Peerless Coffee Co
- Price Range: $
- Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
- Parking: Private Lot
- Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
- Outdoor Seating: Yes
- Wi-Fi: None
68 reviews
Hayward, CA
"This is a great coffee joint. Yoshi, he's very friendly and greets everyone with a smile. I really like the flavor of their coffee and…" read more »
22 Reviews for Peerless Coffee Co
I've seen the name "Peerless Coffee Co" for a long time on the side of trucks, at donuts places, at stores. I've always waned to go to the actual coffee bar of Peerless Coffee. Living on the other side of the Bay have been making harder for me to visit for a long time! I finally visited today, and I loved it. Workers had very pleasant smiles and attitudes, and they were very helpful! I'm absolutely glad that I finally made it there.
and Latte was Very Delicious!!!
I LOVE THIS PLACE. After too many troubling experiences with World Ground, and after getting a ticket outside the Hudson Bay Cafe, I went on the search to find a new pre-work coffee place, and this is it! Their prices are on par with other coffee shops (actually, for the drink I normally order, it's 50 cents cheaper than at World Ground), but the quality seems so much better! For the caramel lattes, they use Guittard Chocolate Company's caramel instead of the pump Torani stuff they use elsewhere, and I think it really makes all the difference.
There are two official coffee stations. There is an outside espresso bar, where you can get anything you want, really. Inside is a retail shop where you can also buy coffee - espresso style to go, or by the pound. They also do a giant container of coffee to go for work meetings and such, for about $15.
It's a third-generation, family owned, Bay Area company, and they've made a believer out of me!
5 stars so I dont get kicked in the head!
And being that the owners a Native east O homeboy ya gotta give street credit.
And the owners wife has that European old world charm and sweetness.
The coffee bar rocks!
The coolest work force.
Rachel kicks ass at the coffee bar in the morning.
and knows how to humor the loons that show up.
I do however get pissed at the neighboring "Yuppie entitlement issue scumbags" letting the their dogs crap on the well manicured strip of lawn
I almost flipped out on one after drinking the High octane Black Gold booster juice that peerless sells.
Its kinda funny how some cafes get all uppity,
but Peerless employees are just plain nice.
The coffee bars only open till 10:30 am though.
Ya also can't beat the exotic teas by the bulk.
.
When I moved from Hayes Valley to Jack London Square, I weeped for the loss of Blue Bottle right down the block from me. But lo and behold, Peerless arose on my horizon as I explored my new neighborhood!
I buy whole beans by the pound here. So far I have only tried the French Dark Italian and Berkeley Blend. Both are solid choices. I tote 'em home, grind 'em in my burr grinder and brew in my french press. Good stuff.
They also sell green beans for you home roasters out there, BTW.
All the employees I've encountered here have provided excellent service and a great knowledge of their coffees.
Tip: join their mailing list to get $1 off your bill every time!
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If you are a fan of drip coffee and not always in the mood for, "fancy caffeine" you should definitely try Peerless. The name really does say it all. The shop on Oak Street has a coffee stand that's open early morning, or you can go inside and buy it by the cup or the pound. It's strong and flavorful, and if you chose to buy it by the pound, there are some great flavors like cappuccino fudge. They also sell fair trade coffees as well. FYI, the shop is connected to the companies head quarters. The price is extra reasonable, and if you are currently wasting money on that tasteless coffee starbucks sells, you'll be pleasantly surprised. The best coffee ever!
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I like peerless coffee. They are within a mile from my work. I usually get a pound every week or 2, and have them grind it a little finer so I get the sweet sweet coffee silt that I know and love.
They also have an interesting selection of various sweets/chocolates. The staff are always friendly, and they don't take tips. Heck, they even have parking.
Peerless is great! I drink the poison on the regular, yo, so having a place nearby where I can get a great cup while running a prostitution ring is important.
Those willing to skirmy outside the usual daunt of their morning latte should try many of the unique flavors and creations that Peerless will do with their coffee - I once had a Snicker Mocha. Two words for you: Hea-ven.
The shop is filled with additional knick-knacks and food goodies; they also have a nice sampling of teas.
The staff has always been friendly, prices reasonable. The only con for anyone is the wait - it can take a very long time to get your coffee, so if you're in a rush, reconsider.
NIce place to pick up a coffee on my way to Bart every morning....seems like they are always open.......
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This place is awesome. The coffee here not only tastes better than most coffee shops, it's cheaper, too. Kira is usually the barista when I visit and she is so meticulous and detail-oriented with everything from making a latte to gift-wrapping a teapot.
Wait time can be long when there are several customers ahead of you but you can kill time by looking at the myriad of coffee/tea products they sell. They also carry chocolate and candy that you normally wouldn't find elsewhere which tempts me every time but I'm trying not to be a fattie.
Overall, a different take on your average coffee shop and a fun, unique experience, from the great customer service to the windows in the back of the shop so you can see the actual roasting (you won't get that at Starbucks!). Highly recommend.
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Great coffee and extremely friendly customer service. They also are known for their hot roasted nuts although I've yet to try them (get your mind out of the gutter)
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They roast my favorite coffee, dark and strong but without that burnt flavor you get with so many other dark roasts. I buy it by the pound and brew it at home in a french press. The walk-up counter is fine but here is one example of what it is like trying to get a cup of coffee in the retail shop.
I stopped into get a cup of coffee on a recent Sunday, one person and a couple are ahead of me in line. The first gentleman cannot pronounce Pekoe in Orange Pekoe Tea and is trying to describe what he wants by its placement on the wall menu. This goes on for a few minutes before the clerk understands what it is he wants. Then he asks about buying unroasted beans. The clerk tells him he will check and disappears into the back, five minutes later he returns to tell him that they will only sell unroasted beans in 20 pound bags. The man then orders some peanuts.
