<PAGE>   1

AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON NOVEMBER 21, 2000
                                                     REGISTRATION NO. 333-______

================================================================================

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                                   ----------

                                    FORM S-8
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                      UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                                   ----------

                              DIEDRICH COFFEE, INC.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

                              2144 MICHELSON DRIVE
                            IRVINE, CALIFORNIA 92612
                                 (949) 260-1600
                    (Address of Principal Executive Offices)

                 DELAWARE                              33-0086628
     (State or other jurisdiction of                (I.R.S. Employer
      incorporation or organization)               Identification No.)

                DIEDRICH COFFEE, INC. 2000 NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTORS
                                STOCK OPTION PLAN
                            (Full title of the plan)

                                   ----------

                              MATTHEW C. MCGUINNESS
                             CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
                              DIEDRICH COFFEE, INC.
                              2144 MICHELSON DRIVE
                            IRVINE, CALIFORNIA 92612
                                 (949) 260-1600
                 (Name, address, zip code, and telephone number,
                   including area code, of agent for service)

                                   ----------

                         CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
======================================================================================================================

                                                        PROPOSED MAXIMUM      PROPOSED MAXIMUM
   TITLE OF SECURITIES TO BE         AMOUNT TO BE      OFFERING PRICE PER    AGGREGATE OFFERING        AMOUNT OF
          REGISTERED                REGISTERED(1)           SHARE(2)              PRICE(2)         REGISTRATION FEE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                 <C>                <C>                   <C>                   <C>

Common  Stock,  par value $0.01
per share                               24,000                $1.13               $27,120                $7.16
======================================================================================================================
</TABLE>

(1)      There is also being registered hereunder such additional shares as may
         be issued pursuant to the anti-dilution provisions of the Diedrich
         Coffee, Inc. 2000 Non-Employee Directors Stock Option Plan dated
         October 20, 2000.

(2)      Estimated solely for purposes of determining the registration fee
         pursuant to Rule 457(h) and Rule 457(c) and based on the average of the
         high and low prices of the Common Stock of Diedrich Coffee, Inc. as
         reported on November 15, 2000 on the Nasdaq National Market.

<PAGE>   2

                                  INTRODUCTION

         This Registration Statement on Form S-8 is filed by Diedrich Coffee,
Inc. (the "Registrant") relating to 24,000 shares of the Registrant's Common
Stock, par value $0.01 per share (the "Common Stock"), issuable to Peter Churm,
Lawrence Goelman and Paul C. Heeschen, certain Non-Employee Directors of the
Registrant, pursuant to the Diedrich Coffee, Inc. 2000 Non-Employee Directors
Stock Option Plan dated as of October 20, 2000 (the "Plan").

                                     PART I
              INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS

ITEM 1.  PLAN INFORMATION.

         Information required by Part I of Form S-8 to be contained in the
Section 10(a) prospectus is omitted from this Registration Statement in
accordance with Rule 428 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
"Securities Act"), and the Note to Part I of Form S-8.

ITEM 2.  REGISTRANT INFORMATION AND EMPLOYEE PLAN ANNUAL INFORMATION.

         The Registrant's documents and public reports listed in Item 3 below,
and all subsequent public reports, are and will be available to Messrs. Churm,
Goelman and Heeschen without charge, upon request to the Company, attention
Matthew C. McGuinness, Chief Financial Officer, at 2144 Michelson Drive, Irvine,
CA 92614 (949) 260-1600.

                                     PART II
               INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

ITEM 3.  INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE.

         The following documents, which previously have been filed by the
Registrant with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission"), are
incorporated herein by reference and made a part hereof:

         (a)      The Registrant's annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended
                  June 28, 2000 as filed with the Commission pursuant to the
                  Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange
                  Act").

         (b)      The Registrant's quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal
                  quarter ended September 20, 2000, as filed with the Commission
                  pursuant to the Exchange Act.

         (c)      All other reports filed pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of
                  the Exchange Act since the end of the fiscal year ended June
                  28, 2000.

         (d)      The description of the Registrant's Common Stock contained in
                  Amendment No. 1 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on
                  Form S-1 (Registration No. 333-78083) filed with the
                  Commission on June 7, 1999, including any amendment or report
                  filed for the purpose of updating such description.

