Sips Espresso Bar

This place rocks! I love Sips! A non-​corporate drive through espresso bar with breakfast sandwiches and wraps? OMG, hallelujah praise the Kansas heavens.
Sips serves great coffee and espresso drinks and is seriously the closest thing to a Starbucks this town has. I was in Abilene for a little over a week of research and this place *saved* me from caffeine withdrawals each morning. Note there is no Starbucks, Peet’s, or Coffee Bean in this town. In Abilene, it’s just donut shops, diners with very weak drip coffee, or chain fast-​food restaurants that now serve those mocha frappé dessert style drinks.
I’m particular about coffee, but the owners here are savvy about their roasts. The Mocha Java roast is definitely the most delicious drip coffee and their Americanos are so on point.
The coolest thing about this place is that they steam their half and half so it doesn’t cool down your espresso drink. That is love, people. I’ve never seen anyone do that unless they ordered a breve drink, so the fact that this was something simply provided was so impressive. Also, I just hate those little processed single-​serving half and half containers – this is what the other diners and espresso cafes serve in Abilene. Only sips has real cream!
The owners here are very friendly and they remembered my order by the second day. Love it! I will definitely be back if I ever make it back to Abilene or find myself on I-​70.

Unassuming little coffee and breakfast joint inside a gas station. Well priced and friendly staff — even allowed my food substitution.
Happy to have found on my road trip!
Had the breakfast panini — fresh tomato was a nice touch.
Three stars for microwave bacon. Wah-​wah-​waaaaah.

I love Sips! I’ve been a repeat customer for a couple of years now. I’ve found that they will try anything, if you can dream it they will try and make it. As far as the Caribou-​y and Starbucks-​y comment, let them know. They will correct it to your satisfaction. Their breakfast selection is wonderful, and definitely filling.

For small towns, good coffee is usually an idea that is thought of then forgotten or tried unsuccessfully and then closed not long after. But not in Abilene. Abilene has Sips Espresso Bar and I think it will be around for a very long time. At least I hope so!
This tiny little coffeeshop and café may not be very big but it is high on customer satisfaction and speedy service. There are other people on staff but I always have the pleasure of working with the people who own this little espresso joint and restaurant. After a 6 or 7 month hiatus, I went through the drive-​thru as a stop over on my way to Colorado last month and believe it or not, the lady at the drive through remembered me as the girl who lives in Kansas City and drinks soy milk. Unbelievable! To clarify, I’ve maybe been to Sips 10 times in the past two years and she knows me! My drink was also done in about 20 seconds which always impresses me. You have to know what you’re doing to make a soy latte that tastes good in that amount of time.
There are two downsides to Sips. First, it is a bit Caribou-​y or Starbucks-​y (read: high on sugar and syrups) but honestly, I am never disappointed with what I get here and am pleased to report that they handle special requests like soy or half sweet admirably. I can’t even say that about most of the chain shops who look at you like you’re stupid when you don’t want 8 pumps of syrup in your small drink. Second, their hours. They close at 2pm (I believe) which sucks especially when I’m leaving Abilene in the early evening to head home after a family get-​together. I’m sure their demand tappers off as the day goes on but as a known night owl, the 2pm mark is when I’m just getting started and need my boost!
Sips is the perfect stop if you’re heading West. (or home to KC for that matter) Those long stretches of road can be hypnotizing but Sips can help you stay caffeinated until the next shop along I-​70.

Good french dip and bbq beef.