My Experience at Peet’s Coffee Shanghai
Shanghai boasts a wide variety of coffee shop brands, offering plenty to explore. As a coffee lover, I really enjoyed discovering and tasting new brands during my visit. The Shanghai cafe I’m introducing this time is Peet’s Coffee, often called a pioneer of American specialty coffee. For coffee enthusiasts visiting Shanghai, it’s definitely worth checking out, especially if you’re unfamiliar with the brand.
Introducing Peet’s Coffee Shanghai
You’ll often spot Peet’s Coffee in Shanghai’s busy central districts and shopping malls. It’s a well-known coffee brand representing the US West Coast. Intrigued by the brand, I visited several locations multiple times during my trip, trying out various coffees and drinks. This was all part of my Peet’s Coffee Shanghai exploration.
For a bit of background, Peet’s Coffee was founded in 1966 in Berkeley, California, by Alfred Peet, who is often called the ‘father’ of American specialty coffee. It’s known to have significantly influenced the founders of Starbucks, making it quite an important brand in American coffee history.
Shanghai has a vibrant coffee scene with plenty of brands besides Peet’s, including Starbucks, Tim Hortons, and Manner Coffee. There were also quite a few cafes run directly by fashion brands or through collaborations.
While exploring Shanghai’s coffee scene, Peet’s Coffee Shanghai caught my eye as a prominent brand worth visiting. The cafes had a stylish interior and a pleasant vibe, and they were always bustling with locals. It’s clear that Shanghai has a strong coffee culture!
Ordering at Peet’s Coffee Shanghai
Like many places in Shanghai, you can order by scanning a QR code. I noticed that the specific round QR codes often seen required scanning through WeChat, not Alipay, to place an order. The overall ordering process, however, is pretty standard and similar to other restaurants and cafes.
While ordering, I discovered they have a paid membership program, which I decided to try signing up for. Upon joining, you receive various discount coupons, including two free drinks and buy-one-get-one (BOGO) offers. The free drink coupons were even valid for large sizes. If you plan on buying two or more drinks, it’s worth checking the membership details on WeChat first to make the most of it!
The menu is only in Chinese, but thankfully, there are pictures for everything, which makes ordering manageable even if you don’t read the language. The seasonal drink I ordered cost 39 RMB, which felt a bit on the pricier side considering local prices in China. It seemed comparable to Starbucks prices there.
My Peet’s Coffee Shanghai Review
Like most coffee chains, they sell the usual range of merchandise (MD) and snacks. I was tempted by a cookie but completely forgot to buy it on my way out. Their merchandise could make a nice souvenir of your visit or a gift for coffee-loving friends.
Personally, I tend to judge a cafe’s coffee by its latte. The latte I had at Peet’s was enjoyably nutty and full-bodied, yet smooth and not bitter. I really liked it.
Since the standard latte was good, on a subsequent visit to another Peet’s Coffee Shanghai location, I decided to try a seasonal item: the Orange Latte. I was hoping for a pleasant citrusy coffee blend, but it was completely different from what I expected (haha). It had a strange, almost medicinal syrup flavor that really wasn’t my cup of tea. The regular latte is much better!
I also ordered an orange Americano-style coffee, but unfortunately, this one also fell short of expectations. The coffee base itself had a nice aroma, but the syrup didn’t blend well and felt separate from the coffee, leaving a bitter, almost herbal aftertaste. Based on my experience, I’d recommend sticking to their classic coffee offerings rather than venturing into the more experimental seasonal drinks like I did.
[PeetsCoffee’s official website]
Overall Thoughts
So, I visited Peet’s Coffee Shanghai, one of America’s major coffee brands, several times during my trip. As someone who loves trying new coffee brands, I found Peet’s characterized by its nutty, full-bodied, and bold coffee flavor. Out of everything I tried, the classic latte was personally the most delicious. I highly recommend trying their standard americano or latte first to appreciate the core coffee quality, rather than opting for the seasonal specials. If you’re looking for a branded coffee experience in Shanghai and want something different from the ubiquitous Starbucks, giving Peet’s Coffee Shanghai a visit is definitely a worthwhile option.
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