Talk to the people who work here! They are all so nice and knowledgeable. They will let you smell and taste their wonderful products and never pressure you into a sale. Their coffee drinks are fabulous and I especially love the hot chai. I highly recommend their coffee, tea and spices. They make wonderful sampler gifts and you are supporting a local company. The Java rub is really a nice blend of spices to that nice piece of steak or chicken. read more

We used to get our coffee at Peerless in 1978 - but then we discovered Peets - haven't tried their coffee since - maybe I should take a chance?? I still go to Peerless - for the peanuts!! They roast peanuts - nice big wonderful peanuts - they used to be a buck a bag - I think they are two bucks now - but well worth it. Best thing if you are an A's fan, they are practically on the way to the Oakland coliseum just off 880 with a southbound on ramp only two blocks away! You will never get peanuts this good - salted and unsalted - anywhere - and they are warm when you get them. enjoy the game! read more

Wow! I just had the pleasure of visiting this establishment and I must say it was amazing. A coworker had been telling me about it for a while now and I figured since i had some time before work today I would give it a try. This is a real coffee shop. No Starbucks corporate crap. The place and decor was cute and homey feeling. The people working there were kind and accomidating. They made my drink right and gave me the impression that they actually cared about serving me. The coffee was bomb! I will be back for my americano with heavy cream! read more

they have a gift shop selling gourmet coffee, candies and chocolates. will buy an occassional latte on sale for $2.50. very friendly people here. a sign says, "no tipping". this place is to go only. only outside sitting is available. read more

You know, I'm not a big fan. Again, I often go here out of convenience but I'm never impressed with the coffee they serve. I'm a purist, give it to me black. The choices are usually something bold, something smooth and two flavored coffees. PS - if you ever want flavored coffee, get the black and add syrup, not the pre flavored beans! Maybe Pete's has spoiled me... Either way, I'll drive the extra distance. read more

Peerless has great beans * and always fun to watch the roasting in progress. They have friendly staff and a ton of coffee & tea accessories to drool over. there's s small parking lot too! I do NOT recommend their drip coffee in the thermoses, much too mild for my taste. and I can only wonder just how much they're catering to tourists from the flavored drip coffee they offer. I noticed that they have a small display outside of sale items from the accessories too! read more

Im from Seattle. So I have high expectations for coffee roasting companies. This is the most VILE coffee I have ever had. Ive been here twice, the second time I ordered a 4 shot latte in hopes that it would somehow get better. It didnt. It was like drinking a Starbucks coffee but worse! And let me tell you, Seattlelites are not fond of Starbucks. The coffee is so watered down that it has no flavor. The actual environment is totally weird. Its like walking into a tourist shop in Old Town Sacramento. The staff look absolutely miserable and who wouldn't be with the smell of rancid coffee in the air?! I received a giftcard for this place and am debating on either throwing it away or giving it to someone I dislike. read more

One of my colleagues, Julia asked me to join her on a walk for a mid afternoon coffee. I said sure since I hadn't left my cubicle since that morning and needed some good ol' fresh air. We ended up at Peerless. I have heard my friends mentioned Peerless Coffee before but I thought they were referring to a type of coffee, like Mocha Java. I was amaze at decor and size of the place. There was an array of products and even a roasting factory in the back. It definitely had a traditional feel to it, that reminded me of my teens and how I would patron the Coffee Roasting Company in Morgan Hill for great tasting coffee. Peerless has been at this location since the 70s. Their granite counter and shelves were recycled from older buildings in the Mid-West or East Coast. Julia had informed me that Peerless has a daily special where they serve a medium (Grande) size latte or another type of espresso drink for $2.50. I was sold! The daily special that day was an Irish Cream Latte. It's been so long since I've had a flavored Latte that I have long forgotten how good one can taste. The Irish Cream Latte was not too sweet, thus it didn't overwhelm the bold flavor from the espresso. I have been returning to Peerless every Friday morning before work to treat myself to their daily special. Yesterday, I had the Tuxedo Mocha, which was a blend of white and regular chocolate. The service staff are wonderful. They are friendly and knowledgeable about the products. Can't wait for Friday to come! read more

I love the coffee but the lady who made my coffee has the worst personality I think I have ever experienced, enough to write this review. Never smiled or showed any sign of professionalism. I won't need to come back. Sad...I was excited to support a small business. I chose to come here. They need a manager who takes pride in customer service and product and pick up the litter in the parking lot. Disapointed. read more

I love peerless and prefer the coffee over all the other neighborhood joints. BUT wish the service was faster. Sometimes I go in and the employees are slow as molasses and don't seem to jump in to help one another out. If your in a hurry, and even if one person is ahead of you, expect to wait despite 3 people being behind the counter. That said,,,still great coffee. read more

