As a Yugoslavian immigrant settling in Oakland in 1920, John Vukasin
had a dream to establish a custom gourmet coffee roaster that combined
European style coffees with guaranteed freshness and impeccable service.
In 1924, he created the Peerless Coffee Company to supply local hotels
and restaurants with only the highest quality of roasted coffees. Soon,
his reputation for perfection spread, making Peerless Coffee much sought
after by the restaurant and retail industry throughout the East Bay.
Along with its unparalleled quality, Peerless Coffee Company was backed
by a dedicated team of roasters and packers who prided themselves on
first-rate customer service. This very combination of top-notch product
and outstanding service continues to be the hallmark of the Peerless
Coffee & Tea.
Originally located at Washington and 9th Streets in Oakland, the Peerless
retail store attracted thousands of regular customers for its wide selection
of coffees from around the world. The increased interest in gourmet coffees
lead to a steady expansion of the Peerless Coffee & Tea business,
necessitating a move to a larger facility on Oak Street, where the roasting
plant and the retail store remain to this day. Despite the roomier surroundings,
Peerless has always been and remains a family-owned and operated company.
John Vukasin's son, George, joined the company in 1957 to learn the business
from the ground up and for 45 years he, his wife, Sonja, their son,
George Vukasin, Jr., and their daughter, Kristina Brouhard have ensured that
the Peerless commitment to quality continues. Our knowledgeable buyers under
George Vukasin's exacting specifications, still purchase only the top gourmet
grades of green coffee beans from around the world. Each bean is roasted with
special care to fully develop its unique character, a practice very few specialty
roasters maintain. The beans are then quickly packaged and shipped fresh to
both retail and wholesale customers. Eighty years after producing that first
small batch of perfectly roasted coffee, Peerless Coffee & Tea is proud to
be the realization of John Vukasin's dream.
John Vukasin's son, George, joined the company in 1957 to learn the business
from the ground up and for 45 years he, his wife, Sonja, their son,
George Vukasin, Jr., and their daughter, Kristina Brouhard have ensured that
the Peerless commitment to quality continues. Our knowledgeable buyers under
George Vukasin's exacting specifications, still purchase only the top gourmet
grades of green coffee beans from around the world. Each bean is roasted with
special care to fully develop its unique character, a practice very few specialty
roasters maintain. The beans are then quickly packaged and shipped fresh to
both retail and wholesale customers. Eighty years after producing that first
small batch of perfectly roasted coffee, Peerless Coffee & Tea is proud to
be the realization of John Vukasin's dream.