While this is going on the Cal crew team and the crew from a Coast Guard Cutter has entered the tiny shop so the only way to leave would be to create a scene.
After no less than 15 minutes with this one customer, they ring up his order. The second couple then steps up and begins to quiz the clerk on different espresso drinks. A sample question, what is the difference between a Cafe Latte and a cappuccino? After a few minutes of this, a second clerk comes out to take my order of a large cup of coffee and I am on my way. I am not sure I can blame Peerless for their customers but they should add some staff to the retail operation if this is what they are dealing with.
I believe the Cal Crew Team and the Coast Guard Cutter crew are still at the shop...
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I live in Jack London Square, and Peerless serves the best tasting coffee for miles around... Although their espresso drinks are far more flavorful than a popular chain which shall remain nameless, they are also cheaper. Plus, store policy is not to tip the baristas. Despite this, service is excellent -- very friendly and knowledgeable. In the search for fresh coffee, how can you beat a place that roasts its beans on-site? And has for over 80 years...
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Very friendly customer service and even better blended, white mochas!
When I used to work near the Oakland Embarcadero, I used to go here almost every afternoon and get blended, white mochas with whipped cream and chocolate drizzle. My co-worker turned me on to them, and soon, I was using them as a crutch to get through the mental and spiritual torture that was my job. It got to the point that the counter people knew me by name, and were even cool enough to let me call in my drink order, because they knew I'd be coming by anyway.
I've since switched jobs and I unfortunately don't find myself in the area that often but when I am, I try to make a quick stop at Peerless. (quick story: when I was in London last year, I was missing me some Peerless so I tried getting mochas from different places. It's true: the British really don't know how to make a good cup of coffee and as far as other coffee drinks go, forget it - stick to tea. Only worse was the British version of Starbucks).
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One of my favorite coffee companies! I like their coffee so much that I try to patronize specific businesses that sell their coffee, such as House of Bagels.
I believe they also got a good score in the Better World Shopper guide,
Check it out at http://www.betterworld...
they have a gift shop selling gourmet coffee, candies and chocolates.
will buy an occassional latte on sale for $2.50. very friendly people here.
a sign says, "no tipping".
this place is to go only. only outside sitting is available.
the walk up window is the fastest coffee this side of the rockies! great quality coffee for a low-low price, specially if you BYO mug
service inside the store is a bit slower... watch out for scratchy!!
I love that you can buy like, eight pounds of tea here. Not that I would ever need that much, but you know, they put it out there.
The espresso is pretty good, and their cups are stripey and badass. Basically.
The tiny shop is cute and the people working there are very friendly, even though serving coffee to picky jerks can be on par with a giant vice to the head.
I'ma go back and try their other blends too!
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I used to stop here on my way to Jack London Aquatic Center last summer. If you go early in the day, they have an outdoor walk-up counter where you can get a cappucino made from extremely fresh-ground beans and a muffin for super cheap. Nice ladies working the counter too. I keep meaning to stop by later in the day to check out the rest of the place, but . . . . ..
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when i need that strong cup of joe to get my day going, i will now be coming here! good stuff all around!
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I've lived in the Jack London District for years and years (13 as of writing) and tried every coffee place around. The new comers World Ground and Sierra Deli are closer to me and I have my own espresso machine but I now go almost exclusively to Peerless, why?
Well Peerless are a coffee roaster - so they also sell beans including several fair trade types, they have an extra outside counter in the mornings before 10am for super fast brew - say hi to Rachel, she's awesome, a real coffee goddess.
Most importantly their staff are well trained on how to make espresso drinks. As my friend says "they hand craft every one". Sierra Deli may use Illy Coffee (probably my favourite) but unfortunately their staff usually don't know how to make the machine do its thing. Not all the Peerless staff are great barristas but most know their stuff and care, and all are at least okay. But be aware that they do have quite a number of employees to run the inside shop and if there is employee turnover it can take a while for a new one to get up to speed.
Elsewhere you'll be lucky to find one staff member who really cares about the coffee - a time consuming drink like a cappuccino can just be an irritation to them. IMHO the only better and more reliable source of espresso drinks in the area is Cafe 817 on Washington St (amazing cappuccino!).
Peerless staff are friendly, happy, and a big bonus is their espresso drinks are the cheapest around - a double cappuccino is just $2.25 and if you get their loyalty card every tenth one is free, plus at least one month a year they seem to do a buy one get 50% off deal. Compare that with $3.50 or more elsewhere for an inferior brew. They also have regular promotions of other drinks (often lattes), and receipts usually have discounts on them too. Inside the store you can also buy all kinds of teas, yerba matte, coffee paraphernalia including some good quality machines like the Rancilio Silvia. They also sell peanuts, lots and lots of chocolate, cookies, candy, preserves and all kinds of cute gifts.
Finally for those not walking to the store Peerless has more than ten dedicated customer parking spots! In an area where it is really hard to park during the day that is invaluable. Sure they don't serve food yet (if they opened a cafe they would clean up!) and the only seating is a few chairs outside but I still say they are the #1 coffee location in the area.
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An Oakland institution since 1924, they still roast most of their outstanding coffee behind the store. You can get a brewed cup or buy it by the pound, spices - including blends such as pumpkin pie - in bulk, a variety of coffee and tea-related items like mugs and keychains, and even hot roasted peanuts.
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the coffee from peerless is pretty tasty.
also it's close to where i live and it's an old oakland buisness so that's awesomepossum!
this is the coffee my work sells :)
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