The chocolate was amazing and the churros tasted heavenly. I will definitely be returning to this place. read more

Cocoa Cinnamon - guadalajara (milk chocolate) with whipped cream! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

See all

This place is always recommended as a Durham staple and I don't understand the hype. We used to live around the block so have tried this place at least five times (trying to support local) and each time I am disappointed. The coffee and hot chocolate drinks are fine, but they are nothing special. They are also overpriced for what you get in terms of quality and quantity. I also have an issue with a 20% mandatory tip on every purchase for two reasons. 1) All companies should be paying their workers a living wage and I like to support local, hence my many attempts at this establishment. However, the customer shouldn't have to pay for an overpriced product and a mandatory tip. To say that Cocoa Cinnamon "provides a living wage," then forcing customers to provide that wage is illogical. The business should be providing the living wage. If this means raising prices on products, so be it. (For example, the local Monuts uses a much more logical, fair living wage structure...and provides superior products.) 2) The service here is poor. The baristas are not welcoming, helpful, or very friendly. Plus, you also are not exactly served. Yes, they make the drinks and take your order, but you have to awkwardly wait by the counter for your drink, carry it to your table, and then bus your table. So I'm not sure where the service is that I'm tipping 20% for. The churros are the best part of this place and those are tasty. The lemon lavender flavor is my favorite. Overall, there are much better local coffee shops in the area with better drinks, business models, and service. read more

Local goodness at its finest. I've tried their hot cocoa with espresso shot very fun for coffee lovers. The cortadito cubano *chefs kiss* so rich and smooth and quality flavor. It is the best shot! definitely recommend trying to any coffee lover! read more

Cocoa Cinnamon - Small cubano - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

I have visited this place a couple of times and every time it gets better. I ordered the Frida, Gudalajara chocolate, and a cinnamon churro. Everything was delicious, warm, and perfect for the cold weather. The Frida is lightly spiced and it has a great balance between the milk, coffee, and the spices. The guadalajara chocolate is delicious and the churro was warm and just what I needed. A churro is $1.25 each or 4 for $4.00. You can choose from a variety of different spices for your churro! The place is beautifully decorated and it's a great place to grab a hot drink with a churro and hang out with your family and friends. You can also come and study here but if you like a quieter place, maybe don't study here, it can get quite loud. Overall, I really enjoy this place and will definitely come back to get more churros. read more

There's so much to love about this place! We were recommended by a friend the week that it opened and we quickly went over once they said coffee and churros... yes, please! They did such a great job with the space to make it funky and unique - for the community it serves. Everything is in English and Spanish (welcome to 2017!) which is so great! It creates such a welcoming environment for everyone. They have specials where you will get a free churro with your drink order. There were plenty of options to choose from. The staff? Well they were AWESOME (with the exception of the barista that day; she was sarcastic and was speaking slow to me because I was speaking Spanish to the other employees - GIRL BYE!). The missing star? Well the barista was annoying. She was making fun of my name, was speaking slow to me after hearing me speak Spanish, and then the almond latte was COLD. Barista 101 -- never serve a hot drink warm/cold; especially in the Latin community. We rather burn ourselves than have half a** coffee. Also, the guy that was grinding the coffee was RUDE! He didn't acknowledge anyone that was there even after looking straight at us. However, the ladies working behind the counter, cleaning, and working that churro magic were AMAZING! Sweet smiles and welcoming energy. THAT is what will make this shop successful so I suggest to have the other employees follow THEIR lead. Churros were GREAT as well! Great place to bring your family -- hot chocolate for the kids! read more

See all

I ordered some churros and they were delicious! They were definitely a big step up from the churros sold at the Costco snack bar. This is definitely a fun place to check out! read more

I have been waiting to come to Cocoa Cinnamon for sooo long! And I finally made it (well this location in particular). The atmosphere was just as I expected it. I felt like I was in another country as soon as I walked in. My friends and I knew what we there for; 3 orders of CHURROS! And we loved them! We also got a chance to try the dipping sauce which I liked with it the churros a lot! The parking was good because it was only for the Cocoa Cinnamon customers. The bathroom was clean as well. The service was amazing. They made sure that the place stayed clean and the orders seem to come out quickly. Today was such a beautiful day so we sat outside. Overall I love this coffee shop, what took me so long to come I am not sure; but I'll be back. read more

