Forward Craft & Coffee — Restaurant in Madison

I think like a lot of people I've been waiting for a local spot that would be awesome to dip into in the morning or evening, and Forward finally was the one to deliver. I came in a few days ago and was pleasantly assailed by Rachel saying (more or less) "you should get the granola. I made it and it's gluten free and vegan." It was delicious. Pair that up with their really excellent cold brew flight and that is a great way to start the day. It seems like they go through some of their more elaborate cold brew flavors quickly, so I'm kind of excited to see what rotates through next week. I got the chance to chat with Dan, one of the co owners for a while too. He was kind enough to let me talk his ear off about revolution, because this coffee destination is a great beer destination. They have both ryeway to heaven and black gold on tap! I'm drinking the BG right now and it is just as absurd as you think. This place and it's team really wants to do this right, and I think they are off to a great start. Local coffee, fun recipes, a very heavy hitting tap list. The corner location is awesome too. You can tell this is going to be a go to for east siders....

I was down in Madison this weekend with a friend and we stopped at Forward Craft & Coffee on our way out of town. We were greeted by the barista (I wish I would have gotten her name but she is from Seattle so that should help) as though we were long time friends and she took such great care explaining to us what was available in our drinks and making sure we got drinks that appealed to us.

The vibe at Forward is so friendly and welcoming. I can see that this would be a great place to hang with friends. While we were there specifically for coffee, they had some great options for beers too.

Speaking of coffee, we each ordered a hot drink and a cold drink and all tasted amazing. Just the right amount of espresso, milk, and syrups. We will...

I’ve been here several times and usually enjoy it, but today’s experience was a bit frustrating and disappointing. The menu listed danishes, but they didn’t have any available. I then asked for a donut from the display and if it could be warmed. The staff said something about the warmer/oven would take about 20 minutes, and when I said I didn’t mind waiting, I was told, ‘I’m gonna have to say no’ without explanation. I understand the shop can get busy, but having a pastry warmed up is a pretty common request in a Wisconsin winter. The coffee is good, but clearer communication about what’s available and what can be warmed would really improve the experience. I don’t plan to return in the...