         All documents filed by the Registrant pursuant to Sections 13(a),
13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act, subsequent to the date of this
Registration Statement and prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment
hereto which indicates that all securities offered hereunder have been sold or
which deregisters all securities then remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be
incorporated by reference herein and to be a part hereof from the date of filing
of such documents.

         For purposes of this Registration Statement, any statement contained
herein or in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated herein by
reference shall be deemed to be modified or superseded to the extent that a


                                       2
<PAGE>   3

statement contained herein or in any other subsequently filed document that also
is or is deemed to be incorporated herein by reference modifies or supersedes
such statement in such document. Any statement so modified or superseded shall
not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this
Registration Statement.

         The consolidated financial statements and schedule included in the
Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended June 28, 2000 have been
incorporated by reference herein in reliance upon the report of KPMG LLP,
independent certified public accountants, incorporated herein, and upon the
authority of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing.

ITEM 4.  DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES.

         Not applicable.

ITEM 5.  INTERESTS OF NAMED EXPERTS AND COUNSEL.

         Not applicable.

ITEM 6.  INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.

         The Registrant is a Delaware corporation. Section 145 of the Delaware
General Corporation Law (the "DGCL") provides that a Delaware corporation has
the power to indemnify its officers and directors in certain circumstances.

         Subsection (a) of Section 145 of the DGCL empowers a corporation to
indemnify any director or officer, or former director or officer, who was or is
a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or
completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or
investigative (other than an action by or in the right of the corporation),
against expenses (including attorneys' fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid
in settlement actually and reasonably incurred in connection with such action,
suit or proceeding provided that such director or officer acted in good faith
and in a manner reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best
interests of the corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or
proceeding, provided that such director or officer had no cause to believe his
or her conduct was unlawful.

         Subsection (b) of Section 145 of the DGCL empowers a corporation to
indemnify any director or officer, or former director or officer, who was or is
a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or
completed action or suit by or in the right of the corporation to procure a
judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that such person acted in any of the
capacities set forth above, against expenses actually and reasonably incurred in
connection with the defense or settlement of such action or suit provided that
such director or officer acted in good faith and in a manner reasonably believed
to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, except that no
indemnification may be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which
such director or officer shall have been adjudged to be liable to the
corporation unless and only to the extent that the Court of Chancery or the
court in which such action was brought shall determine that despite the
adjudication of liability such director or officer is fairly and reasonably
entitled to indemnity for such expenses which the court shall deem proper.

         Section 145 of the DGCL further provides that to the extent a director
or officer of a corporation has been successful in the defense of any action,
suit or proceeding referred to in subsections (a) and (b) or in the defense of
any claim, issue or matter therein, he or she shall be indemnified against
expenses (including attorneys' fees) actually and reasonably incurred by him or
her in connection therewith; that indemnification provided for in Section 145
shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which the indemnified party
may be entitled; and that the corporation shall have power to purchase and
maintain insurance on behalf of a director or officer of the corporation against
any liability asserted against him or her or incurred by him or her in any such
capacity or arising out of his or her status as such whether or not the
corporation would have the power to indemnify him or her against such
liabilities under Section 145.


                                       3
<PAGE>   4

         Article VIII of the Registrant's Certificate of Incorporation currently
provides that each director shall not be personally liable to the Registrant or
its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a
director, except for liability (i) for any breach of the directors' duty of
loyalty to the Registrant or its stockholders, (ii) for acts or omissions not in
good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of
law, (iii) under Section 174 of the DGCL, or (iv) for any transaction from which
the director derived an improper benefit. The Certificate of Incorporation
further provides that the Registrant shall indemnify, to the fullest extent
permitted by the DGCL, any person made a party to an action or proceeding by
reason of the fact that such person was a director, officer, employee or agent
of the Registrant.

         Article VII of the Registrant's Bylaws provides that the Registrant may
indemnify its officers and directors to the fullest extent permitted by law.
Subject to the Registrant's Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws provide
that the Registrant shall indemnify directors and officers for all costs
reasonably incurred in connection with any action, suit or proceeding in which
such director or officer is made a party by virtue of his being an officer or
director of the Registrant except where such director or officer is finally
adjudged to have been derelict in the performance of his duties as such director
or officer.

