Forty Five Craft Coffee, positioned at the busiest intersection in town, shouldn’t be missed.
The tiny shop’s name was inspired by a love of vinyl—the platter type that spins on a turntable—as reflected in the worn LPs displayed on the walls, and the tiny record-shaped coasters on the tables.
You might call Forty Five a “boutique-style” coffeehouse—small and specialized, offering individualized attention (and hand-drawn foam hearts) in every cup. But owner Annette Buchanan McGregor had higher aspirations when she opened in 2017. Making a virtue of the compact space, she envisioned “a place where customers would have to make eye-contact with one another, possibly exchanging ideas and different philosophies, and focusing on our commonalities rather than differences.”
In other words, a modern salon, but with really good coffee and pastries. “I am idealistic,” she admits with a chuckle. And nearly a year and a half into it, the venture is working.
Annette uses Highwire Coffee (Oakland, CA) for her brew. “As far as I know, no one else in Southern Oregon serves it,” she says. “I wanted something different, and our customers are really pleased with it. We use their bulk teas, too.”
Along with espresso drinks, Forty Five offers signature beverages, like Cardamom Latte, and Golden Milk Latte. “We make all of our own syrups,” Annette says. “For the Cardamom Latte, we simmer organic, kosher cardamom seeds while adding brown sugar and honey. We let that cold steep for thirty-six hours, then strain out the pods and serve it. And the lovely Golden Milk Latte is an Indian product, with turmeric, dates, and herbs, served with your choice of milks: regular, almond, or coconut. Some people like to add a shot of espresso to make a ‘Dirty Golden,” she adds, approvingly. “And we make our own vanilla and chocolate syrups as well.”
Forty Five also features Cold Brew, the perfect thirst quencher on a balmy day. If asked, baristas gladly will infuse tiny nitrogen bubbles into the drink, enhancing the coffee’s naturally sweet flavors, and giving it a rich, creamy head. Plus, the cascading frothiness from the nitro makes the drink as pretty as it is delicious.
As a summer treat, Annette presents affogatos: a shot of espresso over the shop’s homemade vanilla ice cream. And on the agenda: nitro-lemonade, infused with lavender elderflower.
To enhance the Forty Five experience, Jacksonville baker Heather Bartko provides fresh muffins, scones, and cookies daily, and Rogue Valley’s CABA Empanadas provides five varieties of savory, handmade Argentine turnovers, as well as chimichurri sauce, and sweet gluten-free alfajores cookies.
FORTY FIVE CRAFT COFFEE
310 East California Street • 541-531-1378
Monday-Friday 7:00am-2:00pm
Saturday-Sunday 7:00am-3:00pm
Paula and Terry identify as writers, with an ever-increasing number of published works to support the supposition. They live a primarily pastoral life in the enchanted town of Jacksonville.