About Sip & Sway
More Than Coffee — It's Community
We're a locally owned coffee shop on Neil Avenue in the Short North Arts District. Every bean is traceable, every pastry made in-house, and every conversation welcomed.
2018
Est. in Short North
A Small Dream That Grew Into Something Beautiful
What started as a small dream to bring better coffee to our community has grown into a space where every cup tells a story. In 2018, our founder Maya Donovan opened the first Sip & Sway location on Neil Avenue in the Short North with a simple mission: great coffee, genuine hospitality, and a space where people actually want to stay.
We believe coffee should not just wake you up — it should bring people together. That's why we invest in our baristas, our community events, and our neighborhood partnerships every single day.
From our locally roasted beans to our freshly baked pastries, everything we do is crafted with intention. Because you deserve more than just a quick caffeine fix. You deserve a moment.
How We Do It
A transparent look at our craft — from farm to cup.
We visit farms personally, tasting green beans and building relationships with growers.
Small-batch roasting on-site keeps our beans at peak flavor for 2–3 days.
Beans are ground to order for each drink. Freshness starts the moment they hit the burrs.
Baristas calibrate grinders hourly and pull shots with a consistent 25-second target.
Drinks arrive at 165–175°F — hot enough to taste, cool enough to sip slowly.
Sustainably Sourced
Beans from direct-trade farms in Guatemala, Ethiopia, and Colombia. We pay premiums for quality and traceability.
Freshly Baked Daily
Our oven starts at 4 AM. No preservatives, no pre-baked items — just flour, butter, and timing.
Community First
We host open mics, local art shows, and student study nights. This space belongs to all of us.
Crafted with Care
Every cup is made by hand, timed exactly right, and tasted before it reaches you.
Award-Winning Roasts
Our beans have won awards at the Ohio Coffee Competition. Taste the difference in every sip.
Roasted on-site
We roast each batch fresh twice a week in-house. You’ll taste the peak flavor window.
The Faces Behind Your Cup
Real people with a real passion for coffee, pastry, and community. Come in and say hi.
Maya Donovan
Founder & Head Barista
Maya started Sip & Sway in 2018 after a decade behind the bar in Portland and Seattle. She still pulls shots on weekend mornings and writes the daily roast notes by hand.
Carlos Rivera
Head Roaster
Carlos grew up in Guatemala City and learned to roast from his grandfather. He visits our partner farms twice a year and tastes every batch before it goes to the grinder.
Lily Park
Pastry Chef
Lily trained at the Columbus College of Art & Design and spent three years at a French bakery in German Village. She bakes from 4 AM and uses only seasonal fruit.
James Okafor
Barista & Events Lead
James has run our open mic nights since the shop opened and writes the event calendar every month. Ask him about the local music scene — he knows everyone.
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