Forage Coffee Company — Restaurant in Medford

Forage is a coffee shop where the owners treat their employees like family, and the employees treat the customers as if we were their own children...Allow me to paint the picture:

Imagine yourself arriving at a family reunion which your parents dragged you to, but instead of being met by awkward distant relatives and strangers you were greeted by celebrities and successful business people who are all eager to employ you for high paying jobs which require little work on your part, and no qualifications (for which you are incredibly grateful).

Your parents who forced you to come, have each suddenly turned into a delicious caffeinated beverage. Your father is now an iced oat milk latte. You take your first sip. The espresso opens with an aroma of clove and orange zest. Then, a wave of hibiscus acidity balances the contrasting flavors of cocoa and farm grown oats. You let the tingling of your tastebuds linger while rejoicing that your taste has finally returned after losing it to COVID-19.

You turn to your mother who is now a cortado. You look puzzled, unable to discern what a cortado actually is...but you embrace the mystery and flood your tastebuds with another rush of joyful flavors. This time, the flavor notes are so numerous that they swell and crescendo into a symphony upon your refined and sophisticated palette.

Then you hear the applause. You suppose the cheers and shouts of approval are for the harmonious music which was effortlessly made by the barista...but then you discover the applause is for you. All of the customers and employees are giving you a standing ovation and simultaneously inviting you into their family. This is not merely a coffee shop. It is a home. Come and discover the truth of what Dorthy said as she clicked her shimmering...

Used to love coming to this place! Good coffee, good food. she’s now the third time less than a month that I’ve walked in stood in front of the counter and had multiple employees standing within 3 feet of me and never acknowledge me. Never say hey I’m busy, never say hey one minute, sir, not a thing they just sit there talk about bicycles, Christian Bible study, which I have no problem with. Just any old thing other than acknowledging me as a customer I’m extremely loyal customer and an over Tipper and you’ve earned absolutely neither my loyalty nor my tips. How do you let somebody stand in front of you for 3-5 and never even acknowledge their presence it’s beyond rude. It’s some weird sense of entitlement, that you’re doing me a favor allowing me to be there and give you money. Guess what I’m across the street at Dutch Brothers, giving them money giving money to a corporate structure now rather than a local business because you can’t treat your customers or potential customers with an ounce of kindness, respect, or remember that you’re a flipping business that’s here to service me so that you can make money. You know better than all the bums in the park you’re next to which brings me to my last thing the only reason I come around is because of how good your food services and when you don’t do either, why would I hang out next to a park full of needles shooting defecating on the grass junkies… I don’t ever come to this business if you want simple things like Service, kindness, etc. any other things you’d expect at a expensive coffee shop. However, come here if you can’t wait to be not acknowledged,not served , helped, and really really wanna just sit around and watch people shoot needles in their arms and defecate...

I've always loved Forage and what they have to offer. I’ve been a huge fan of the atmosphere and their drinks since they opened. Though when I heard about the fines I thought it was an exaggeration but it wasn't until I went in today and notices how they're still not reinforcing covid regulations. The first thing I noticed were the people without their masks who were already finished with their drinks and food. People walking in and waiting in line without masks and not being asked to wear one. The own barista who was making my drink wearing it under the nose and eventually just pulling it down to the chin and handing me my drink. Also, Jacob, who I believe is the owner, walking around without a mask insight and he wasn't drinking or eating anything either. This was disappointing considering it was my favorite local coffee shop. If the owner isn’t responsible enough to wear a mask while walking around the shop then it’s no surprise the employees and customers also don’t care. Every time Jacob has taken my order or made small talk he was such a friendly man but this is business and he needs to take accountability...