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May 19, 2010· scvtalk.com · WordPress (SCVTalk 3.0) · Wayback capture

Peet’s Coffee and Tea in Valencia

By Jeff — Jeff Wilson

Some friends of mine have been singing the praises of Peet’s Coffee and Tea shop in Valencia on McBean near Pavilions.

I’d just like to throw my hat in the ring and say that, yes, this is the best coffee house in Santa Clarita. Here’s my reasoning:

  1. Location: it’s pretty much central to all of Santa Clarita, except perhaps Canyon Country.
  2. Free WiFi: for an hour at least, with purchase of any drink
  3. Decent selection of coffee. I’m by no means a coffee snob, but I really enjoy the joe they brew there
  4. Yummy pastries and foods, at least comparable to Starbucks
  5. Lots of seating, both indoors and outdoors
  6. They don’t blast the music
  7. They offer used coffee grounds for your compost heap, if you’re into that kind of thing
  8. Friendly staff

And another thing. I’m in a graduate program right now and I need a place to study that’s away from the distractions of home.  Since just about every library in a 20 mile radius is closed on Sundays and has limited hours on Saturdays, Peet’s has become my preferred study spot. I spent about five hours there on Sunday studying for my class.

Finally, and I’ll admit bias here, many many cyclists stop by Peet’s because it’s so central. Everyone from road cyclists to commuters to husband and wives out on their hybrids to hipsters with skinny jeans, tatoos, emo haircuts and fixies stop by Peet’s for cup of coffee. It’s sort of become a post-ride hangout for many cyclists in Santa Clarita, and it’s great to see friends roll up on their bikes.

If Mitch’s new Java ‘n Jazz and the new Coffee House in Newhall want to compete, they ought to look to Peet’s in Valencia for ideas and inspiration.

Comments (14)

  1. NateMay 19, 2010 at 11:04 am
    ROCK ON JEFF! Should have told Olenka and I you were going we do not need an excuse to go head to PEET’s
  2. OlenkaMay 19, 2010 at 11:23 am
    Nate and I go there almost on a daily basis. We know a few of the staff members by first name. Talk about being a hipster. Peet’s has my favorite Cafe Mocha. It’s not too sweet like Starbuck’s poor excuse for a mocha. I should span out though and start tasting some of their other drinks. But why change when their mochas are so good?
  3. NateMay 19, 2010 at 11:12 am
    HAHA! I remember that. I was nervous about a repeat. 11 pm would be awesome.
  4. mikeMay 19, 2010 at 11:16 am
    agreed, in terms of relative value, but maybe not in absolute value. The staff has it together, more or less, and they have an OK selection of tools and gadgets, which I appreciate. Off menu drink to get is the traditional cappuccino. Smaller than the small, better balance of milk and espresso. Main problem is with the coffee. They party like it’s 1999 over there. Burnt, just like Starbucks. Really fresh and good for that style, but it’s still two-deimensional compared to the new hotness(es) Other beefs: WiFi used to be two hours. An hour is weak sauce. They close early Still, it’s where I get beans if my main source isn’t happening.
  5. OlenkaMay 19, 2010 at 11:18 am
    Oh yeah! That night was FREEZING! I’m glad you didn’t eat it John. It would have been brutal.
  6. mikeMay 19, 2010 at 11:20 am
    Yes, that fall. I nearly forgot.
  7. susanMay 19, 2010 at 12:22 pm
    Love Peets. I recently discovered that you can hang out there until almost 2am (outside) and noone bothers you. Oh except for the ducks. Tweet up?
  8. mikeMay 19, 2010 at 12:26 pm
    It’s true. It’s so quiet there.
  9. JeffMay 19, 2010 at 1:24 pm
    I generally don’t go out on the town until 2am. The tweakers tend to be out at that time
  10. NateMay 19, 2010 at 1:28 pm
    Well Susan is on aussie time.
  11. susanMay 19, 2010 at 2:31 pm
    lol. yep I switch back and forth between my hemispheric time zones.
  12. townbeetMay 19, 2010 at 7:00 pm
    @Mike “Main problem is with the coffee.” I couldn’t agree more. But then again, Jeff seems to be valuing the hangability factor, if you will. The hangability idea came from a recent LA Observed piece titled “Hanging Out” and I cannot take credit for it.
  13. mikeMay 19, 2010 at 8:53 pm
    I used to like it, but I have a hard time with it now. Though I really enjoy coffee much more now that I’ve seen what can be done, if it’s done right, I sort of resent being so spoiled that I don’t enjoy a cup around town.
  14. GangFangMay 19, 2010 at 9:59 pm
    A Peet’s I used to frequent in the valley got busted for putting a touch of cocaine in some of the “preferred” customers daily Joe. Now THAT will wake you up.

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