<p>Our goal is to showcase why Peet's is the unique and special place it is - and give students like you an opportunity to learn about our culture, operations, decision making processes, and day-to-day business.</p> <p>The program will be primarily project-based work and day-to-day shadowing/mentorship. The Interns will fill their weeks shadowing core members of the team to learn how their department functions and supports Peet's business while focusing efforts on completing their project. The day-to-day activities will vary depending on which department you will support.</p> <p>We anticipate offering a variety of engagement activities including, but not limited to: Roasting Plant Tour, Coffee Tasting, Tea 101, Career Coaching, and Coffee Chat with Stuart Heflin - our President. These engagement activities are set to occur every other week. The connections you make here will be connections for life - and help you transition to the working world after graduation.?We look forward to hosting you at Peet's!</p> <p>Based in Peet's Home Office in Emeryville, CA?- we require all employees to work onsite 4 days per week.? This is a part-time, paid internship at $25.00/hr and will require a ~30 hours/week commitment from June 8-August 7, 2026.</p> <p>Who We Are:</p> <p>From its birthplace in Berkeley, Peet's started a revolution, single-handedly inspiring the craft coffee movement in the U.S. Now we are on an inspiring, award-winning journey from a beloved regional brand to becoming a national icon.</p> <p>At Peet's, our love for the bean is strong. We are coffee for coffee people. We are the champions of coffee quality, craft, and culture--- and a leader in sustainability. We are on a mission not only to make better coffee, but to make coffee better, improving the lives and livelihoods of coffee-growing communities.</p> <p>What You Will Do:</p> <p>As an R&D Sensory Intern at Peet's Coffee, you will focus on competitive benchmarking across the coffee CPG landscape, with an emphasis on sensory, analytical, packaging, and on-pack claim evaluation. You will assess a range of product formats, including but not limited to bagged R&G coffee, bottled liquid coffee products, and instant coffee, to develop a holistic understanding of how Peet's products compare within the marketplace.</p> <p>In addition, you will support daily sensory laboratory operations, including but not limited to sample preparation, panel set-up and breakdown, data collection and entry, inventory management, and general lab organization and maintenance. This hands-on lab support will provide exposure to routine sensory workflows while ensuring smooth execution of ongoing sensory evaluations.</p> <p>This internship will help establish a structured competitive benchmarking effort across the U.S. coffee industry, enabling Peet's to clearly understand its current competitive position and identify whitespace opportunities for innovation. Additionally, the work will support the foundation of an ongoing, repeatable benchmarking program that can be leveraged for future product development and strategic decision-making.</p> <ul> <li> <p>For selected product formats, you will conduct robust data collection and synthesis across sensory evaluation, analytical measurements, packaging attributes, and product claims, culminating in a comprehensive written report</p> </li><li> <p>The final deliverable will include a comparative assessment of Peet's products versus key competitors, along with clear conclusions, identified innovation opportunities, and recommended next steps to inform future development efforts</p> </li></ul> <p>Who You Are (Qualifications and Skills):</p> <ul> <li> <p>Currently pursuing a degree in Food Science or a related scientific field (e.g., Chemistry, Biology, or Engineering)</p> </li><li> <p>Enrolled as a full time or part-time student at a California University/College</p> </li><li> <p>High attention to detail</p> </li><li> <p>Analytical thinking and problem-solving ability</p> </li><li> <p>Time management and prioritization skills</p> </li><li> <p>Professional communication skills (email and report writing)</p> </li><li> <p>Critical thinking and ability to generate insights</p> </li><li> <p>Excellent written and verbal communication skills</p> </li><li> <p>Willingness to learn and accept feedback</p> </li><li> <p>Ability to conduct research</p> </li><li> <p>Positive attitude and intellectual curiosity</p> </li></ul> <p>This description outlines the role's essential functions but may evolve with business needs.</p> <p>What We Offer:</p> <ul> <li>Recharge Time - Holidays and sick days. </li><li>Health & Wellness - Medical, dental, and vision coverage. </li><li>Everyday Perks - Free coffee, fresh baked goods, and discounts. </li></ul> <p>Additional Information</p> <p>At Peet's, we believe in creating an inclusive workplace where everyone feels welcome. We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We welcome qualified applicants of all backgrounds and do not discriminate based on race, color, creed, religion, gender, age, marital status, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, citizenship status, disability, genetic information, uniform service, veteran status, or any other category protected under federal, state, or local laws. Qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with all federal, state, and local ordinances.</p> <p>Peet's is also committed to providing reasonable accommodation to job applicants with disabilities throughout the hiring process. If you need assistance or accommodation, please contact employeerelations@peets.com.</p>