Wow, I can't believe no one has recommended Peet's coffee, www.peets.com

Maybe because you are on the east coast, you are not familiar with Peet's. I'll spare you the long history, but Peet's was started in the 1960s in Berkeley, CA. The person who started Starbucks was originally a Peet's employee. Peet's didn't choose the "spread across the world" philosophy, so they are mostly located in California, with some locations in Oregon, Washington, Colorado (just three locations), and two Illinois locations.

They also sell Peet's in some grocery stores. I just checked the Peet's website and see that they sell Peet's in DC grocery stores, check under special offers for $2 off your purchase.


Of course, you can purchase Peet's coffee from the website. Actually, the mail order may be fresher coffee. Peet's stores get shipments of coffee twice a week, so the coffee could be three days old before reaching the store. I think the mail order coffee is shipped the day it is roasted.

OK, I'm a fanatic. Most of us Peet's drinkers are. I won't even go into how I had to have Peet's even when I worked on an Indian reservation!

Try their seasonal offerings. Right now, it's their Holiday blend, "bold and smooth with warm spice notes." But don't ignore their other blends, especially the Blend 101.

Use two tablespoons of ground coffee for each six ounces of water when making coffee at home. If this is too strong for you, dilute with hot water, then adjust amount of coffee in the future.

No, I don't work for Peet's or have stock in the company, I just have been drinking Peet's coffee for 30 years...