Peet's Coffee is a specialty coffee roaster based in San Francisco, but you've probably seen their coffee on the shelves of your local grocery store, or you may even have a café in your area. In addition to the cups of joe and grounds you can buy locally, Peet's also offers a coffee subscription.
They offer three different subscriptions: The Signature Blend Series, the Single Origin Series, and the Small Batch Series.
This box was sent to us at no cost for review. (Check out the review process post to learn more about how we review boxes.)
This is a review of the Single Origin Series, for $17 per month + free U.S. shipping.
About Peet's Coffee
The Subscription Box: Peet's Coffee Single Origin Series
The Price: Starts at $17 per month + free U.S. shipping for one 16 oz. bag. Save with higher volumes per delivery.
The Products: High-quality single-origin coffee that has been responsibly sourced from top farmers around the globe.
Ships to: The U.S. (including Alaska, Hawaii, and P.O. boxes) for free, Canada starting at $20.25, and internationally starting at $32
Peet's Coffee Single Origin Series January 2021
If you like exploring coffees from specific regions around the world, the Single Origin Series is a great way to sample what Peet's has to offer. Each of the three different subscriptions has its own sign-up page, so once you're in the checkout funnel, you'll only have to answer two questions: how much coffee you'd like to receive per delivery and whether you'd like to receive whole beans or grounds. If you opt for grounds, you'll indicate whether you brew your coffee in a drip coffee maker or a French press or percolator. I'm kind of a snob when it comes to freshness, so I always opt for whole beans that I can grind myself.
Note: if you're not sure where to begin, you might want to start by taking Peet's 5-question Coffee Finder quiz. The quiz matches you with specific coffees rather than a recommended subscription, but your coffee match might be a good indicator of which subscription could be a good fit for you!
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Peet's Ethiopian Super Natural Dark Roast, Whole Bean (16 oz.) - Retail $19.95
This month's single-origin coffee is a limited release from the Yirgacheffe region in southern Ethiopia. Ethiopian coffee beans are usually washed, but these beans are prepared differently. I'll let Peet's explain:
The high regions of Ethiopia’s Yirgacheffe are known for washed coffees, but we’ve chosen to do things differently, with remarkable results. The process begins with hand-selecting ripe cherries, meticulously laid in a single layer to be dried in the East African sun. When the heat is at its peak, between 11am and 2pm, the coffee beans must be carefully shaded. Individual fruits that spoil are culled before they can be dried.
For two whole weeks, the beans are monitored and ushered through the repetitive dance of shade and exposure to the sun’s drying rays. It’s a time-consuming and risky process—hence the reason washing is usually the preferred method. But when it’s done with care and expertise, the results are supernatural: bright, lemony Yirgacheffe, intensified and deeply sweetened with sun-warmed sugars for winey, fruity flavor that is unlike anything else in this world.
I've never seen coffee described as "supernatural," so I was intrigued!
Like most of the coffee I've had from Peet's, this is a dark roast. The beans have a rich and heady aroma that reminds me of chocolate and leather. The beans were roasted on 01/06/21, and they landed on my doorstep less than 2 weeks later.
As per Peet's recommendation, I decided to brew this coffee in my French press.
In the cup, this coffee is dark, bold, and super duper smooth. I always prefer to drink my coffee black (I'll add something only if I think the coffee needs it), and I did not need to even consider adding a splash of milk to my cup. It was drinkable and delicious on its own. Peet's describes this coffee as having "out-of-this-world blueberry and floral aromatics," and to be honest I struggled to find those flavors. For me, darkly roasted beans often lose the subtle flavors and nuance you might find in a lighter roast, and I think a little bit of that happened here. That's not to say that this coffee isn't good; it is! I taste chocolate, tobacco, and maybe a little bit of caramelized apricot, and the flavors work together nicely and make for a really delightful mouthfeel. I just can't say I pick up on any floral flavor or aroma. I don't really get any fresh blueberry either, but if I close my eyes and take a sip I can almost convince myself the flavor is chocolate blueberry muffin-esque. Regardless, I'm a fan of this coffee, and I look forward to plowing through the beans in the coming week or so.
Verdict: This is my second shipment from Peet's Coffee Single Origin Series, and I really enjoyed this month's coffee. The beans I received are a solid representation of what I've come to expect from Peet's, and (while I didn't exactly agree with Peet's tasting notes) I found this coffee interesting and tasty. The beans were extremely fresh, and I'm looking forward to experimenting with different brewing methods in the days to come!
Value-wise, a 1-bag subscription costs $17 + free shipping. This month, you're saving $2.95 per bag of coffee + the cost of shipping with a Peet's 1-bag subscription. If you are a known fan of Peet's, have more than 1-2 coffee-drinkers in your house, or perhaps if you're using a standard coffee maker every day, you might want to consider signing up for additional bags per delivery. 2 bags per delivery costs $32 and 3 bags per delivery costs $45. This box doesn't provide a particularly high-value month-to-month experience, but that's not uncommon with food and drink subscriptions. To save the most, consider the 3 bag option and use the coupon below to maximize your savings on your first month.
To Wrap Up:
Can you still get this box if you sign up today? Given their subscription model, your items may vary based on your survey responses.
Value Breakdown: The cost of one 16 oz. bag of Peet's Ethiopian Super Natural bought as a one-time purchase is $19.95 + $5 shipping to the continental U.S.*, whereas a single bag purchased through the Single Origin Series subscription costs $17 + free shipping. This month, that means you're saving $7 and are paying about $0.94 per ounce of coffee.
*Non-subscription shipping costs $5 to the continental U.S., $10 to Alaska, Hawaii, and P.O. Boxes, $23.50+ to Canada, and $32+ to the rest of the world.
Check out all of our Peet's Coffee reviews and for more coffee subscriptions visit our Coffee Subscription Box Directory!
Have you tried Peet's Coffee? What's your favorite brew?
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