone who /does/ like to get away from her desk and computer to work on her writing, I find Peet's is more conducive to that than Starbucks, for some reason.  I couldn't really say /why/, entirely... maybe it's that Starbucks feels more corporate, maybe it's that the loft area of Peet's has better light with all those windows, maybe it's just the atmosphere.  Either way, I find Peet's works better for my writing, either on my lunch break or after work.

Some of the baristas will also be willing to experiment and try to come up with things not on the menu.  I know of one friend from Florida who wanted a particular (really strong and sweet) Cuban method of preparing a cup of espresso, and described the process to one of the baristas who quite gamely gave it a go (and evidently, did a great job on it).

Why it gets only four stars instead of five... the seating can be at a real premium during lunch (or during the Fremont Sunday Market), for one thing.  And the other -- the major one during the summer -- is the chain-wide issue that their iced chai is some travesty that contains no caffeine.  That may be mildly unfair of me, and can be gotten around by asking for loose-leaf chai tea, iced, and then doctoring it to your own taste, but... still!

But if you want good tea, fairly fast, right in the heart of Fremont... Peet's wins over any of the others in the area by a wide margin, in my experience and opinion.

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1066

Ian S.

Seattle, WA

3 star rating
2/19/2007

I think we all know what to expect from a chain coffee joint.

This one is better than most with a quiet upstairs if you want some time away from the high traffic area.  Be advised that wifi is not available up there for some reason.  It is a magical void of RF apathy which spurns laptops and mobile devices.

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Photo of cathy g.

 

422

1112

cathy g.

Seattle, WA

5 star rating
10/28/2008

nice smart people behind the counter

excellent coffee and customer service

I amnto so sure about the company though. I applied for a job at the Greenlake one and ended up with a manager yelling at me.. hmm.. longer story.. my comments to management did nothing except an assistant manager finally called me back and also yelled.. apparently it is nto managements fault if an  employee takes a message and promises there will be a callback and no one calls back.. and apparently  its the righ tof the manager to yell about it.

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Rachel S.

Seattle, WA

5 star rating
3/25/2007

I'm attaching my stars to the Fremont Peet's because that's the one it's easiest for me to get to, but really my enthusiasm is for the whole great big company. My mom reviles it for sucking up the world's supply of top-grade Keemun and selling it at seven times the price she used to pay in DC Chinatown, but for those of us who are not in DC, Anhui, or Shanghai Pudong International Airport  it's so nice to be able to get good tea. Of course, Mom would say if it weren't for Peet's I would have been able to find some decent-quality Keemun somewhere in Shanghai other than the airport tourist shop, but for what are a mother's words but to be dismissed? Without reliable supply of Keemun and Yunnan Black, I might very well sink into a pit of viscous bubbling despair (I'm sure there's a pit like that around somewhere, though I haven't actually seen it) and have to repair to my doctor for some prescription-only form of chemical aid, and Mom likes the medical industry yet less than she does the engines of globalization, so far as I can tell.

Right, then. You can buy your tins of tea at Peet's, or sit down to drink tea from a pot, and then of course there's the excellent coffee and the mediocre pastries, and all the other standard elements of the chain coffee shop experience. At the Fremont Peet's there's also the opportunity to sit up high and peer down at people. Depending what seat you choose, you can observe the people outside walking back and forth across the intersection where the traffic feeds off of the bridge, or the staff and customers on the shop's main floor. If you drink enough tea to be elevated in attitude as well as physical location, you can look down on everybody literally and figuratively at once, which I suppose might make you yet more grateful to Peet's for improving the tenor of your existence.

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Elite '10

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Phil S.

Seattle, WA

4 star rating
3/23/2007 5 photos

I decided to give the Fremont Peet's store a go because; it's practically a straight shot from our house, it's in the second coolest neighborhood next to Ballard and for 90 minutes, you can park free in the underground PCC lot. Oh, and you have your choice of an elevator from the PCC parking garage which goes up to one of the entrances to Peet's and Fremont Ave N. or you can climb the stairs outside the garage entrance up to Fremont Ave on nice days. This Peet's has a strange  but cool layout (the restrooms are upstairs). It has an outdoor section for enjoying their superior coffee on nice days,  some seating on the main floor where the action is, and seating upstairs with a view of Fremont Ave. and some of the cool old and new buildings there. Most importantly though, this Peet's has the great, friendly and attentive baristas like I've been used to at the Oak Tree and Green Lake stores.

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Jen T.

WA

4 star rating
1/29/2007

Fremont has a really nice laidback vibe that encourages people to actually walk around and visit shops (hey -I'm from the suburbs, so this is kind of weird). One of my favorite spots in Fremont has to be Peet's Coffee & Tea. For all of you non-coffee drinkers out there, Peet's has a really nice cuppa of looseleaf tea available in a multitude of varieties. The baristas are friendly, the baked goods tasty, and there's a really nice view out over the neighborhood and Fremont bridge. As for the coffee itself, it's a nice dark roast and very rich. I sometimes prefer something a little lighter, but it's excellent when you're in the mood for a heavy cup of coffee. Highly recommended.

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Ryan Q.

Champaign, IL

5 star rating
9/4/2007

When I lived in Seattle, this was my first stop heading into work every morning. You are always greeted with a smile and the staff will remember your name and your drink after only a couple visits. Peet's always provided the perfect start to any day. There wasn't much about Fremont Village that wasn't welcoming.

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Sean S.

Seattle, WA

5 star rating
10/15/2007

Peet's coffee is nectar of the gods!

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Ryan Matthew P.

New York, NY

5 star rating
3/25/2008

Show me a cup of Peet's and I will show you a very happy (wo)man.  This small coffee chain has been my favorite since my first sip of espresso many of years ago.  Whenever I'm on the West Coast, I'll drive miles to get my Peet's.  They don't quite offer all the crazy twist and turns on the drink menu like Starbucks, but that's fine.  This place all comes down to that beautiful sumptuous coffee bean.  Yummmy!  They also have some great coffee cakes and the staff is usually pretty nice.  I have yet to have a bad experience at anyone of their locations.

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Casey W.

San Francisco, CA

4 star rating
11/27/2006

Coming back to Fremont after a few years away I was sad to see so much of the neighborhood's best gone - especially the Still Life Cafe, where I spent so many of my high school years (thank you, Nova). But I found a very familiar and delicious cup of coffee at Peet's, and was able to plug in my computer and get some work done. So four stars for good coffee and nice people, even if my sentimentality stops me from going five stars...

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