On my way back onto the 880, I turned to notice this coffee place a few blocks down from Blue Bottle. And if there's less of a wait, why wouldn't I just come here instead of Blue Bottle? I'm not a coffee snob, but I think its safe to say there's something about the roast at Blue Bottle in which I prefer. The aroma when you walk in versus the sidewalk kiosk layout. And the espresso drinks may be a little bit too much at BB, but the drips are money. At Peerless, the espresso drinks are fairly good with a milder taste, but it would depend on the day how I would like my espresso. They don't serve drip, but have coffee dispensed in thermoses. read more

Peerless Coffee Co. since 1924! Ordered their latte and it was good- no complaints here. I also bought half a pound of their dark chocolate truffle roast and that was pretty good as well! This is not the type of coffee shop you can visit and stay for a while to hang out because although they have outside seating, being outside in the bay isn't always the most pleasant. In any regard, the staff was really nice and it's a total plus that this place doubles as a gift shop! They have cute things for coffee lovers, tea lovers, and chocolate lovers. I gotta go back and try more of their flavored coffees and specialty drinks like the Mexican Mocha. read more

I ordered two bags of whole beans of the Presidential coffee. There was something wrong with the beans and it made a coffee that was very diluted in taste. I have been ordering the Presidential blend for a while now, and this was not indicative of the taste. I wrote them on June 25th through their "Contact" tab on their website, no reply. Why bother having a customer contact option if you're not going to reply to the customer? I heard from them today, and they are sending a new bag. I will update my post once we get the new bag and see if it is back to their standard. read more

I LOVE THIS PLACE. After too many troubling experiences with World Ground, and after getting a ticket outside the Hudson Bay Cafe, I went on the search to find a new pre-work coffee place, and this is it! Their prices are on par with other coffee shops (actually, for the drink I normally order, it's 50 cents cheaper than at World Ground), but the quality seems so much better! For the caramel lattes, they use Guittard Chocolate Company's caramel instead of the pump Torani stuff they use elsewhere, and I think it really makes all the difference. There are two official coffee stations. There is an outside espresso bar, where you can get anything you want, really. Inside is a retail shop where you can also buy coffee - espresso style to go, or by the pound. They also do a giant container of coffee to go for work meetings and such, for about $15. It's a third-generation, family owned, Bay Area company, and they've made a believer out of me! read more

Very friendly customer service and even better blended, white mochas! When I used to work near the Oakland Embarcadero, I used to go here almost every afternoon and get blended, white mochas with whipped cream and chocolate drizzle. My co-worker turned me on to them, and soon, I was using them as a crutch to get through the mental and spiritual torture that was my job. It got to the point that the counter people knew me by name, and were even cool enough to let me call in my drink order, because they knew I'd be coming by anyway. I've since switched jobs and I unfortunately don't find myself in the area that often but when I am, I try to make a quick stop at Peerless. (quick story: when I was in London last year, I was missing me some Peerless so I tried getting mochas from different places. It's true: the British really don't know how to make a good cup of coffee and as far as other coffee drinks go, forget it - stick to tea. Only worse was the British version of Starbucks). read more

Peerless rocks my world!!! I have never had any of their espresso drinks, but man the coffee is soooooo damn good :) I used to work down the street from Peerless when my love affair with their coffee first began... Every morning I would find myself standing in line at their express window since the main store does not open till 8, buying a large cup of hot coffee. It's always nice to get coffee in the morning at the window since they always have one dark roast of the week, one medium roast of the week, one flavored coffee, and a decaf variety. After many months I had tried several different Peerless coffees and found my two favorites... the Hawaiian Kona Blend and Mocha Java Yemen. After standing behind one too many people ordering a double mocha half decaf soy no foam with whip cream as an example, I started buying my favorites by the pound and now brew it at home. That is one problem with the window. There is only one employee, so if someone orders a ton of drinks or really crazy drinks... the line can take forever. I just like to get my standard coffee and go! All of the employees are super friendly though and love to chat it up while they get you your coffee. Good people for sure. Even though I am now working in Berkeley, the coffee is so good I keep coming back and will continue to. Thank you Peerless for being so kick ass!! read more

