Do you like drinking your coffee in a wide open, industrial chic, sun-drenched setting? Tamper it is, then. A recent addition to this stretch of Medford's Boston Ave, Tamper offers up simple minimalist interior with lots of local love showcasing area brands in their small retail offerings and their in-house menu (All sandwiches on Iggy's bread!) Dishing out breakfast, lunch and weekend brunch- I've only made it around to lunching here thus far. The pressed sandwiches are tasty- my only suggestion is that they come out a bit dry -- maybe a tad more butter/olive oil/what have you on the panini press? It's never been swamped when I go. There's usually a nice mix of Tufts kids face deep in homework, professors stopping in for coffee, and locals popping in for a bite. The space feels like a Restoration Hardware catalog or something- with long wooden communal tables & exposed piping and brass touches everywhere. While I wouldn't say this place is cozy, it's exactly the kind of place I could go to get something tasty and get some work done for a few hours. read more

Tamper - Counter ordering - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Medford, Massachusetts

Great little place for a quick delicious breakfast. I was here for a Tufts admissions session, and this place was about 100 yards down the road. The menu is surprisingly diverse. We had a tasty egg sandwich and some sort of home fries plate. Both were solid. And they make a legit sunny side up egg! They have a full coffee bar, they have wine and beer, and they even have empire soda. And lots of space for people working on laptops and other studying. read more

Another hipster coffee shop. Cute. Nice decor, good ambience. Lots of Tufts students, if I had to guess. But the latte was just ok IMO, and the food is PRICEY and portions are small. My boyfriend paid $6 for a breakfast sandwich the size of a peanut and left starving. My breakfast was a little more substantial (and quite taasty): scrambled eggs with salami for just over $8. All in all we paid a little more than we had hoped to. read more

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Lovely hipster kinda place for brunch. The food is fresh and good. But it was disappointing that it took almost 1 hour for a single order of scrambled eggs and potatoes today. Would give them 4 for food and space. But 1 for the ridiculous wait. Food is good but not that good that it would be worth it, given the price. read more

Tamper - Scrambled eggs and potatoes. $6 and it took an hour. Food was good but not worth the wait and cost - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Medford, Massachusetts

Adorable student-staffed breakfast and lunch place right near Tufts campus. My quinoa bowl was really good but they also had French toast, tuna melts, Omelettes etc. Grilled cheese is on the "secret" menu! read more

Nice place to do a little work. Nothing beats the minimalist style of the cafe. The menu is also minimalistic, but sufficient. A perfect cup of cappuccino. Some music is playing, but much less obtrusive than SB etc. One can even have a conversation. If I had to design a cafe, it would be Tamper. Tamper is right for my temper. read more

I live around the corner from this place and I was hoping it was going to be a trendy bar judging by the edgy name but alas, it is another breakfast place. I kept putting off trying Tamper, opting for the safe Danish Pastry House instead, until last Saturday when I decided one can really only eat so many pastries before one should venture forth to new food horizons. I like the industrial ambiance and the long wooden tables. I also liked he service, although your interaction with the staff really only occurs when you order at the register. I did not, however, like my very soupy French toast. It needed another minute or two on the griddle. Also, I was only given two pieces of bacon and while scrumptious, all bacon on the face of planet earth is scrumptious and the price of said scrumptious bacon was $2 or $2.50, making scrumptious bacon about $1 per piece. I can buy high quality scrumptious bacon for $7 a pound at Whole Foods. Have I made my point about the bacon yet? I was hoping for better. I will try Tamper for lunch sometime but only because it is so close to me. read more

Tamper - Pancakes - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Medford, Massachusetts

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If you do not wish to be surrounded by Tufts students, don't go to Tamper. If you don't mind (they are polite college students, for the most part), then go to sit amongst students writing lab reports and quietly discussing their drunk decisions the previous night. Tamper is a modern space and is exactly the right vibe for a cup of coffee or a light breakfast. My all-time favorite is the quinoa bowl with an egg over easy, it features mushrooms, spinach, almonds, and a delicious balsamic. If you are craving something sweet, their granola and oatmeal are amazing, and their egg sandwich is not huge but absolutely delicious. Their chocolate chip oatmeal cookies always hit the spot as well. It is the kind of food that you crave every morning without getting sick of it. There are a few smaller tables for two or four, but the majority of the seating is at communal tables in the middle. It seems to always be crowded, but I have always found somewhere to squeeze in to sit and do work or catch up with a friend. You can also get their food to go! Highly recommend checking Tamper out, go off hours if you are looking for a more quiet space or seating for a larger group! read more

Still the best place to get coffee in Medford. Love the cortado and sausage and egg scramble :).

