Whoops, that title should actually read Starbucks vs. Peet’s. No matter.

It was not without a small bit of amusement that I read Chris Pirillo’s rant [c-p] about a review he read on Judy’s Book where “Jana” slammed Peet’s in favor of Starbucks [j-b]. Chris took the time to slam Jana right back for her preference and even went so far as to state that her opinions on anything related to coffee are “null and void”. He then, rightly in my opinion, called Starbucks the McDonald’s of the espresso world. However, this is the part of his post where I laughed openly and loudly at the absurdity of defending Peet’s from those who prefer Starbucks. Chris is a self-professed coffee snob and an all-around smart guy but the idea that he can’t see the ridiculousness of defending one faceless, semi-giant coffee chain [wiki] from another faceless, super-giant coffee chain is pretty funny.

I’m relatively serious about my coffee and have been known to pay through the nose for 100% Kona Peaberry beans. I guess that means I’m also a coffee snob. However, I don’t begrudge anyone their coffee preference. If you like Starbucks, fine. If you like Peet’s, cool. But don’t pretend for a second that there is a difference between the two. There isn’t. If you think there is, you automatically lose your coffee snob credentials. Sorry Chris, please join Jana in the “null and void” box until you regain your senses.

This brings me to a larger point: There has been a buzz building over the arrival of more Peet’s coffee stores in the Seattle area. In fact, there was downright giddy celebration [seattlest] when rumors of Peet’s opening a store on coffee-rich Upper Queen Anne surfaced. I truly don’t understand the fuss. Did these same people get excited when Best Buy moved in on Circuit City’s territory? When Wal-Mart took out K-Mart? When Jack in the Box opened down the street from Wendy’s?

Even the snobbiest among us have our preferences of the stores above, but really, who can defend one over the other? And who would want to?

In summary, if you prefer your Starbucks in shades of brown, Peet’s is your place.

(Not that there’s anything wrong with that.)

By the way, Voxx Coffee is opening up on Eastlake Avenue next to Zoo Tavern. They promise free wi-fi and have applied for a liquor license. Consider this post giddy celebration at the thought.