         The Registrant has entered into separate indemnification agreements
with its directors and officers containing provisions that provide for the
maximum indemnity allowed to directors and officers by the DGCL and the
Registrant's Bylaws, subject to certain exceptions. The indemnification
agreements may require the Registrant, among other obligations, to indemnify
such directors and officers against certain liabilities that may arise by reason
of their status as directors or officers, other than liabilities arising from
willful misconduct of a culpable nature, provided that such person acted in good
faith and in a manner that he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed
to the best interests of the Registrant and, in the case of a criminal
proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe that his conduct was unlawful. In
addition, the indemnification agreements provide generally that the Registrant
will, subject to certain exceptions, advance the expenses incurred by directors
and officers as a result of any proceeding against them as to which they may be
entitled to indemnification. The Registrant also maintains directors' and
officers' liability insurance.

ITEM 7.  EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION CLAIMED.

         Not applicable.

ITEM 8.  EXHIBITS.

         4.1*     Certificate of Incorporation of the Registrant (previously
                  filed as Exhibit 3.1 to the Registrant's Registration
                  Statement on Form S-1 (Reg. No. 333-08633), as amended and as
                  declared effective by the Commission on September 11, 1996).

         4.2*     Bylaws of the Registrant (filed as Exhibit 3.2 to the
                  Registrant's Registration Statement on Form S-1 (Reg. No.
                  333-08633), as amended and as declared effective by the
                  Commission on September 11, 1996).

         4.3      Form of Diedrich Coffee, Inc. 2000 Non-Employee Directors
                  Stock Option Plan dated as of October 20, 2000.

         5        Opinion of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP as to the legality of
                  the securities being registered.

         23.1     Consent of KPMG LLP, independent certified public accountants.

         23.2     Consent of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP (contained in Exhibit 5
                  hereto).

         24.1     Power of Attorney (contained on signature page hereto).

---------------------------

* Incorporated herein by reference.


                                       4
<PAGE>   5

ITEM 9.  UNDERTAKINGS.

         (a)      The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:

                  (1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are
         being made, a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement:

                           (i) To include any prospectus required by Section
                  10(a)(3) of the Securities Act;

                           (ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events
                  arising after the effective date of the Registration Statement
                  (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which,
                  individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental
                  change in the information set forth in the Registration
                  Statement;

                           (iii) To include any material information with
                  respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed
                  in the Registration Statement or any material change to such
                  information in the Registration Statement;

provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) do not apply if the
information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those
paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed with or furnished to the
Commission by the Registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the
Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement.

                  (2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under
         the Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed
         to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered
         therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be
         deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

                  (3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective
         amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at
         the termination of the offering.

         (b) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of
determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the
registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange
Act that is incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement shall be
deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered
therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be
the initial bona fide offering thereof.

         (c) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the
Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons
of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the
Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Commission such
indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and
is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification
against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses
incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Registrant
in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such
director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being
registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter
has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate
jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public
policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by a final
adjudication of such issue.


                                       5
<PAGE>   6

                                   SIGNATURES

         THE REGISTRANT

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, the Registrant
certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the
requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration
Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly
authorized, in the City of Irvine, State of California, on this 21st day of
November, 2000.

                                        DIEDRICH COFFEE, INC.


                                        By: /s/ Matthew C. McGuinness
                                            ------------------------------------
                                            Matthew C. McGuinness
                                            Senior Vice President and Chief
                                            Financial Officer (Principal
                                            Financial and Accounting Officer)


                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

         Each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints
Matthew C. McGuinness his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, acting
alone, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him and in his
name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments
(including post-effective amendments) to this Registration Statement and to file
the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection
therewith, with the Commission, granting unto said attorney-in-fact and agent,
acting alone, with full power and authority to do and perform each and every act
and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully
to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying
and confirming that said attorney-in-fact and agent, acting alone, or his
substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this Registration
Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the
dates indicated.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
    NAME AND SIGNATURE                                   TITLE                                     DATE
    ------------------                                   -----                                     ----

<S>                                    <C>                                                  <C>

  /s/ J. Michael Jenkins               President and Chief Executive Officer
----------------------------           (Principal Executive Officer)                        November 16, 2000
    J. Michael Jenkins

 /s/ Matthew C. McGuinness             Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
----------------------------           (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)         November 16, 2000
   Matthew C. McGuinness