See all

Came here to study and loved it. My thoughts: Churros: My first job out of high school was selling frozen-then-baked churros for ridiculous prices. It just brings it home for me having these churros. Though the ones here are much cheaper, crunchier, fresh, and tastier (okay so maybe nothing like my post-high school churros). The churros can come in 4 different coatings: 1) Sugar 2) Sugar + cinnamon 3) Sugar + cardamom 4) Sugar + orange peel My favorite was the sugar + cinnamon. The dough itself was sweet enough for me. In the future I would like to try it without any coatings with a small cup of chocolate as a dip. Not really sure how I feel about the plating. The churros extend beyond the borders of the plate if they don't curl. Anyways, they were delicious. When I was eating the churros I fantasized about having a cup of horchata ice cream, but I like that it's just churros plain and simple and not some crazy over-sized dessert. However, I wonder if there are plans for other baked goods (Mexican sweet bread?). No Internet: Thank you! I love that this place doesn't have internet. I love coming into a coffee shop and seeing people engaged with anything other than a device. I saw people having conversations! And they were smiling! They looked like they knew each other! I love coming in to a coffee shop and not seeing a sea of laptop lids. I mean, with smartphones these days people are never truly disconnected and still have internet access in some form. Coffee: I'm not really a coffee guy. I just like a really hot beverage served in a ceramic cup (no paper cups!). Music: I just want to thank whoever chose the music playlist or seed song on Tuesday, August 29th. I'm now a big fan of Clubz after hearing Épocas! And I don't speak Spanish! Interior: Beautifully understated. Plain, but in a highly organized way if that makes any sense. There are variations of muted color throughout the interior (except for the artwork and table cloths), but it doesn't feel cluttered and I think it makes the place look bigger. Tip: The weird thing about the lock on the bathroom door is that the lock button (that you press) appears to be located under the handle. It can be easy to miss. For a moment I thought that there was an unspoken, courtesy "knock-before-you-enter-the-bathroom" system at Cocoa Cinnamon. LOL. ****** Thanks for being a warm and welcome (but different) kind of coffee shop. read more

Cocoa Cinnamon - Meow. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

See all

I want to like it. I'm an out of towner, so, perhaps I'm biased based upon the café culture I enjoy in other cities, including my own. The three people that ordered after me had their espresso + milk drinks made first, even though I only ordered an Americano. Weird. In general, I kind of felt like no one was particularly enthusiastic about rendering service. I love the tiling and the brightly colored table coverings. These touches are definitely five star. Yet, overall, my impression from this café was, "Oh. So, this neighborhood going through some forceful gentrification right now??" I don't know if that's the case, but there's a hefty hint of yuppie/hipster commercialism meets "authenticity" here. Which, I'm not saying that's a bad thing. Just a thing worth noting. My Americano was delicious. When I asked for extra hot water, the barista deflected me with "normal in 12 oz coffees, that what we give" before just adding the water. Uh. Okay. You seem to be indicating that I've made an unreasonable request, but it's just HOT WATER. I think you can spare an extra 1/4 cup, bro, especially considering that an 8 oz latte is an eye-watering ~$4. Whoa. I'm from a bougie city and our coffee drinks, even at micro-roasters is more like $4/16 oz. I probably wouldn't come back if I were in the area. read more

Hip and happy, open space. Great seating and good vibes, love the garage doors that open for fresh air. Churros are great and come in different flavors. No WiFi on weekends, which encourages conversation. Also no outlets (that I spotted), so come fully charged and bring a book! Will be back :) read more

When I first moved here, going to the Cocoa Cinnamon on Geer St. was one of the first times I felt like Durham could be a home, not just a place I live. I'm so happy to see a new take on that sense of welcome and comfort at the third Cocoa Cinnamon. Sometimes great things happen by accident -- this is not that. There is clear vision and intention behind the latest CC outpost that is deep and full of care. A few design elements feel particularly intentional: an enormous "HOLA!", menus in English and Spanish, brightly patterned table covers, "cocoa canela" hats, and of course, fresh churros. These details evidently play off of owner Areli Barrera de Grodski's childhood memories growing up Mexico, and a conscious effort to be welcoming space for the Latinx community. I admire and notice these choices as well as the mindfulness behind them, and I hope the effort here pays off! Another careful design choice is the lack of WiFi and power outlets in the spacious seating area. I like thinking of the three CCs as an ecosystem that support each other: while the other two are great places to bring a laptop and get some work done, this one is more meant for community. It's somewhere perfect for gathering and engaging with other humans, and I'm grateful for a space made for that! It would also be a lovely place to unplug to read or write. Finally, the drinks! The coffee menu is espresso focused, which I'm a fan of. The macchiato I had was promptly made, nicely foamed, and had a round, drinkable quality to it. The "drinking chocolates" seem very intense -- super viscous -- so be prepared for that. And a free churro comes with your drink! I loved the cardamom sugar topping. I'm curious about the "micro-roastery" here, and how this changes CC's approach to sourcing their coffee. Exciting changes to come! Overall, I'm a big fan of the third (and final?) location of this Durham coffee and community establishment. Their food & drink remains excellent, and the owners of Cocoa Cinnamon continue to be thoughtful and inspired about creating a business that does good in the world and makes people feel at home. read more