Finally, a great coffee place near the Tufts Campus. Up until now, one had to trek to Diesel's in Davis Sq to enjoy an excellent pour. Not anymore. Tamper tamps and froths with the best of them. The decor is quite imaginative: pipe fittings and faux gas lamp fixtures set against soft wood finishes. Those pipes will come in handy during the zombie apocalypse, I reckon. Lots of comfort food is available for lunch and breakfast. I've only sampled the egg salad on whole wheat, but the spicy bean soup looked awesome! My new favorite place for a mid-afternoon jolt. Oh yeah, and free wifi for the customer. read more

Tamper - Latte sous le soleil - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Medford, Massachusetts

Cold brew is bold, strong but smooth. My usual coffee run spot while working. Only downside is they don't offer non-dairy alternatives for creamer. read more

I have to say that I am a huge fan of this place. I have never had a bad meal or drink here. Specifically, I have been obsessed lately with the omelets. I have been trying to eat healthy so a simple mushroom and onion is fantastic and their cold brew to go along with it is perfect. But overall there are so many items here that are great. read more

What a breakfast sandwich! So tasty, especially with tomato. The coffee was excellent too, but the food here really stands out.

The Tamper is one of my favorite places that serve healthy bowl for breakfast or for brunch. My brother and ordered quinoa bowl, egg and mashed potato, French toast and flat white. The bowl was my favorite that I absolutely recommend it with less onion and more Almond :) The egg and mashed potato was delicious. Unfortunately the French toast needs a lot of work to make it delicious I am a tea guru who chose a coffee bar kind of place just to have a healthy meal proximity to where I live. The waiter was patient and friendly. He introduced me to all kind of coffee Tamper has. Although they have the best coffee, I am still I tea guru The overall service is prompt and I recommend the place to everyone who has addiction to coffee :) read more

Tamper - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Medford, Massachusetts

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the best coffee establishment in medford!!! the food and java are of the highest quality. the service is exceptional. jason, one of the owners, is a true professional who treats customers with the utmost respect. the staff is well trained and extremely friendly. read more

Delicious breakfast spot. Sat outside. Clean food and nice service. Packed which is always good to see! Grab a bite here!

Cute little coffee shop near Tufts University. Looking for good coffee in the area I decided to trust this place... it did not disappoint. Service was good, and the food/coffee presentation was very clean and pretty. Hopefully I get to come back. read more

Tamper - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Medford, Massachusetts

I love what Tamper is doing. Located on Tuft's backdoor, they are a welcome nod to the better angels of millennial taste. The place has a great energy when you walk in the door. The staff is friendly, the diners typically engaged and 'awake'...while the food quality vacillates from excellent to mundane. To be clear, all of the ingredients are top notch, and the preps and ideology, fun. Where they fall shy of perfection is in preparation. A soft scrambled egg will consistently come out, well, just like any over-cooked egg in any diner...marbles of dulled egg. Being able to consistently cook to temp is important, and with an egg, you know immediately if you've botched it. Cooking another is no more than a 30 second endeavor on a hot griddle. On another note, sometimes perfection is the enemy of good or complete. Tamper previously offered almond milk, but no longer does. They made their own almond milk from the best possible (expensive and organic) almonds to attain almond milk perfection. Of course, I imagine no one is coming in and ordering a fine glass of almond milk. It's almost invariably a dairy substitute topping off a coffee concoction. People order soy or almond milk for health considerations, not because they're dying to have a glass of either. Though neither is bad for you, their health attributes are quite different. See the end of this bit for a small paragraph on how. So to not offer almond milk at all, because you want to save up to 'buy the good stuff' seems a little self indulgent, and rather unnecessary. Lastly, (and a nod to the lack of experience on the floor) 'the bottom of the glass belongs to the house, while the top of the glass belongs to the guest.' It's an old restaurant adage. There's little more disconcerting to me, than to be given a glass of iced coffee, (beer, mead, or anything wet) accompanied by the sweetest well intentioned smile, with every possible centimeter of the glass's rim covered by a hand...so essentially, I'm drinking iced coffee and everything they've touched since last they washed. Not to lose my way, I want to get back to the point. I like this place. I think you would like this place. However, they do have some quality issues and unpolished traits to be addressed. Nothing too difficult, just some attention here and there. Till then, order beverages served with a handle, and get off on their avocado toast. Here's that almond/soy blurb. "Soy Milk's Hormonal Effects Drinking soy milk can be super beneficial for people over age 50 because it helps to relieve postmenopausal symptoms in women and prevent prostate cancer in men. But it may cause certain adverse effects for those who are in their reproductive years. Though not yet confirmed, soy milk has been suspected for reducing male fertility and sperm count. Soy may interfere with progesterone production during pregnancy, and thus should be avoided if you are an expectant mother. Soy may also counteract the effects of chemo and tamoxifen therapy. Breast cancer patients are much better off drinking almond instead of soy milk during treatment and remission." read more

