Sip Coffee: Not just fancy coffee drinks
Most coffee shops in the city consist of Starbucks selling indulgent Frappuccinos, so sometimes independent, community-based coffee houses get overlooked. The stretch of Grand Avenue in West Town is packed with local restaurants and shops including Sip Coffee, a two-story coffee house replete with two outdoor garden areas and enough ample space for the caffeine-addicted to generate their own personal work space.
Upon entering Sip, customers are greeted by a friendly barista ready to brew lattes, serve baked goods and make croissant sandwiches. A coffee board alerts customers to the types of frothy coffee drinks available: strong Intelligentsia drip coffee, espresso, Sip’s Signature drinks, cold caffeine items and Other Than the Bean items consisting of tea beverages. Perfect for the warmer months, all of the iced drinks like iced coffee and iced chai tea come in a healthy 20-ounce glass. Sip can concoct a con panna espresso drinks (espresso with crème) and more jittery fare such as a Panic Attack that includes four shots of coffee. For the anti-bean drinkers, Sip offers a select amount of loose leaf teas in both warm and cold versions.
Second only to the coffee, a coffee shop’s atmosphere is very important, and luckily Sip radiates a home away from home coziness. A rack of magazines holds copies of the daily newspaper and The Economist available for perusal, but the truly voracious readers delve into their copies of the latest novels. Instead of reading books, other customers take advantage of the free Wi-Fi for their laptops. The first floor has several tables and couches set up that leads to a flower strewn outdoor garden area designated for those who wants to engage in a conversation under the sun. Employee-picked music filters through the PA system, but customers can always plug into their own musical world. Local artists display art for sale on the walls keeping the shop’s independent spirit alive.
Posted by Garin Pirnia