  /s/ Martin R. Diedrich               Chief Coffee Officer, Secretary,
----------------------------           Vice Chairman of the Board and Director              November 16, 2000
    Martin R. Diedrich

   /s/ Lawrence Goelman                Director                                             November 16, 2000
----------------------------
     Lawrence Goelman

   /s/ Paul C. Heeschen                Director                                             November 16, 2000
----------------------------
     Paul C. Heeschen
</TABLE>


                                       6
<PAGE>   7

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
    NAME AND SIGNATURE                                   TITLE                                 DATE
    ------------------                                   -----                                 ----

<S>                                    <C>                                              <C>

                                       Director                                         November __, 2000
----------------------------
        Peter Churm

    /s/ Timothy J. Ryan                Director                                         November 16, 2000
----------------------------
      Timothy J. Ryan

                                       Director                                         November __, 2000
----------------------------
      John E. Martin
</TABLE>


                                       7
<PAGE>   8

                                INDEX TO EXHIBITS

Exhibit No.                                  Description
-----------                                  -----------

     4.1*         Certificate of Incorporation of the Registrant (filed as
                  Exhibit 3.1 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form
                  S-1 (Reg. No. 333-08633), as amended and as declared effective
                  by the Commission on September 11, 1996).

     4.2*         Bylaws of the Registrant (filed as Exhibit 3.2 to the
                  Registrant's Registration Statement on Form S-1 (Reg. No.
                  333-08633), as amended and as declared effective by the
                  Commission on September 11, 1996).

     4.3          Form of Diedrich Coffee, Inc. 2000 Non-Employee Directors
                  Stock Option Plan, dated as of October 20, 2000.

     5            Opinion of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP, as to the legality of
                  the securities being registered.

    23.1          Consent of KPMG LLP, independent certified public accountants.

    23.2          Consent of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP (contained in Exhibit 5
                  hereto).

    24.1          Power of Attorney (contained on signature page hereto).

---------------
* Incorporated herein by reference.


                                       8
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{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "DIEDRICH COFFEE INC", "cik": "0000947661", "assigned-sic": "5400", "irs-number": "330086628", "state-of-incorporation": "CA", "fiscal-year-end": "0127"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "S-8", "act": "33", "file-number": "333-50412", "film-number": "774608"}, "business-address": {"street1": "2144 MICHELSON DRIVE", "street2": "STE A", "city": "IRVINE", "state": "CA", "zip": "9262682612", "phone": "9492601600"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "2144 MICHELSON DRIVE", "city": "IRVINE", "state": "CA", "zip": "92612"}}
1

AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON NOVEMBER 21, 2000
                                                     REGISTRATION NO. 333-______

================================================================================

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                                   ----------

                                    FORM S-8
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                      UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                                   ----------

                              DIEDRICH COFFEE, INC.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

                              2144 MICHELSON DRIVE
                            IRVINE, CALIFORNIA 92612
                                 (949) 260-1600
                    (Address of Principal Executive Offices)

                 DELAWARE                              33-0086628
     (State or other jurisdiction of                (I.R.S. Employer
      incorporation or organization)               Identification No.)

                DIEDRICH COFFEE, INC. 2000 NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTORS
                                STOCK OPTION PLAN
                            (Full title of the plan)

                                   ----------

                              MATTHEW C. MCGUINNESS
                             CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
                              DIEDRICH COFFEE, INC.
                              2144 MICHELSON DRIVE
                            IRVINE, CALIFORNIA 92612
                                 (949) 260-1600
                 (Name, address, zip code, and telephone number,
                   including area code, of agent for service)

                                   ----------

                         CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
======================================================================================================================

                                                        PROPOSED MAXIMUM      PROPOSED MAXIMUM
   TITLE OF SECURITIES TO BE         AMOUNT TO BE      OFFERING PRICE PER    AGGREGATE OFFERING        AMOUNT OF
          REGISTERED                REGISTERED(1)           SHARE(2)              PRICE(2)         REGISTRATION FEE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Common  Stock,  par value $0.01
per share                               24,000                $1.13               $27,120                $7.16
======================================================================================================================
(1)      There is also being registered hereunder such additional shares as may
         be issued pursuant to the anti-dilution provisions of the Diedrich
         Coffee, Inc. 2000 Non-Employee Directors Stock Option Plan dated
         October 20, 2000.