Such a gem in this area of town! There needs to be more nice places like this in this neighborhood. Food was good and fast and friendly. Spacious environment. Fun vibe. read more

Tamper - Ordering area - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Medford, Massachusetts

Amazing coffee, almost as good as Europe! Breakfast is fresh, healthy and reasonably priced!! read more

Tamper - Flat white - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Medford, Massachusetts

Terrible espresso. Order a double and it tasted like espresso was burnt. Very small pour about 1/6 of the cup. Temperature was not hot at all, almost room temp. If you can't get something like espresso right, you should be in business. read more

First time visiting (but long-time breakfast sandwich connoisseur). Ordered the egg sandwich on brioche with everything (which meant bacon, egg, cheese, kale, tomato, and hot sauce). It stands solidly amongst and above the greatest in Boston. Everything is prepared in front of you and the quality/freshness is immediately apparent (this is also evidenced by the per-order hand-cranked OJ). The egg is fresh-cracked and peppered; the cheese is thick-cut and perfectly warmed to become pliable but not drippy; the kale is crispy-griddled; the bacon is thick-cut but snappy; the tomato is fresh-sliced and griddled just long enough to release its sweetness but not its juices; the hot sauce is house-prepared and perfectly spiced and anointed; lastly, it's all sandwiched between two pillowy soft sides of house brioche. The texture variance is unparalleled in the city of Boston and the flavors are outrageously harmonious. This sandwich sits effortlessly beside and above those served at Mike and Patty's, Bagelsaurus, Exodus, Ula Cafe, Darwin's, and Loyal 9, to name a few (though comparing brioche with bagels isn't really a fair trade). Also, this is the first glass of cold brew I've had that doesn't necessitate a touch of sweetener or dairy. Kudos, great job: absolutely phenomenal. read more

Oh Tamper, this place gives me so many mixed feelings... Positive: - Space: lovely, airy, industrial decor with a good amount of seating, outlets, and free wifi. won't leave with a weird smell on your clothes like you would from Danish Pastry. - Service: The chef and co-owner (Mike?) is a super nice guy. You can tell he cares a lot about the menu he creates, as he's constantly tweaking and trying to improve upon his creations. - Coffee: very strong and bitter, if you like that Negative: - PRICES PRICES PRICES!!!! Why is everything so EXPENSIVE?? I understand that they're using quality ingredients, but I honestly don't think their food tastes good enough to justify their pricing. My friend once paid $10 for a small cup of curry squash soup, only ordering it because they didn't put the price on the board (for good reason). Honestly, sometimes the gall just astounds me. It is for this reason that I can only give this place 2 stars. I would love to come here more but I just can't afford it! If everything were just $1-2 cheaper... I would be here all the time. - I've seen staff turnover like no other here. Every time I come by, there is a different cashier or cook in the back. They're usually nice enough, but service can be slow with all the training going on. Of the food, their oatmeal is great, very hearty and slow-cooked steel-cut oats. Their BLT and chicken sandwich is also good. Again, I just really wish that they would lower their prices a little.. WHY TAMPER WHYYY read more

Its a little pricey but the cold brew and the avocado smash are amazing. The thick cut toast is so great and the feta and pepitas make the avocado toast unlike any other. read more

