Whether it’s to stay conscious during class or to pull an all-nighter before an exam, college students across the country look to the caffeinated glory of coffee as their drug of choice. At Northwestern, we’re blessed (or cursed?) with two common choices of dealer: Starbucks Coffee, representing the monopolistic (but damn tasty) franchise, and Peet’s Coffee and Tea, a smaller chain with a local feel.
Our dilemma: Which to choose, which to choose? At first glance, the two coffee shops put forward the same experience, but don’t be fooled – while both shops provide seemingly identical offerings, I have found subtle yet significant differences between the retailers. Which is better, you ask? As it turns out, neither. And both.
Atmosphere
Peet’s Coffee and Tea, located on Chicago and Davis, is noticeably quieter than Starbucks. Almost every person at Peet’s is sitting alone, either scribbling in a notebook, typing away at a laptop or reading. Indistinguishable classical music plays in the background. However, at Starbucks (located on Sherman and Church) the patrons are most often sitting in groups of two or three, their conversations competing with Ray Charles or Corinne Bailey Rae who warble over the speakers.
Framed, ambiguously African tribal art at Peet’s lends an air of quasi-authenticity to the joint. To be sure, Peet’s is much more successful at creating a local, cute coffee-shop-around-the-corner atmosphere than Starbucks, whose goal seems to be to create the exact same environment at every branch. Every Starbucks that I’ve ever seen (and I’ve seen a fair few since I’m from Seattle, the home of Starbucks) features earthy tones, a fireplace, cushy arm chairs and funky art-deco decorations that have become a unique decorating style of their own – a Starbucks genre, if you will.
Drinks
Both Starbucks and Peet’s offer a similar selection of made-to-order drinks: espresso, latte, macchiato, cappuccino, brewed coffee and tea. Peet’s also boasts a new line of “Freddos,” essentially the equivalent of the Starbucks Frappucino.
In a head to head showdown – Peet’s latte versus Starbucks latte – Peet’s comes out on top. Peet’s latte had noticeably thicker, richer foam and a fuller tasting coffee flavor. My biggest beef with the Starbucks latte was inconsistency. The quality of the latte varies so much from barista to barista. And although Peet’s Coffee and Tea is also a chain, they seem to have gotten their latte procedure down pat.
As far as drink selection, Starbucks offers a wider assortment of Frappucino flavors, seasonal favorites and blended drinks. When choosing a Peet’s or Starbucks drink, it seems to come down to whether you value variety or reliability.
For Peet’s, I recommend the Vanilla Latte, Jasmine Lime Tea Cooler, Chocolate Caramel Freddo or Masala Chai Latte. My favorites from Starbucks are the White Chocolate Mocha, Green Tea Frappucino, Pumpkin Spice Latte and – listen very carefully now – the elusive Blended Strawberry Lemonade, which is unlisted on the menu and only available by request.
Beans and Tea Leaves
This is a default victory for Peet’s, as Starbucks sells neither coffee beans nor tea leaves by the pound. Peet’s boasts thirty-two different kinds of exotic coffee beans from all over the world — places known for quality coffee production such as Kenya, Panama and Papua New Guinea. Display cases of beans suggest that the beans are roasted on site, but they’re actually roasted off-site and shipped to store locations overnight.
As for tea, you’ll find the standard English Breakfast and Earl Grey for sale by the pound, but to please the adventurous Peet’s also carries a variety of pricier, rare teas. If you’ve ever wanted to try (or have even heard of) Assam Golden Tip, Green Peony or Ancient Trees Pu-erh, Peet’s has got you covered.
Pastries
Starbucks offers a more diverse selection of pastries and food, including sandwiches and various other savory treats that can serve as a meal replacement. Peet’s pastry showcase is limited to cookies, breads and cakes — usual coffee shop fare. Both sell individually wrapped biscotti and the two are hardly distinguishable.
Extras
Starbucks has created a new genre of music all its own: The musical stylings of soothing, indie artists populate its music shelves and make up the “Sound of Starbucks.” Diana Krall, John Fogerty, Arcade Fire and Feist are a few of the artists that have given Starbucks its musical character. Starbucks also promotes books and movies, such as Akeelah and the Bee, that have made Starbucks more of a lifestyle than a coffee joint.
Peet’s on the other hand remains true to its coffee roots and limits its extra offerings to mugs, coffee machines and candies.
In general, my impression is that Peet’s is more concerned with providing the discerning coffee drinker a legitimate experience, while Starbucks aims to be the common man’s early morning (or late night) friend. So if you’d rather relax and savor a Colombian cappuccino or Lapsang Souchong tea (provided that you can pronounce it well enough to order it), give Peet’s a try. If you’re looking for a smooth new CD to go along with your Peppermint Mocha, Starbucks is the place to be.
Both shops have their perks and it really comes down to personal preference in choosing a favorite. As for me, I’m going down to Peet’s to get myself a nice steaming cup of Ancient Trees Pu-erh.