In which city did Alfred Peet open his first coffee company?

Alfred Peet opened his first coffee company in Berkeley, California, in 1966. This city played a significant role as a center of counterculture and innovation during that time, and Peet's approach to coffee was revolutionary. He focused on sourcing high-quality beans and roasting them in small batches, which set a new standard in the coffee industry. This not only paved the way for specialty coffee shops to emerge but also greatly influenced the coffee culture in the United States, particularly in regions like Seattle, where Starbucks later took inspiration from Peet's model. Peet's emphasis on ethical sourcing and quality contributed to a growing awareness among consumers about the origins of their coffee, making the decision to open his company in Berkeley a pivotal moment in the specialty coffee movement.