Forum Coffee (Downtown Hoboken) — Restaurant in Hoboken

⭐☆☆☆☆ No Ube Latte Anymore

I was really looking forward to visiting Forum Coffee, but it turned out to be a huge disappointment. The moment you walk in, the atmosphere is uninviting—it looks like they’re still under renovation, and the setup feels incomplete. This is nothing like Pour Amour Coffee, which had charm and warmth. Now, it’s a completely different, unappealing space.

The pastries looked sad and unappetizing. The menu for coffee and tea was awkwardly placed on the side wall in a frame, apart from the one behind the cashier, and the acrylic placement only made it feel even less inviting. I was craving an Ube Latte, only to find out they don’t serve it anymore. The cashier explained they are a completely different company now, which is fine, but the new menu is underwhelming.

I decided to try the Matcha Latte, and it was a total letdown. The matcha was clearly not authentic—just a commercial-grade powder with no real depth of flavor. And for $9? Completely overpriced for something so low in quality.

The only redeeming factor was the cashier, who was polite and friendly—that’s the only reason I’d even consider giving four star for the service and one star as a coffee shop. But overall, this place is not worth it. The coffee shop itself is unwelcoming, overpriced, and lacks quality in both its drinks and presentation. Definitely not coming back. Save your money and go somewhere else.

PS: I forgot to take a photo and video of it coz again…..it was not pleasing at all! Such a dismay!

My response to the owner as of April 4, 2025.

⸻

Dear Forum Coffee Owner,

Thank you for your response. I truly appreciate the time, energy, and passion that clearly goes into your work and your space.

First and foremost, I want to clarify that my intention was never to harm or diminish your efforts, but rather to express a personal experience and share honest feedback in hopes it might be helpful. I understand that transitions, especially after a change in ownership, come with challenges—and that renovation is a process that takes time.

I do recognize and respect the investment you’ve made in the space and your commitment to quality. I believe in supporting local businesses, especially family-owned ones, and I want to see you thrive. With that said, I’m more than willing to give Forum Coffee another try in the future, especially once renovations are fully complete. I genuinely look forward to seeing your final vision come to life. Also, I'll definitely make sure to take photos and videos upon my visit. No hatred here just pure positivity and honest feedback. I firmly believe that receiving it with grace is more professional rather than defensive.

Wishing you continued growth and success as you move forward. I’ll be back when the timing feels right. PS: My friend paid the bill so $18 for 2 matcha lattes vs my cravings for ube latte was not met hence I wrote my review in...

Edit: hey Forum, businesses turn over in this town like clockwork without its managers acting like snarky teenagers in response to legitimate criticisms of their business. Good luck -- based on the reviews to your business and your choice to engage in pettiness instead of earnestness, you're gonna need it!

large regular ice coffee with vanilla flavoring = $7.50. Maybe that's cold brew and not drip -- I don't know, my apologies. Regardless, the same order is about $2 cheaper over at Empire Coffee.

This would be a bit more tolerable if the service was on par -- which it wasn't. First the wait was absurdly long -- I'm talking at least 10 minutes for a coffee here -- and then the coffee I was delivered was 80%-85% half and half, a cup of milk. When the barista handed it to me and I made a funny face, she THEN realized it was missing a shot of coffee or whatever. Even when she added it, the final result was basically just caffeinated milk, not coffee.

Original review accidentally left at Uptown location:

7.50 for a large coffee, long as hell wait for regular drip --...

Are there good places for coffee in Hoboken? Absolutely, especially from Italian cafés. Is Forum Coffee a great place for coffee? 100% yes. There aren't many cafés I would think about making a pit stop every weekend to simply sit down and drink coffee with a pastry, but this is one of them. This is especially true when I believe a cafe can do as well as I can at the comfort of my own home. It's a small shop that is comfy especially with lofi music playing in the background. I think the look and atmosphere is special. This is a great cafe in Hoboken, and you should give it a try.

Signature Chocolate pie made by the manager Pour Over Black - Sumatra: Notes of Cedar, Cardamom, Baker's Chocolate *The their Ethiopian pour-over coffee is great, and pairs well with...