Gypsy Sips Cafe' — Restaurant in Sierra Vista

As a father I am livid with this business. Already not a fan of the higher costs but I’ll support local but no longer here for this reason with my daughter.. basically to sum it up.. she is putting them in as “servers” .. but if the employees are still making less than $12 even with tips there is a legal issue here just waiting to happen.. in time .. any how this is from my daughter:

I had an interview to work with this coffee shop. Thought it would be wonderful to get the experience in a local business. Interview was fine, but then I asked about the pay. The pay here, for the workers, is below minimum wage, about $6 to $8 an hour (based on your experience level). The owner's idea is that the gap will be made up with tips. Here's the issue: this is not a livable wage. Especially in this day and age, this is completely unacceptable. We are in the middle of rising costs in housing, gas, and food. The expectation is that this would be the only job you'd be working, too. Full shifts only! How are these workers expected to live, working this job alone? The tips are supposed to make up the difference. But that is entirely dependent on people feeling generous for the day. Not only is this unfair to the workers chance at earning a livable wage for the day, this is completely unfair to the consumer too: it further enforces tipping culture. I am already paying for a $6 coffee, and I will still be expected to tip, especially now that I know it is the only thing keeping the employees afloat. This is extremely disappointing - a small town owner, paying her workers below the minimum, even after she has upgraded to a larger space because she gets more business. Why? I believe her reasoning was that this experience will lead to more lucrative job opportunities in other cafe businesses, and/or you would do this job of out of love and not money. There is no excuse for paying people below minimum wage. For this reason, I can no longer support this business. It's too bad, because their drinks are great. If your business success is contingent on paying your workers dirt cheap, you shouldn't be...

I’ll preface my review by saying the drip coffee/espresso is some of the best I’ve had during my time in Sierra Vista, however I was incredibly let down by the service which I received both times I visited this location. The individual who later identified herself as the owner was on a personal call when I entered the cafe both days. When I stood by the counter ready to order she proceeded to walk into the kitchen space and continue her conversation. After approximately 5-10 minutes she returned and went on to tell me about this personal phone call. After a long explanation of the details of this call she had taken my order. I went on to request a hot vanilla latte and she proceeded to tell me that I “want one of their iced specialty lattes.” I confirmed I did not want this specific drink and she continued to say that I’ll like this specialty latte better. After much back and forth she rung me up for the latte which I had asked for initially (thank goodness). The latte was great, but very very sweet. I also decided to try one of their quiches with fresh fruit on the side. The quiche appeared as if it had been freshly microwaved after sitting in the freezer for a year or so and the “fresh fruit” was a little fruit cup you would expect to see at a public school lunch.

All in all the atmosphere of the location was a highlight! Lots of outdoor seating available in the breezeway and lots of greenery! Unfortunately I won’t be making my way back as I can make better coffee and food at home, don’t have to pay the extra prices, and can avoid the interaction...

If I want a fast coffee-frappe-mochachino, there are other "chain" type services nearby in Sierra Vista. However, to silence the clock, to connect with the owner/barista, and the family of the owner, and to slow the pace of the world for 30 mins or better, I will always prefer the self-owned coffee shop. My friend and I both got a Gypsy sips deluxe creation (MacDaddy & the Gypsy Queen to be exact). Two hand crafted drinks, topped with a sprinkle of raw sugar, and maybe a little magic! Her desserts look very appealing but there weren't any gluten-free varieties that I could sample, so I cannot speak to their tastiness. The owner herself is warm, engaging, funny and professional. But maybe I had an "in" because my friend is well-acquainted to the owner and family. But I did observe other's she served during my visit and found her to be the same, warm and engaging person to each customer. Her regulars she knows quite well, and makes small talk as she works. Because of her new location, parking can seem difficult, but is in fact all around her building. I really liked the patio setting outside the new shop, where the melodic sounds of a fountain ease the heat, as does the wind moving through the open breezeway. So stop in, and let the Gypsy Sips transport you to a tranquil moment, where time doesn't quite freeze, but magic weaves the...