After reading the reviews I figure I'd give this place a try. I went with my boyfriend yesterday morning. The place was dead for a Saturday morning (maybe because this place is located near Tufts and it's winter break?). Anyway I ordered the 2 egg plate over easy and a latte. My boyfriend got a breakfast sandwich and a fancy cola that tasted exactly like regular Coke - BTW you pay extra for bacon. All of that was $20... isn't breakfast suppose to be cheap? So my eggs were medium and the home fries that came with it were the consistency of potatoes that had been reheated in the microwave. I wasn't impressed. My latte was deeeelish, no complaints there but I wouldn't return here for that alone. There was nothing special about the breakfast sandwich my boyfriend ate. The place is just eh. read more

I'm so glad this place opened up! I prefer it to Danish Pastry House as a place to grab a drink and do some homework. They have long tables that work great as desks, and finding a spot never seems to be a problem like at DPH. Also, the hot chocolate is fantastic! It's nice and rich with chunks of real melted chocolate in it. Also, I'm not a coffee drinker, but I ordered their drip coffee one day and it rocked. Their warm quinoa salad is also fantastic. Whenever I've been there the people behind the counter have been super friendly and there's always some groovy vinyl records playing. Great place for drinks and studying. Just wish it was open later in the evening! read more

I really miss the Boloco that used to be in this space, but I'm so glad this part of Medford has a coffee shop now. The place is beautiful, with tons of sunlight streaming through big windows and big solid wood tables. The staff is friendly and make some great coffee drinks -- and they don't charge much for soy milk. Their food is good, with reasonable prices for what you get. I'll sometimes stop by after a run for their $4 "breakfast sandwich", a nice little dose of protein & carbs to get me back to normal. Their brunch offerings are also good, with competitive prices, but I'm too much of a cheapskate to make brunch here a regular thing. Wifi is free, so you get the usual "laptop crowd", but everyone's respectful (so far) and I haven't had any problems with bandwidth hogs or anything like that. There aren't a lot of outlets, so grab a seat by the windows if you think you're going to need one. read more

This is a favorite place for Tufts students venturing from the dining halls. I had a late breakfast here and very much enjoyed my quinoa bowl. The soft egg was perfect, and it's the kind of dish you wish you could throw together, but it's much better here. Things taste very fresh, & it's a cool student-y atmosphere. There are service hitches though-- our drinks took a long time to come out and my quinoa bowl arrived 15 minutes before my dining companion's yogurt bowl. I also agree with previous posters who find prices fairly high, especially for drinks. read more

I came here on the search to try the newest food craze: avocado toast. After wondering how these flavors could go together I was pretty curious and wanted to try it. So I came in, ordered, and enjoyed the nice ambiance. I got a green tea which was awesome and an oatmeal cookie, if you're a big cinnamon fan like me, you'll love this. But when that toast was brought out to me I was pretty excited and amazed. The bread was buttery and perfectly charred around the edges. The avocado feta was so creamy and the pumpkin seeds added a whole new flavor and a crunch I will definitely return to show my friends the greatness of the avocado toast. read more

Pros: 1. Food is healthy and a lot of it is organic 2. Design of the place is refreshing 3. Not only is the food decent, but it's an option that didn't previously exist on Boston Ave Cons: 1. Portions generally not too big (except for maybe the oatmeal) 2. Expensive 3. Very annoying hipster crowds on the weekends read more

Delicious yet simple food (my go-to is the Zak Attack), good coffee, nice people. A favorite spot for a weekend breakfast (great eating there or as takeout). Lots of college students doing work, outdoor tables in the sunshine when it's nice out. read more

Aw man, I hate that I'm giving this such a bad review, but I really expected better. I understand that I came on a Wednesday morning and it was fairly busy with regular morning traffic, but I still wasn't impressed. I ordered a freshly squeezed to go cup of OJ and it was literally 6 ounces and $3, disappointment. I also ordered an egg and cheese bagel and no cheese was on it at all. It was so dry and the bagel had been toasted a little too much. I should've taken a picture so you all could witness how terrible it was. I'm not writing this place off though, they had some other things on their menu that looked good (for small bites/drinks), but I'll probably never get breakfast from there again. Truly a waste of $7 this morning, you could tell they were a little short staffed/stressed, but yeah, this experience sucked. read more

