I want to preface this by saying, I've put this review off for a long time. I've loved this place for years, been coming out there since 2017, and never wanted to have to make a review like this for somewhere I loved so much. Sips. Those who have been in Tampa for a long time know it well, very well. It was a local shop with more charm than anywhere else. Key word: Was. Back when Caryn ran the shop, it was a traditional, small-town coffee shop putting out better drinks than any "trendy" shops were. While also offering normally seasonal beverages year round. While also having arguably the best barista crew anyone could ask for. You felt like family walking in, it was a fantastic, one-of-a-kind experience that nowhere else in the Tampa area ever offered. I still remember when the drive thru was open during Covid, we went 60 days in a row. Because they were the only thing open that we loved. So we kept going back, and every single time we would see the same crew as usual. Caryn and the others were always extremely welcoming and were 75% of the reason why Sips was such a loved shop. You can get great coffee anywhere in the area, but you can never replicate the experience of going to Sips. We managed to find some of the old crew working at other shops after they had left, but it will never be the same without the synergy everyone had. It was like going to see family every time. A couple years back, Caryn retired, and a new, remote owner from Oklahoma took over. I don't know a thing about this guy, except he's the biggest imbecile in the coffee business right now and utterly destroyed everything that made Sips worthwhile and special. He took a fantastic local coffee shop, rebranded it into this generic, boring place with 0 charm, and lost everyone left on the team with it. Everyone there wasn't just able to be argued as the best baristas in the state, they were absolutely fantastic people, and deserved so much better than the hand they were dealt post-ownership change. I'd like to give some suggestions to people of other coffee shops in the area, places that won't replicate the charm of the original Sips, but will certainly provide you a better experience than what you'll get at the new one tarnishing the name and legacy of it. So, Sips is out. What next? What can "replace" Sips? Well, while nothing really can fill the void of losing a place like this, we have close seconds. Which is all we can ask for, because to rebuild something like what Sips was, is statistically impossible. There's Elevation Coffee in Northdale, Blind Tiger in Westchase, Caffeine Roasters in South Tampa, and Haven House in Safety Harbor. All 4 of those are shops I've been visiting often since we lost Sips. If this was 2019, I'd have given this place 5 stars. I'd have said it's the best shop in Tampa and deserves to be marked in every guide we have. But this isn't 2019, and this isn't Sips. This is a generic coffee shop Buffalo Bill-ing an irreplaceable shop. It's sad what's become of this place. The best anyone can do now is hope it closes swiftly, so the locals who remember, can cherish the legacy and memories of what we were so fortunate and lucky to have.

Moist baked goods and great coffee! We got double chocolate muffins, coffee cake, and a cranberry orange muffin. All the baked goods were fresh and moist. They were a good portion too. I had English toffee iced latte, it was yummy. Their specialty iced sips mocha (white chocolate mocha with caramel drizzle) was delicious too! Very happy with the coffee and the food. Service was fast and friendly. Definitely going back!

Sips used to be a wonderful coffee shop but unfortunately the new ownership has ran it in to the ground. We went when the ownership first changed and the employees were incredibly rude. I also would like to point out the owners response to the only review he’s ever responded to is very untrue. I personally knew the previous owner and helped with their business for over a year. They never failed health inspections nor were they struggling to pay rent. That response was just ignorant and completely unnecessary. The owner is from out of state and is not present at the business. He got rid of all of the old staff that were actually kind and personable. I will not ever come back to your coffee shop when there are other amazing local coffee shops in the area, I just had to say something because it’s out of line to insult the previous owners when they ran a very successful business and you just came in and ruined it.

This used to be my favorite place to get coffee, but sadly I can't say that any more. I walked in today and it was dead it took 15 for someone to get my order when there were 3 employees working. Very disappointed in the service.

Been a regular since 2017. Knew there would be growing pains with new crew but this is getting ridiculous. They are friendly and nice. However, l experienced long wait times for even short lines consistently. Current ownership needs to read all recent reviews and take action. Obviously you messed up when the full crew quit. Would not recommend this spot if you need a quick coffee.

Wow!! What an improvement! Ive been coming for years and I have seen the customer service go up and down. It was getting pretty rough up until recently! The new manager is fantastic. He really cares about what he does! He engages, and encourages his staff. They genuinely look like they enjoy their job, and that makes a world of difference for your customers. Thank you for such great service today guys!

I recently had a frustrating and disappointing experience at Sips when I tried to place my order on the phone with Zoey while waiting in the drive thru line that was already taking 20 minutes. However, I was told by Zoey that they would not take my order over the phone and that I would have to wait until I pulled up to the window. This response was not only rude, but also unhelpful and made me question if I wanted to return to Sips in the future. I even asked for another employee to make my food because of Zoey's attitude, but she refused to do so. This kind of treatment from an employee is unacceptable and has left a negative impression of Sips on me. I hope that in the future, the employees at Sips will treat their customers with more respect and work towards providing a better experience for all patrons.

Friendly staff, clean facility, good coffee!

Quieter atmosphere than I expected but the staff were super friendly, I had the lavender strawberry espresso and it was pretty good not too sweet and unique flavor

I want to thank Lauren and Shiny for their previous reviews. I worked at sips for nearly 5 years, and I can guarantee we’ve never once even came close to failing health inspections. Not to mention when COVID hit the business actually boomed, despite other shops, because our loyal regulars were coming every single day sometimes more than once a day. We cared about sips more than anything, as Ken and Caryn were like parents to us. That’s why you would walk in our store and feel so much love, because we were all so genuinely happy to be there. Jeremy and Jessica, I want to say I can genuinely see the positive change you have tried to bring Sips and even made it more efficient in some ways. I’m asking you to understand where people like Lauren and Shiny and myself come from, we once had what was such a charming and home-like shop turned corporate. And that’s disheartening. Please remember the love we had for what once was Sips before you attack the customers who have helped keep the store YOU now own, in business.

We have come to sips and absouletly love sips and staff. Until theyoung lady today. I asked for a frozen caramel frozen extra expresso . The young lady with short colored hair & glasses .She then said latte frozen which confused me . I said just the frozen camarel with a extra shot of expresso . . She again clairfys you dont have frozen coffee but we have latte. I stated i order the same drink for three years and never have been questioned so much . Lol Next she goes well how long have you been coming stated again three years. Nowsge goes on to tell me about iwner switch and might be old. Too muchhhhhhh. To top it off when she gave us our coffee she was very clear in stating here is you frozen salted caramel late . Rude and might be my last visit

I used to really love this cafe, but upon the new management it has lost all of the charming and homey appeal it used to have. I wanted to continue to like it bc I love supporting small businesses, but the drinks went up in price (nearly $7 for a small oatmilk late when it used to be no more than about $5.50, I might as well go to Starbucks) and the quality went down. ): I can get behind the modernistic cafe look, but I do really miss how homey the old cottage/rustic style was, it really set the cafe apart from all the others with the common modernistic chic look. Also, personally, I don’t like the new logo.