(2)      Estimated solely for purposes of determining the registration fee
         pursuant to Rule 457(h) and Rule 457(c) and based on the average of the
         high and low prices of the Common Stock of Diedrich Coffee, Inc. as
         reported on November 15, 2000 on the Nasdaq National Market.
2

                                  INTRODUCTION

         This Registration Statement on Form S-8 is filed by Diedrich Coffee,
Inc. (the "Registrant") relating to 24,000 shares of the Registrant's Common
Stock, par value $0.01 per share (the "Common Stock"), issuable to Peter Churm,
Lawrence Goelman and Paul C. Heeschen, certain Non-Employee Directors of the
Registrant, pursuant to the Diedrich Coffee, Inc. 2000 Non-Employee Directors
Stock Option Plan dated as of October 20, 2000 (the "Plan").

                                     PART I
              INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS

ITEM 1.  PLAN INFORMATION.

         Information required by Part I of Form S-8 to be contained in the
Section 10(a) prospectus is omitted from this Registration Statement in
accordance with Rule 428 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
"Securities Act"), and the Note to Part I of Form S-8.

ITEM 2.  REGISTRANT INFORMATION AND EMPLOYEE PLAN ANNUAL INFORMATION.

         The Registrant's documents and public reports listed in Item 3 below,
and all subsequent public reports, are and will be available to Messrs. Churm,
Goelman and Heeschen without charge, upon request to the Company, attention
Matthew C. McGuinness, Chief Financial Officer, at 2144 Michelson Drive, Irvine,
CA 92614 (949) 260-1600.

                                     PART II
               INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

ITEM 3.  INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE.

         The following documents, which previously have been filed by the
Registrant with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission"), are
incorporated herein by reference and made a part hereof:

         (a)      The Registrant's annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended
                  June 28, 2000 as filed with the Commission pursuant to the
                  Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange
                  Act").

         (b)      The Registrant's quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal
                  quarter ended September 20, 2000, as filed with the Commission
                  pursuant to the Exchange Act.

         (c)      All other reports filed pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of
                  the Exchange Act since the end of the fiscal year ended June
                  28, 2000.

         (d)      The description of the Registrant's Common Stock contained in
                  Amendment No. 1 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on
                  Form S-1 (Registration No. 333-78083) filed with the
                  Commission on June 7, 1999, including any amendment or report
                  filed for the purpose of updating such description.

         All documents filed by the Registrant pursuant to Sections 13(a),
13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act, subsequent to the date of this
Registration Statement and prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment
hereto which indicates that all securities offered hereunder have been sold or
which deregisters all securities then remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be
incorporated by reference herein and to be a part hereof from the date of filing
of such documents.

         For purposes of this Registration Statement, any statement contained
herein or in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated herein by
reference shall be deemed to be modified or superseded to the extent that a

                                       2
3

statement contained herein or in any other subsequently filed document that also
is or is deemed to be incorporated herein by reference modifies or supersedes
such statement in such document. Any statement so modified or superseded shall
not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this
Registration Statement.

         The consolidated financial statements and schedule included in the
Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended June 28, 2000 have been
incorporated by reference herein in reliance upon the report of KPMG LLP,
independent certified public accountants, incorporated herein, and upon the
authority of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing.

ITEM 4.  DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES.

         Not applicable.

ITEM 5.  INTERESTS OF NAMED EXPERTS AND COUNSEL.

         Not applicable.

ITEM 6.  INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.

         The Registrant is a Delaware corporation. Section 145 of the Delaware
General Corporation Law (the "DGCL") provides that a Delaware corporation has
the power to indemnify its officers and directors in certain circumstances.

         Subsection (a) of Section 145 of the DGCL empowers a corporation to
indemnify any director or officer, or former director or officer, who was or is
a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or
completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or
investigative (other than an action by or in the right of the corporation),
against expenses (including attorneys' fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid
in settlement actually and reasonably incurred in connection with such action,
suit or proceeding provided that such director or officer acted in good faith
and in a manner reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best
interests of the corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or
proceeding, provided that such director or officer had no cause to believe his
or her conduct was unlawful.