I'm a regular here, as I work right next door. The coffee is good. The drink specials have always been yummy, though once or twice a little sweet for my taste (but then, I don't like my coffee very sweet, so that might just be me.) I buy coffee by the pound here to take home sometimes, and they grind it for you however you want it. I find the prices to be very reasonable, if not necessarily "cheap"...but I don't think it's particularly expensive either. You can get a refill in your own mug of regular drip coffee for $1.25. The made-to-order drinks are about standard price, though the drink special is a medium and is always $2.50, which is a good deal. I think it's cheaper than, say, Starbuck's. I know the coffee beans are cheaper than Peet's (slightly). The people who work there are nice. The only downside to this place is that it IS small and there are never more than 2 (maybe 3 at the most) people working in the store, so when it gets crowded and you have to wait in line behind people getting special drinks and/or coffee beans that need to be measured and ground, you can sometimes wait a little while. So I wouldn't necessarily recommend this place if you're in a mega-hurry. It's no McDonald's and it will take longer than Starbuck's, as they usually just have 2 people and it's the same people taking orders who make the coffee. But it is good and I like it and I go there all the time. I should mention that I appreciate their "no tips" policy. I hate it at other coffee shops that I can either blow an extra buck on already-overpriced coffee just for someone to pour it for me, or I can choose not tip and feel vaguely guilty even though I know I shouldn't need to leave a tip for someone (who is not a waiter and therefore is (or should be) paid a normal wage and is NOT making a living off tips) to do his or her job. I usually opt for the latter, but I feel like the tip jars at places like Starbucks are more of a guilt trip than anything else. read more

Peerless is great! I drink the poison on the regular, yo, so having a place nearby where I can get a great cup while running a prostitution ring is important. Those willing to skirmy outside the usual daunt of their morning latte should try many of the unique flavors and creations that Peerless will do with their coffee - I once had a Snicker Mocha. Two words for you: Hea-ven. The shop is filled with additional knick-knacks and food goodies; they also have a nice sampling of teas. The staff has always been friendly, prices reasonable. The only con for anyone is the wait - it can take a very long time to get your coffee, so if you're in a rush, reconsider. read more

The Coffee bar in the morning is sooo Felliniesque. The Patrons are definitely not your standard Clone Yuppie Transplants. So its nice to chat with people while drinking the High Octane Rocket Fuel. read more

Today I started my new job and o needed a new pick me up! I had noticed this coffee place was near by. I do NOT regret coming here. I got the blended mocha and it's so good! It was around four something. The people are super nice! I really will be coming back! read more

Peerless Coffee & Tea - Blended mocha - Coffee Roasteries Near Me - Oakland, California

Definitely a bay area/east bay institution. i love peerless coffee ever since my coworker introduced me to it in 2007. i moved away for 2 years and i had to join their coffee of the month club. my husband and i love their flavored coffees. we love vanilla macadamia and Cinnamon buns. if i had one suggestion for the owners it would be to change the coffee flavor of the day more often. i just left there and had the macadamia again-- which is delicious--- but i would have loved to try the new pumpkin spice or witches brew for the new month! their coffee shop is super cute and the outdoor seating is nice. people should take more advantage of the outdoor seating and peerless should really consider having an indoor seating area. i am a fan! read more

If you want quick and inexpensive coffee, or looking to stock up on your home brewing equipment, this seems like the place to go. I'll definitely be back for their stay of Chemex and tea brewing equipment. As far as the flavor in my espresso, there was much to be desired. Friendly staff. Smooth operation. Tight corners since there's so much retail. read more

This place is really cute and has a ton of awesome coffee equipment. It feels welcoming and down to earth. The coffee and service is really great. There is only one bad thing. The store is stuffed with cool things and I want to buy them when I go there. Also if your looking for indoor seating this is not your spot. But they have a nice patio area. Very cool spot. read more

Peerless Coffee & Tea - Coffee Roasteries Near Me - Oakland, California

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Cute shop. The coffee didn't live up to my expectations, but to be fair, I'm usually a latte/cappuccino girl, so not sure why I ordered regular coffee. Hate to disappoint people, but a tip jar HAS made an appearance. Believe it or not, the lack of a tip jar (as reported in the other reviews) was a large reason I went there instead of my usual Blue Bottle. I'm a generous tipper, but I DETEST being asked to tip for counter service. Hellooo, I just bought a coffee, and THE ONLY WAY I CAN RECEIVE WHAT I BOUGHT IS IF YOU HAND IT TO ME. How is that tipworthy? And it's even worse when you consider that I had to fill my own cup. I made a jokey reference to the clerk about how people weren't going to be happy about it, and she said it was they only way she could make a living. Sorry, talk to your manager about it, sister. When I then didn't leave anything but my quarter change, she got decidedly frosty. The way I handle counter-service tipping is that if the server somehow makes my day by making me laugh, or giving me some good info, I'll tip. If they try to guilt me into it, I probably won't be back. read more

