Peet’s Coffee and Tea: A California Chain in Texas

Like In-N-Out Burger, Peet’s Coffee and Tea is a recent import from California. And like In-N-Out, it has a very dedicated following. Fans of the coffee chain call themselves Peetniks, and they go out of their way to get their fix.

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There’s good news and bad news for Dallas area Peetniks. The good news is that there’s nnow a Peet’s in Dallas. However, it’s not a full-fledged Peet’s. It’s a franchise of the Sheraton Hotel. If you have a Peet’s gift card, you can’t use it here. And because it’s a hotel franchise, the quality isn’t quite what you’d get at a corporate-owned store. Still, if you’re in the mood for Peet’s, this place may just quench your craving.

The coffee is 90 percent as good as a full-fledged Peet’s, comparable to Starbucks, with the same heavily-roasted flavor. (That is no accident. Early in its history, Starbucks bought its coffee from Peet’s.) There is also a snack case, but the baked goods come from the hotel, so if you’re expecting a Peet’s-brand pastry, you’re going to be disappointed.

Atmosphere
As far as atmosphere goes, the downtown Peet’s is not the most hopping place. The crowd there is mostly made up of hotel guests and downtown workers running in for a cup or two. Still, it’s a nice enough place to work, and if you’re looking for somewhere less crowded than Pearl Cup or Crooked Tree, this might just be your place. Just make sure you get there early. Like so many businesses downtown, Peet’s caters to office workers and convention-goers. If you like to go out for coffee in the afternoon or evening, you’re out of luck. Peet’s closes in the mid-afternoon, and according to the website, their closing time varies. At least they open at 6am, so you can stop by before work.

Amenities
As a hotel cafe, this location has all of the basics: drinks, snacks, WiFi and a seating area with both tables and comfy chairs. Aside from that, amenities are scarce. However, Peet’s does have one thing going for it: location. It’s right next to Pearl Station. If you’re taking DART downtown, or transferring from one train line to another, it’s pretty quick and easy to stop into Peet’s for a latte on your way to work.

The Peet’s Coffee downtown may not be the best coffee shop in Dallas, but it’s a decent place to go. And short of buying a plane ticket, it’s the best way for DFW Peetniks to get their favorite coffee. And if even you’re not a Peetnik, you should give the place a try. Who knows? Maybe you’ll end up a fan of this small but beloved coffee shop chain.