         Subsection (b) of Section 145 of the DGCL empowers a corporation to
indemnify any director or officer, or former director or officer, who was or is
a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or
completed action or suit by or in the right of the corporation to procure a
judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that such person acted in any of the
capacities set forth above, against expenses actually and reasonably incurred in
connection with the defense or settlement of such action or suit provided that
such director or officer acted in good faith and in a manner reasonably believed
to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, except that no
indemnification may be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which
such director or officer shall have been adjudged to be liable to the
corporation unless and only to the extent that the Court of Chancery or the
court in which such action was brought shall determine that despite the
adjudication of liability such director or officer is fairly and reasonably
entitled to indemnity for such expenses which the court shall deem proper.

         Section 145 of the DGCL further provides that to the extent a director
or officer of a corporation has been successful in the defense of any action,
suit or proceeding referred to in subsections (a) and (b) or in the defense of
any claim, issue or matter therein, he or she shall be indemnified against
expenses (including attorneys' fees) actually and reasonably incurred by him or
her in connection therewith; that indemnification provided for in Section 145
shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which the indemnified party
may be entitled; and that the corporation shall have power to purchase and
maintain insurance on behalf of a director or officer of the corporation against
any liability asserted against him or her or incurred by him or her in any such
capacity or arising out of his or her status as such whether or not the
corporation would have the power to indemnify him or her against such
liabilities under Section 145.

                                       3
4

         Article VIII of the Registrant's Certificate of Incorporation currently
provides that each director shall not be personally liable to the Registrant or
its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a
director, except for liability (i) for any breach of the directors' duty of
loyalty to the Registrant or its stockholders, (ii) for acts or omissions not in
good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of
law, (iii) under Section 174 of the DGCL, or (iv) for any transaction from which
the director derived an improper benefit. The Certificate of Incorporation
further provides that the Registrant shall indemnify, to the fullest extent
permitted by the DGCL, any person made a party to an action or proceeding by
reason of the fact that such person was a director, officer, employee or agent
of the Registrant.

         Article VII of the Registrant's Bylaws provides that the Registrant may
indemnify its officers and directors to the fullest extent permitted by law.
Subject to the Registrant's Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws provide
that the Registrant shall indemnify directors and officers for all costs
reasonably incurred in connection with any action, suit or proceeding in which
such director or officer is made a party by virtue of his being an officer or
director of the Registrant except where such director or officer is finally
adjudged to have been derelict in the performance of his duties as such director
or officer.

         The Registrant has entered into separate indemnification agreements
with its directors and officers containing provisions that provide for the
maximum indemnity allowed to directors and officers by the DGCL and the
Registrant's Bylaws, subject to certain exceptions. The indemnification
agreements may require the Registrant, among other obligations, to indemnify
such directors and officers against certain liabilities that may arise by reason
of their status as directors or officers, other than liabilities arising from
willful misconduct of a culpable nature, provided that such person acted in good
faith and in a manner that he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed
to the best interests of the Registrant and, in the case of a criminal
proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe that his conduct was unlawful. In
addition, the indemnification agreements provide generally that the Registrant
will, subject to certain exceptions, advance the expenses incurred by directors
and officers as a result of any proceeding against them as to which they may be
entitled to indemnification. The Registrant also maintains directors' and
officers' liability insurance.

ITEM 7.  EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION CLAIMED.

         Not applicable.

ITEM 8.  EXHIBITS.

         4.1*     Certificate of Incorporation of the Registrant (previously
                  filed as Exhibit 3.1 to the Registrant's Registration
                  Statement on Form S-1 (Reg. No. 333-08633), as amended and as
                  declared effective by the Commission on September 11, 1996).

         4.2*     Bylaws of the Registrant (filed as Exhibit 3.2 to the
                  Registrant's Registration Statement on Form S-1 (Reg. No.
                  333-08633), as amended and as declared effective by the
                  Commission on September 11, 1996).

         4.3      Form of Diedrich Coffee, Inc. 2000 Non-Employee Directors
                  Stock Option Plan dated as of October 20, 2000.

         5        Opinion of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP as to the legality of
                  the securities being registered.

         23.1     Consent of KPMG LLP, independent certified public accountants.

         23.2     Consent of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP (contained in Exhibit 5
                  hereto).

         24.1     Power of Attorney (contained on signature page hereto).

---------------------------

* Incorporated herein by reference.