What a true gem in Medford! I've ridden my bike past here for years and have always wondered. And now I've moved around the corner and it was a big reason why I bought my house! Walkability to an amazing coffee house w great food was a must. The zac attack was superb and the coffee even more delicious! Did I mention they have cold brew?? We also couldn't wait for Wednesday night to come around as they are open from 6-9 for a small delicious menu that changes every week and crafted by Jerome the chef. I really really enjoyed this place, vibe, location and people- you can't go wrong here! read more

Tamper is a very nice cafe right by Tufts campus. As such, it is often very crowded with university students grabbing a bite to eat or doing homework. However, Tamper has put up signs banning laptop use on some of their 4 person tables to make sure there is still a good turnover of tables for people who are just coming to eat. I really enjoy the Zac attack, which has sun dried tomatoes and avocado slices on top of slices of their rosemary focaccia bread. The bread here is definitely a highlight! It is so flavorful and the perfect texture. I also enjoy their matcha lattes because they are not overly sweetened and really allow the flavor of the matcha to shine. The staff is pretty polite but are often overwhelmed by the crowd and so can be pretty short with you at times. It is also a bit of a hassle to get your drinks if you order a hot drink for here, because they fill the mug up to the brim and you have to pick it up from the counter and try to carefully weave through the crowd back to your table without spilling your drink. Overall, I will keep coming back to Tamper because the food is so good and the price is right! read more

3.5 stars but I'll round up. Found my new study spot! I basically lived here during finals week. Tamper offers a strong, delicious cup of Joe in a sweet atmosphere. I love the modern, industrial feel and all the light that flows in! Workers here are incredibly friendly. I've gotten a latte here twice and have always been impressed with it. I'm pretty sensitive to caffeine so this little mug kept me up 12 hours later. Their menu offerings are pretty pricey and there isn't much a variety. They have toast, soup, and sandwiches. I really wanted to order their soup, but couldn't bring myself to pay almost $7 for a bowl when I could get it for half the price across the street. Instead, I settled on the Warm Quinoa Salad. It was drizzled with a yummy Maple dressing, mixed in with kale and other veggies, and planted on a bed of lettuce. I was expecting more vegetables and less quinoa, but it was still pretty delicious. However, with a price tag of over $9, I'm not sure I'd get it again. I wish they had extended hours during finals week because I'm sure many of us aren't ready to leave by 3pm. However, worth mentioning is that the waiter didn't even try kicking people out when it was close to 4! Also, you may be able to spot our Yelp Community Manager here! Hi Damien! read more

I was disappointed by the service, the food and the quality. Perhaps it was a bad day - we are all entitled to it. Though we were greeted with smiles we waited a long time for our coffees, the eggs were undercooked (not just yolks, but the entire egg), no dish came with toast and the plate presentation was severely lacking. Now, none of this matters, but when you pay close to $40 for two people you expect A LOT more. The ambiance was nice with Edison bulbs and nice fit and finish, but I don't have to go back there any time soon. Fit/Finish: 4/5 Service: 2/5 Food: 1/5 Value: 1/5 read more

I absolutely love Tamper, Jason and Adam are there for their customer, going above and beyond to make is happy! The oatmeal is to die for and so is the coffee! I used to go there at all times, now we have moved! Will terribly miss my coffee fix and my friends faces!! read more

Tamper - Black coffee and sea salt caramel! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Medford, Massachusetts

Too bad that I couldn't give this a better review. This cafe has the right intentions and aspirations and I feel I'd have loved it if I was a student at Tufts. If you aren't one, there isn't much to write home about. If you're in the area, dying for caffeine and want to avoid the sbucks, this could be an okay choice. read more

Really delicious food but a bit pricier than I think is reasonable for Medford. I love their coffee and tea selection though and the staff are always extremely friendly. The open seating would be a lot nicer in a more social place. Most of their regulars seem to be students with books or laptops, so it kind of defeats the purpose of having shared tables if no one is socializing. Regardless, I'm sure I'll be back. read more

I've been here a few times and really like their egg sandwich (so much cheeeeeese!), although I do wish they offered it on a choice of breads (bagel is fine, but isn't my favorite). Nice, friendly atmosphere. Ample seating. Okay prices ($7 for egg sandwich & hot tea). Good spot. read more

Tamper - Lots of seating - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Medford, Massachusetts