Peet's Coffee & Tea will begin accepting payments made with cards loaded into Google Wallet and MasterCard PayPass contactless cards at all of its company-owned locations by the end of the month.

In addition to accepting traditional magnetic-stripe cards for payment, Peet's customers can pay for their purchases by tapping either their NFC-enabled smartphones that have been loaded with the Google Wallet app, or other contactless payment devices on any MasterCard PayPass-enabled terminal at the register.

Google Wallet is a smartphone application that allows the phone to function as a wallet. It securely stores virtual versions of the user's existing plastic cards, and the app uses NFC technology to make secure payments with the tap of a mobile phone.

"I'm thrilled that we're able to embrace this new technology, because it's an opportunity for us to engage with our customers in new ways," said Kay Bogeajis, Peet's vice president of retail. "In the short term, our customers can use the cards in their Google Wallet app with their NFC-enabled smartphones to pay for Peet's handcrafted espresso beverages, artisanal coffees, teas and merchandise without reaching into their wallets for cash or credit cards. In the longer term, we hope to use this technology to strengthen the loyalty of our existing Peet's fans by incorporating new ways of connecting with them, and build relationships with people who haven't yet been introduced to Peet's."

Eighteen Peet's stores in and around San Francisco and San Jose already accept payments from customers through NFC-enabled smartphones and plastic MasterCard cards that are enabled with PayPass technology. NFC readers will be installed on all registers at the remaining Peet's retail locations nationwide by the end of October.

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