                                       4
5

ITEM 9.  UNDERTAKINGS.

         (a)      The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:

                  (1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are
         being made, a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement:

                           (i) To include any prospectus required by Section
                  10(a)(3) of the Securities Act;

                           (ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events
                  arising after the effective date of the Registration Statement
                  (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which,
                  individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental
                  change in the information set forth in the Registration
                  Statement;

                           (iii) To include any material information with
                  respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed
                  in the Registration Statement or any material change to such
                  information in the Registration Statement;

provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) do not apply if the
information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those
paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed with or furnished to the
Commission by the Registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the
Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement.

                  (2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under
         the Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed
         to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered
         therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be
         deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

                  (3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective
         amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at
         the termination of the offering.

         (b) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of
determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the
registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange
Act that is incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement shall be
deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered
therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be
the initial bona fide offering thereof.

         (c) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the
Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons
of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the
Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Commission such
indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and
is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification
against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses
incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Registrant
in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such
director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being
registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter
has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate
jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public
policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by a final
adjudication of such issue.

                                       5
6

                                   SIGNATURES

         THE REGISTRANT

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, the Registrant
certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the
requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration
Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly
authorized, in the City of Irvine, State of California, on this 21st day of
November, 2000.

                                        DIEDRICH COFFEE, INC.

                                        By: /s/ Matthew C. McGuinness
                                            ------------------------------------
                                            Matthew C. McGuinness
                                            Senior Vice President and Chief
                                            Financial Officer (Principal
                                            Financial and Accounting Officer)

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

         Each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints
Matthew C. McGuinness his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, acting
alone, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him and in his
name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments
(including post-effective amendments) to this Registration Statement and to file
the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection
therewith, with the Commission, granting unto said attorney-in-fact and agent,
acting alone, with full power and authority to do and perform each and every act
and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully
to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying
and confirming that said attorney-in-fact and agent, acting alone, or his
substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this Registration
Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the
dates indicated.
NAME AND SIGNATURE                                   TITLE                                     DATE
    ------------------                                   -----                                     ----
/s/ J. Michael Jenkins               President and Chief Executive Officer
----------------------------           (Principal Executive Officer)                        November 16, 2000
    J. Michael Jenkins

 /s/ Matthew C. McGuinness             Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
----------------------------           (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)         November 16, 2000
   Matthew C. McGuinness

  /s/ Martin R. Diedrich               Chief Coffee Officer, Secretary,
----------------------------           Vice Chairman of the Board and Director              November 16, 2000
    Martin R. Diedrich

   /s/ Lawrence Goelman                Director                                             November 16, 2000
----------------------------
     Lawrence Goelman

   /s/ Paul C. Heeschen                Director                                             November 16, 2000
----------------------------
     Paul C. Heeschen
6
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NAME AND SIGNATURE                                   TITLE                                 DATE
    ------------------                                   -----                                 ----
Director                                         November __, 2000
----------------------------
        Peter Churm

    /s/ Timothy J. Ryan                Director                                         November 16, 2000
----------------------------
      Timothy J. Ryan

                                       Director                                         November __, 2000
----------------------------
      John E. Martin
7
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                                INDEX TO EXHIBITS

Exhibit No.                                  Description
-----------                                  -----------

     4.1*         Certificate of Incorporation of the Registrant (filed as
                  Exhibit 3.1 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form
                  S-1 (Reg. No. 333-08633), as amended and as declared effective
                  by the Commission on September 11, 1996).

     4.2*         Bylaws of the Registrant (filed as Exhibit 3.2 to the
                  Registrant's Registration Statement on Form S-1 (Reg. No.
                  333-08633), as amended and as declared effective by the
                  Commission on September 11, 1996).

     4.3          Form of Diedrich Coffee, Inc. 2000 Non-Employee Directors
                  Stock Option Plan, dated as of October 20, 2000.

     5            Opinion of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP, as to the legality of
                  the securities being registered.

    23.1          Consent of KPMG LLP, independent certified public accountants.

    23.2          Consent of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP (contained in Exhibit 5
                  hereto).

    24.1          Power of Attorney (contained on signature page hereto).

---------------
* Incorporated herein by reference.

                                       8