Privacy Policy

Last updated October 20, 2026

sippa ("sippa," "we," "us") helps people discover independent, local coffee shops. The app was previously known as One Sip. This policy explains what information the sippa app and website collect, how it's used, and the choices you have. We've tried to keep this short and in plain language.

Information we collect

Location. With your permission, the sippa app uses your device's location to show coffee shops near you, center the map, and show recent ratings from around you. Location is used only while the app is open (foreground use). It is used on your device and in the moment to fetch nearby shops and ratings; we don't store it on our servers or tie it to your account. The app keeps your last known position on your device only, so nearby shops can appear instantly next time you open it. If you decline the permission prompt, the app falls back to showing shops in Birmingham, AL instead.

Searching other places. You can search for a city, neighborhood, ZIP code or state to explore coffee shops away from where you are. The words you type are sent to a place-search service built on OpenStreetMap data (Photon), together with an approximate location (rounded to about seven miles) so nearby matches rank first. ZIP codes and place names are also looked up with your phone's built-in map service. The place you choose and your recent searches are saved only on your device, so the app remembers where you were exploring. They are not sent to our servers or tied to your account.

Account information. Creating an account is optional. If you create one, we store your email address and an encrypted password (we never see or store your password in plain text) to let you sign in and sync your data across devices. Accounts are handled by our backend provider, Supabase.

Ratings, reviews and favorites. If you rate a coffee shop or save it as a favorite while signed in, that rating (Coffee score, Atmosphere score, and any optional note you write) and favorite are stored on our servers and linked to your account, so they sync across your devices. Your reviews are visible to other sippa users: as part of that shop's community average, on the shop's page, and in the Community tab's feed of recent reviews (the shop, the two scores, your note and photos if you added them, the display name you chose, and roughly when it was left). Your email address is never shown. If you haven't chosen a display name, your review appears without one. If you're signed out, ratings and favorites are stored only on your device and are never sent to us.

Display name. You can optionally set a display name in the app. It is shown with your reviews and is visible to other users. Please don't use your email address or other private information as your display name.

Photos. If you add photos to a review, they are uploaded to our servers, linked to your account and review, and are visible to other sippa users along with that review. Before upload, the app resizes and re-saves each photo, which removes embedded metadata such as the location where it was taken. The app asks for permission to use your camera or photo library only when you choose to add a photo, and only reads the photos you select. Please don't include people's faces or private information in photos you share.

Photos without a review. You can also share photos of a coffee shop without writing a review. They are stored and handled exactly like review photos: uploaded to our servers, linked to your account, visible to other sippa users on that shop's page, and removable by you at any time.

Reviewer levels and public profiles (Sippa Insiders). sippa recognizes people who review many different coffee shops with a level (Member, Regular, Sippa Insider, Sippa Select). Your level is calculated automatically from your reviews on our servers, and Sippa Select also requires our approval. A level does not change how your ratings are counted. Your level appears as a small badge beside your display name, and anyone can open your public profile, which shows your display name, level, how many coffee shops you've reviewed, how many photos you've shared, when you joined, and your recent public reviews. Your email address is never shown. Your saved coffee shops appear on your profile only if you turn on "Show my saved shops on my profile" in Settings, which is off by default.

Reports and blocking. If you report a review or photo, we store your report (the item, the reason you chose, and your account) so we can review it. Hiding reported content and blocking a reviewer are stored only on your device.

Coffee shop suggestions. If you suggest a coffee shop that isn't listed, we store the name, location, website (if you add one), any notes you add, and your account so we can verify it. Suggestions are private and are not shown to other users unless we verify and add the shop.

Listing reports. If you report a problem with a coffee shop listing (not a coffee shop, closed, wrong details, listed twice), we store the shop, the reason and your account so we can check it. Reports are private.

Coffee preferences. If you choose tastes (like espresso or outdoor seating) to get recommendations, those choices are stored only on your device and are not sent to us.

Email address (website signup). If you submit your email through the "Notify me" form on this website, we store it solely to let you know about app updates. We don't use it for anything else and don't sell or share it with third parties.

We don't collect contact lists, payment information, or any other personal data beyond what's described above.

How your information is used

We do not sell your information, and we do not use it for advertising, targeting, or cross-app tracking.

Your choices

You can use sippa without ever creating an account. Ratings and favorites will simply stay on your device. If you do create an account, you can delete it at any time from the Library tab in the app ("Delete account"), which permanently removes your account, ratings, and favorites from our servers. You can also email us to request deletion.

Third-party services

To find coffee shops, the app queries OpenStreetMap's public Overpass API using only the geographic area you're viewing. No personal or device identifiers are sent with that request. The app also keeps recently viewed areas on your device so shops load faster. Place searches use Photon, a search service run by Komoot on OpenStreetMap data, and your phone's built-in map service (Apple's, on iPhone). When a coffee shop has no photo yet, the app may show a street-level photo from Mapillary; that request contains only the shop's location, and your device's network address is visible to Mapillary as with any web request. Map rendering is handled by Apple Maps (iOS) or Google Maps (Android), which are subject to their own privacy policies. Accounts, ratings, reviews, photos, and reports are stored with Supabase, our database and authentication provider. This website hosts its own fonts and does not load third-party fonts, analytics, or advertising scripts.

Data retention

Your location is used in the moment to fetch nearby shops and ratings and is not stored by sippa after your session ends. Account data, ratings, and favorites are retained until you delete your account or request deletion. Email addresses collected through the website signup form are retained until launch communications are complete, after which they're deleted.

Children's privacy

sippa is not directed at children under 13, and we do not knowingly collect information from children under 13.

Changes to this policy

If this policy changes, we'll update this page and revise the date above. Significant changes will be noted here.

Contact us

Questions about this policy or your data? Reach out at onesipfeedback@gmail.com or message us on Instagram @coffee_one_sip.