They roast my favorite coffee, dark and strong but without that burnt flavor you get with so many other dark roasts. I buy it by the pound and brew it at home in a french press. The walk-up counter is fine but here is one example of what it is like trying to get a cup of coffee in the retail shop. I stopped into get a cup of coffee on a recent Sunday, one person and a couple are ahead of me in line. The first gentleman cannot pronounce Pekoe in Orange Pekoe Tea and is trying to describe what he wants by its placement on the wall menu. This goes on for a few minutes before the clerk understands what it is he wants. Then he asks about buying unroasted beans. The clerk tells him he will check and disappears into the back, five minutes later he returns to tell him that they will only sell unroasted beans in 20 pound bags. The man then orders some peanuts. While this is going on the Cal crew team and the crew from a Coast Guard Cutter has entered the tiny shop so the only way to leave would be to create a scene. After no less than 15 minutes with this one customer, they ring up his order. The second couple then steps up and begins to quiz the clerk on different espresso drinks. A sample question, what is the difference between a Cafe Latte and a cappuccino? After a few minutes of this, a second clerk comes out to take my order of a large cup of coffee and I am on my way. I am not sure I can blame Peerless for their customers but they should add some staff to the retail operation if this is what they are dealing with. I believe the Cal Crew Team and the Coast Guard Cutter crew are still at the shop... read more

My world for a blended Mocha without whipped cream. Costs about $4.50 though. A cute little, expensive coffee shop. read more

I had to work in Oakland China Town for a few hours so I dropped the wife off here to have some coffee and for her to work from this location on her lap top. When I came back I stopped in for a blended coffee and we also picked up some candy. The coffee was pretty good, and well priced. I usually don't get blended type things but it was hot out so I ordered up. The reason I took a star a way and I was contemplating taking two away was because the service was not that good. I waited in line in the pick up window and then noticed there was an order here register. I moved and stood there when I witnessed the gal that just told me she will be with me in a minute help two other couples that just walked in and went to another register. It was not until a gal said may I help you and I responded I sure hope so since I have been ignored for 5 minutes that I got my order. I also had a little sass when they asked me what kind of milk I wanted and I said I don't know what is better and she snapped at me and said I don't know. Well it was good coffee anyways! read more

This review is for the coffee bar service and baristas - they rock. The espresso is good when you get someone who knows what they are doing... Or can be hit or miss, so don't be afraid to speak up. The main baristas are awesome and make me feel welcome. When I'm having a bad day, or in the morning, its nice to visit the Peerless shop and see some friendly faces (and drink some espresso too). read more

They sell Swiss Water processed decaf, $13.45 per pound. But they don't make the drinks on the premises with it. Knock one star. The shop is really cute, surprising/unexpected for the area. Free parking too! read more

1 star for cute decor 2nd star for the customer service 3rd star for the variety of coffee flavors (which change on the daily basis) Came here twice so far and had the hazelnut cream coffee which was pretty good and the price for a medium was good (i think $1.95). The second time I came by I ordered a small latte as a recommendation by a friend, but it wasn't the best latte I had. I also thought it was pretty cool how they have a special latte of the week on Saturdays. I'll stick to the coffee at this place, and grab my lattes at blue bottle. read more

A few caveats: This is a positive review for Peerless as a result of a bad policy at Blue Bottle Second, I am a native Portlander who is surrounded by coffee culture. Third, I like good coffee but prefer to brew it at home. Fourth, I have been to Blue Bottle(BB) in several cities from NY to LA. Fifth, I am on vacation and have time to write this. I am staying with friends in Alameda, which has a shortage of good coffee, so decided to ride my rented bike to Blue Bottle in Oakland. This was a pretty exciting adventure. I wanted to buy beans to use in my aero press where I'm staying. I went into Blue Bottle and they were not busy as it was early afternoon. There were lots of cuppings happening in an adjacent room. It appears to be one of their roasting facilities and offices. I consulted with the barista about the the type of coffee beans to buy. She was helpful but then I asked to have the beans ground for an Aero Press and she told me they could not grind the beans. I was a little shocked by this given all the cupping and grinding going on around me. LUCKILY, they sell pre-packaged grounds for single use (i.e., enough for say one aero press, espresso etc.). Of course they are expensive and wasteful in my opinion. I honestly didn't know what to say. She suggested that I could take the beans to Whole Foods (like other people) and grind them there. I didn't push the issue despite how preposterous it seemed. I had ridden my bike 7 miles through Oakland to buy coffee from them. I'm sure BB will say the reason for not grinding beans is that they are too busy or they don't approve of grinding beans in advance because they won't be fresh. To me it seems like a way to sell over-priced, wasteful, pre-packaged servings so they can make more money. Instead of arguing about the lame policy with the barista (not her policy), I road over to Peerless Coffee which is four blocks away and had been recommended. Peerless has been in business since 1924. It's a third generation, family run, coffee importer/roaster. It's not trendy, and feels very 90s in terms of decor but tasteful. The woman who helped me was amazing. The coffee was very reasonably priced and they will grind any amount you want. I loved that it wasn't the cool coffee shop with lines out the door. I left with a pound of medium roast coffee from Guatemala. The woman, who helped me, also turned me on to the free Estuary shuttle back to Alameda so I didn't have to ride my bike for 45 minutes. This was, by contrast, such a pleasant experience. A true, humane interaction with a thoughtful, kind and over the top helpful person. So the lesson here for me and possibly you is this: seek out and support businesses that have been around for a while. They might not be the shiny new thing but likely have a better product and good people. I enjoy seeking out and trying the latest thing as much as anyone but honestly the latest thing is unfortunately quite homogenous. Give me the original. Give me the companies that treat their employees well and who in turn treat customers well. I'm happy that Blue Bottle has this lame policy because I wouldn't have discovered Peerless and their wonderful employees. Next time you're in Oakland check them out! read more

