Coffee Shop Show Down

Starbucks vs. Peet’s

Starbucks is the most omnipresent coffee shop in the universe. They must be doing something right. Peet’s Coffee is a smaller chain, mostly found in the West Coast. Which shop has better drinks? Which has more vegan, gluten free options? Which is the better shop overall?

The Battle of the Chain Coffee Shops

Cost: Shockingly enough, most Starbucks drinks are a bit cheaper than their Peet’s counterparts. A large soy latte at Peet’s costs you a hefty 4.25, while the same at Starbucks costs around 3.95. Other prices are about the same. Around two bucks for an iced or hot coffee and the same for tea. Peet’s soy milk is a whole 10 cents more than Starbuck’s. However, at Starbucks the barista’s often charge me to top off my coffee with soy milk. Forty cents for a dollop of soymilk? Absurd.
Note: A large iced drink at Starbucks is 24 oz, while at Peet’s it’s only 20 oz. Other sizes are the same.
Peets: 3.5/5
Starbucks: 4/5

Taste: Starbuck’s get a lot of flack for the taste of it’s coffee. Hardcore coffee drinkers think it tastes awful. Personally, I only drink iced coffee, and I think both shops taste about the same. Starbucks does add syrup to their iced coffee which you can substitute for a flavor, usually free of charge. Typically I get my coffee unsweetened but I don’t like having to specify that. When I add “half-caf, topped off with soy” to unsweetened I feel pretentious and the baristas get confused.
Starbucks has the divine Passion Iced tea, which I adore but over all I think Peet’s coffee drinks have a slight edge.
Peets: 4.5/5
Starbucks: 4/5

Vegan Selection: While Starbucks has at least one delicious drink that Peet’s does not (Carmel Apple Cider), Peet’s has vegan Freddo’s (basically a Frapachino). You can order any drink at Peet’s with soy milk to make it vegan (note: this is my observation, not a statement from HQ). Peet’s also has vegan cookies! Sure, they aren’t gluten free, but by one for your gluten eating friend. Maybe they’ll be inspired to go vegan.
Peet’s doesn’t have any nasty meat laden sandwiches you may have to smell. Apparently one of their 18 rabbit’s bars is gluten free too.
Note: some Starbuck’s have a gluten free cake, but it isn’t vegan.
Peets: 5/5
Starbucks: 3/5

Health: Ah, the temptation of sugar laden coffee drinks and fatty pastries. Both stores have plenty of modest (tea, soy cappuccino, bottled juice, nuts) selections and both have coma inducing selections. However, Peet’s soymilk has less sugar (and fewer calories) than Starbucks soymilk.
My indulgence at Peet’s is an iced sugar free mocha with soy, no whip of course. A large has only 180 calories (compared to 300 or so at Starbucks)
Peet’s: 3.5/5
Starbucks: 2.5/5
Note: If you’re concerned with your healthy stick with plain drinks and make sure you order unsweetened. Calories counts are all online.

Final answer:
Starbucks: 3.5/5
Peet’s: 4.5/5
Winner: Peet’s Coffee

If you’re like me, and 90% of the time you order an iced coffee or iced tea then it doesn’t really matter which shop you pick. I recommend supporting your more vegan friendly shop, Peet’s.

Note: Whole Foods also has a good selection of coffee drinks, not to mention sorbet, and hot food (get the Sweet n’ sour tempeh, now!). Drinking anything but plain coffee or tea wile consuming sorbet (or a cookie) is not recommended.