Our Story

Soft Sips was born from friendship, community, and a shared belief that coffee is about so much more than what's in the cup.

Co-founders Domonique Louis-Charles and Shannon Newkirk-Denny first met as college students in Central New York. Domonique attended Syracuse University, while Shannon attended SUNY Cortland. What started as a friendship quickly grew into a bond built on ambition, creativity, and a shared love for bringing people together.

Years later, while beginning her legal career, Domonique discovered a passion for crafting specialty coffee at home. What started as a creative outlet quickly turned into an art form. Through social media, her handcrafted drinks, signature flavors, and aesthetic presentation began capturing the attention of coffee lovers near and far—including Shannon.

Seeing the excitement surrounding her creations, Shannon posed a simple question: What if we took this to the next level?

That conversation became the foundation of Soft Sips.

Together, the two friends combined their strengths to create something bigger than coffee. Shannon, a Houston firefighter who was born and raised in New York, saw Soft Sips as an opportunity to remain connected to the community that helped shape him. Domonique, a young lawyer born and raised in Baldwin, saw an opportunity to return home and invest in the town that played such an important role in her journey. Nearly eight years after leaving Long Island to pursue her educational and professional dreams, she found herself coming full circle.

Today, Soft Sips stands as a reflection of both of their stories.

More than a coffee shop, Soft Sips was created to be a destination, its a place where luxury feels approachable, where community comes naturally, and where every guest feels welcome. It's a space designed for meaningful conversations, quiet moments, celebrations, creativity, and connection.

Whether you're stopping in for your morning coffee, meeting a friend, attending an event, or simply looking for a place to unwind, we hope Soft Sips feels like home.

Because at Soft Sips, we're not just serving coffee.

We're creating experiences, building community, and pouring a little softness into every day.

Welcome to Soft Sips.