Peet's Coffee & Tea founder dies at 87

EMERYVILLE, Calif. Peet's Coffee & Tea announced today that company founder Alfred Peet died peacefully in his home in Ashland, Ore. on Aug. 29. He was 87 years old.

According to the company, Peet is widely known as the "grandfather of specialty coffee." He opened the original Peet's store on the corner of Walnut and Vine in Berkeley, Calif. in 1966 and pioneered the unique coffee roasting style that inspired the specialty coffee revolution. By the time he retired in 1983, Peet's had a cult following from coast to coast.