4 stars for their coffee! Delicious! 0-1 stars for the service. A month ago I purchased coffee to use in my french press. I let the barista know how I would be brewing my coffee and she proceeded to grind it for me (I know, I know I am ruining everything by not grinding it myself). Whelp, the grind was far too fine for my french press and now I have to filter my coffee to remove the sediment. Not to mention, the barista was uninterested at best in helping me learn more about their coffee. I was totally ready to let it go and be wowed by my next coffee purchase but it only got worse from there. Yesterday, the service was horrific. There was one other customer in the shop and four employees. I wandered around the bar trying to figure out who might be available to help me. I am pretty sure I was in the shop for 3-5 minutes and not a single person said hello or even looked at me. I gave up. Too bad! read more

Pleasant little shop...small selection of drink which I really appreciate, that proves that they do what they do well...I ordered the iced caramel latte and the blueberry Danish. Caramel latte was not too sweet and overbearing. Well mixed, pleasantly refreshing drink. Blueberry Danish, was great! Flaky and buttery and again, not overly sweet so pairs well with the coffee! Fantastic, well done! read more

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I love this place! Huge selection of coffee beans of every kind, roasted (on site) every which way, ground just right for your preferred method of brewing. Also sells a wide variety of coffee making machines, tools and paraphernalia. Thanks to them we're slowly but surely working our way around their extensive menu of beans and discovering new flavors. Service is always prompt and friendly. They also sell spices. Espresso-based drinks made to order and four thermoses of brewed coffee (one decaf, one flavored on rotation, two regular roasts) are usually available. There's a discount if you bring your own drink container. Limited seating outside with ample parking and bike racks. I only wish there was more seating and they were open on Sundays. read more

My favorite coffee shop! I usually opt for the blended mocha with whip cream. And, of course, a large size :) I have never had a bad experience at this place. The workers are super nice and my drinks never came out wrong. Its always blended perfectly. read more

Coffee is great and so are the staff. I totally recommend if you're ever in Oakland. May need to find a public parking space though. Other than that it's a cute little spot. read more

This is not my go to place for my weekday coffee, due to I am at work in Berkeley at 5:30am, But I do make my twice monthly Saturday run for beans. Local 3rd generation run family business. Not trendy, but does everything have to be trendy, with WiFi and overpriced eats? No, it doesn't. Know coffee, roast well and have a fair price. Peerless does that and they have a great selection of teas. Don't forget to pick up a sack of locally roasted peanuts. read more

Delicious coffee, nice staff, and they have a nice space to enjoy coffee. I'm from out of town but have sought it out twice now and will likely be back next month. read more

First time here! The attitude at this place is so unwelcoming. Worst customer service experience ever. We entered and greeted them with no answers. Asked a question only to get a rude response. read more

I can't comment on the coffee here, because I don't drink it very often. But I do buy beans here, and I've always found the quality to be exceptionally high. There's a reason I'll bike four miles to get here when I could walk to another roaster's store just four blocks from my house. It's not that it's local, though that's a consideration. It's that the coffee beans are so good; I haven't found beans this good elsewhere. It also doesn't hurt that the beans are priced very reasonably; they're a lower price and higher quality than I've gotten elsewhere. They also have a small selection of pastries and a decent section with various coffee-making accessories And they sell bags of roasted peanuts. read more