Stefania Marzelia of Sips on Building a Specialty Coffee Brand for At Home Café Drinks

Stefania Marzelia of Sips on Building a Specialty Coffee Brand Inspired by Barista Culture

Stefania Marzelia is the Founder of Sips, a specialty coffee brand offering premium syrups and freshly roasted coffee designed to bring café quality drinks into the home. After building a community of nearly one million followers through years of barista focused content and coffee recipes online, Stefania launched Sips in October 2024 to translate her passion for coffee culture into a product based business.

Built by baristas, Sips focuses on clean ingredients, balanced flavor development, and high quality coffee experiences without artificial additives. The brand aims to make it easier for coffee lovers to create elevated drinks at home while reconnecting with the ritual and connection that coffee represents.

Please share a brief introduction and your business:

Hi! My name is Stefania Marzelia and I've been a digital creator for 6+ years now. After years of sharing my coffee recipes and barista-focused content, I decided to parlay that traction into Sips, my coffee company.

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We launched in October 2024 and it has been a wildly caffeinated ride since. Sips is a specialty coffee brand offering premium syrups and freshly roasted coffee for café-quality drinks at home. Built by baristas, Sips emphasizes clean ingredients, balanced flavor development, and an elevated coffee experience without artificial additives. 

Take us back to when you launched? What was your marketing strategy?

When Sips first launched, I had a built in audience of almost 1 million people across social media platforms. But, I knew enough to know that just following me wouldn't get someone to convert, they'd have to trust me, trust the product, trust exactly what we are bottling.

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My approach was simple - meet people where they are, explain what Sips is to them, and explain why Sips is the better at-home alternative. My approach has remained the same with tweaks along the way. Did it work? Absolutely! But like everything that works, it needs refinement over time.

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We are in the constant pursuit of reaching old and new customers alike, understanding exactly what they're looking for, and tailoring our offerings so they not only understand them, but are excited about them.

Did you always know you wanted to be an entrepreneur?

Oh yeah! I'm someone who has always taken the lead anytime I can. I love to spearhead any project, find a solution to any challenge, and... between us... I'm addicted to the hustle and bustle of it all. 😉

What accomplishments are you the most proud of to date in your business?

Last year in March, we had a fully organic feature in The Chicago Tribune - they had reached out to us to cover Sip's story. Sunday morning I woke up and found out we were on the front page - a FULL spread completely dedicated to Sips. I was speechless! I did not expect that, and it was such a pivotal moment in my business, and in my career entirely.

What is one thing you wish you had known when you started your Entreprenista journey?

I just started my Entreprenista journey! But the reason I did was because I am learning how important community is. Surrounding yourself with more like-minded individuals, more bada$$ women in business, and more people who inspire you is the name of the game. I'm so grateful to be part of this community, and want to maximize it as much as I can.

When hiring, what is your go-to interview question?

"What does reliability mean to you?"

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That answer tells me everything I need to know.

What did you do before starting your own business?

I was a barista all throughout high school and college, it was the first job I learned - and learned to love. Out of college, I worked as a Change Management consultant for about a year, but I knew something was missing. Too many spreadsheets and Slack messages, I missed being behind the counter and connecting with real humans.

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Throughout this entire time, I was still uploading consistently and growing a coffee-focused community - it felt like I was living a Hannah Montana life! That's when I started thinking - how can I bring the barista experience straight to people's homes? Sips was born shortly after that.

What made you take the leap to start your own business?

I missed serving coffee - yes - but what I missed more, was serving what coffee STOOD FOR. Human connection, conversation, warmth, a third place where everyone is welcomed and celebrated. Those things shouldn't just exist inside the 4 walls of a coffee shop though, it should exist everywhere and anywhere someone has a cup of Joe.

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The vast majority of people who are consuming coffee on a daily basis are doing so out of habit - but when was the last time they stopped and savored the moment? Made it a ritual, instead of a routine. With Sips, whether you're on the move or sitting down to enjoy, through the quality of our products, you'll taste the difference.

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You'll want to cherish the moment versus rushing through it, or viewing it as a means to an end. That's why I started Sips, to get people to think about and approach coffee differently, one sip at a time.

Do you have any recent wins?

I hired my first two people in Q4 2025! I was doing everything on my own with occasional help from a friend [ and my mom :) ]. When I first posted the application, I was so nervous! But it was the best decision I could've made - they are two very amazing ladies, and I love working with them every week.

What's one app on your phone that you cannot live without?

Notion! I have an entire document filled with to-do's, projects, week to week calendar, yearly goals, and more. I am Type A as Type A gets, I couldn't live without organization.

Who are your customers?

Anyone who is sick of spending $8+ on their daily latte, and wants a cleaner at-home option. Our customers are 9-5'ers, SAHM, all the way to baristas - but always coffee lovers.

What's your top productivity tip?

Lock. In.

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Pour yourself a cup of something yummy (coffee, matcha, tea, etc.), put on some good focus tunes, phone on DND, and power through that to-do list.

What's your favorite business tool?

Apart from Notion, Canva for sure. Create, create, create!

What's your approach to work-life balance?

Well, I'm still figuring that out! My work is my life, coffee is my life. Everyone who loves me knows that about me. It's really about putting the phone down when it matters, and being PRESENT.

How do you avoid burn-out?

Taking rest when I need it. Now more than ever, I listen to my body. There are seasons for pressing, and there are seasons for resting.

What advice do you have for aspiring Entreprenistas?

Be consistent, and keep going. Even when it's tough, even when you aren't seeing momentum, even when you feel overwhelmed. Volume negates luck, keep pushing and the right opportunities will find you at the right moments.

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From growing a coffee focused online community to launching Sips as a specialty coffee brand, Stefania Marzelia has combined her experience as a barista, digital creator, and entrepreneur to build a business rooted in quality and connection. As Sips continues to expand, Stefania remains focused on helping people turn their daily coffee routine into a moment worth savoring.

If you are a woman founder looking to grow your business while connecting with a powerful network of female entrepreneurs, Entreprenista provides the community and resources to help you scale with confidence. Learn more about joining Entreprenista League.