Cocoa Cinnamon

Latina Led, open-hearted, and determined to connect commerce to human flourishing. Cocoa Cinnamon is locally owned and operated by Leon and Areli Barrera de Grodski. We employ a diverse team who are dedicated to excellence in our craft and strive for down to Earth service. Cocoa Cinnamon strives to be a vessel for discourse and sustainability. We believe it is more subversive to be a space in whic

h diversity of idea, belief and background are sought and cultivated than to profess a specific politics. Coffee, chocolate and tea are age old lubricants for ideas. The name comes from a couple key spices that have played major roles in the rise and fall of civilizations, ingredients we love and whose histories are easy to forget. The quest for spices initiated a romantic yet harried story, for which the world has been transformed. Languages, religions and cultures have been spread and obliterated. Our menu touches upon this. The drink names and recipes as the names they carry and the spices that are used in their making and come out of a simple curiosity. Where do cloves originally come from? How did cacao play a role in history? Cocoa Cinnamon is our way of experiencing these amazing tastes and the stories that go with them. It is also a way of making small decisions that undo longstanding patterns. And committing to working towards being part of a thriving community, city and world. We believe that through commerce, we can be part of creating sustainable and pleasurable habits. We mean this in a direct way. Wherever possible we source all of the ingredients that go into what we make as locally and sustainably as we can. This is an ongoing process and we aim to get better as we grow. We have a living wage guarantee for all crew members who have completed basic FOH training and aim to be a contributing and positive catalyst in our local community. Non-tipped team members earn a minimum of $13.35 per hour. Certified by the Durham Living Wage Program. Cocoa Cinnamon uses part of its profits to support local organizations and efforts that aline with its mission. Please see our blog for last year’s contribution stats and our donation page to make a request. As a space we aim to be open, creating a kind a public house, where difference is a pleasure and no belief is assumed. People from all walks of life, backgrounds, economic statuses, languages, beliefs and ideas are welcome and hoped for*…we have a community coffee program for anyone who might not be able to afford a coffee, tea or chocolate drink. Simply ask for a “community coffee” at the counter and we’ll ask you what you would like. Thank you for taking part and enjoy. Leon and Areli
Cocoa Cinnamon