Arabian Mocha Java

A (very) brief Peet’s primer, since it’s heavily California-based: it’s a gourmet coffee shop, specializing in the sale of coffee, as opposed to Starbucks, which focuses on drinking coffee, and offers in-store incentives to stay and drink such as free wi-fi which Peet’s does not. It started in Berkeley in 1966 and branched out to the rest of the Bay Area. The only East coast locations I know of are in Boston and Cambridge.

I recently purchased a pound of Arabian Mocha Java ($12.95/lb) and I highly recommend it. While it is on the more expensive side of Peet’s already fairly expensive coffees (the lowest is House Blend at $9.95/lb), the fragrance alone is worth it. It’s heady and powerful, exactly the way an excellent coffee should smell, and when you open the bag, it dominates the room. My friends can sense when I’ve opened the bag and come over for a sniff — it’s that good. And when you actually brew some, it’s dark, like most Peet’s coffees, with a chocolate overtone and slight acidity. It’s very smooth, and wonderful to drink black, which I usually do, though of course your tastes may differ.

If you’re near a Peet’s and you just want to try the coffee, I recommend a hot latte, no matter the weather. Get it with at least low-fat milk, as non-fat doesn’t foam up nearly as well. It will change how you look at coffee.

Link to Peet’s Arabian Mocha Java