See all

The same high quality, creative-without-being-overly-weird, delicious coffee as the other two locations, but NOW WITH CHURROS. These lovely sweet treats are made to order and come with your choice of sugar. I loved the cardamom. Like the Central Park and Hillsborough Rd. locations, this shop rocks its own vibe while also being clearly Cocoa Cinnamon. Unlike the Central Park shop--and to a lesser extent Hillsborough Rd.--there is plentiful seating at large family-style tables. Turquoise umbrellas adorning the ceiling and brightly colored tablecloths create a cheerful atmosphere. The menus are printed in English and Spanish. The interior is not overly decorated, creating a lived-in neighborhood feel, which Lakewood needs. Unlike The Lakewood restaurant, CC doesn't feel like gentrification. It feels like it's been there all along. My one peeve is that there's no wifi. The space is big enough for folks (me!) to work, unlike Central Park. I recommend turning off the wifi at Central Park and turning it on here. All in all, this third location is a fantastic addition to Durham's coffee scene. AND DID I MENTION THE CHURROS?!? read more

Cocoa Cinnamon - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Finally tried Cocoa Cinnamon- I've heard so much about this place and I've been wanting to come so bad. First, the space. I passed this store while I was looking for it because the sign looked old and outdated. Parking lot is ok but I had to wait for a few mins. Inside was pretty packed on Saturday afternoon. Also, I was a bit surprised because there were a lot of people who were studying/reading. just heads up, lots of students, people with a big group, kids, etc. Bathroom- its only for their customers and they have keys at the front desk so make sure you grab one of those keys if you have to go to the bathroom. But y'all, their CHURRO thoughhhhh!! nice and warm, crunchy, perfect amount of sugar and cinnamon! I LOVED it! Hot cocoa was OK, but i loved their churro! I could eat that thing everyday! I would def come back for more churros and if you are looking for a cozy, homey casual cafe in Durham, I highly recommend Cocoa cinnamon! read more

Great latte and fun pastries! A cute vibe inside too and I live supporting a woman owned business. I was really impressed with the taste of the coffee, cleanliness of the shop, and friendly, fast service. Will be heading back. read more

Just be aware that they add 20% gratuity to the bill without asking if you would like to add it. I suppose they started doing that not to long ago. First time this happen to me at this Location today (8/17/22). I believe the gratuity part should be left to the customer depending on the service received not automatically charged read more

Love this place. The churros are excellent & the coffee is just as good. My personal favorite would have to be the el caramelo with the cinnamon + sugar churros! read more

Cocoa Cinnamon - El caramelo - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

See all

Cocoa and Cinnamon has a cool open floor vibe and is a great spot if you're in the mood for a churro! That's the main attraction I feel like so there have been times I wish there were more food items. You can see through to the coffee roasting room if you get bored doing whatever you've brought to work on. I've come here to work few times and while they have good lattes and sweet things, occasionally my eyes feel like they are burning from the fry oil in the air. Also the chairs are not the most comfortable. I know that's a weird thing to say but I seem to stub my toe or my knee constantly on the chair legs under the table. Obvi the toe-stubbing is only relevant in the summer with open toed shoes. read more

Cocoa Cinnamon - Latte + cinnamon sugar churro - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

We enjoyed great coffee at their multiple locations. And the fresh churros are worth the drive.

So this place is totally cute and kitschy. But it might be more expensive than Starbucks and that's saying a lot. Their coffee is pretty tasty...but I don't think the cost was worth the amount. Atmosphere wise, totally adorable. This is a great place to set up with some friends and hang out. They have tons of seating. read more

Brightly lit, spacious coffee shop with delicious coffee, hot chocolate, and churros! This is a great place to chat with friends or do some work that doesn't involve needing to use the internet. read more

Cocoa Cinnamon - menu - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

See all

Cocoa Cinnamon is so cool! The drinks menu is unbelievably intricate (in a positive way). Once you get here, you will have no idea what to order because you will want everything. Two of us came here once, and we ended up getting three drinks! Plus churros, of course, because the other locations do not sell them. Overall, I felt that everything could have been sweeter. However, the drinks were well made and more than not, aligned with the flavor profile as described in the menu. The churros had a great texture to them! The bright interior will make you want to stay here for days. Bottom line: This is a cute cafe for a drink! read more

The hot chocolate game at this shop has changed my life. As a food scientist I am always looking for new things, and the creamy mouthfeel and complex flavor of the chocolates are unmatched! Coffee game is on point as well, and the churros are well priced. The mexico city theme makes for a refreshing change in scenery. However, service here is very hit or miss since they can get busy. My drink was made with whipped cream accidentally, then hastily wiped off with no apology and a resulting sticky cup. Defo expect more at this price point. They could also do with more outlets and functional wifi. Would recommend this location more for social outings than extended studying. Lastly, people watching here is fantastic. So many trendy shoes and hair dos. read more

This location in particular is AMAZING! I typically love coffee drinks at coffee shops, but here, you really need to try their drinking chocolates. My husband was skeptical and still ordered the coffee, but ended up drinking all of my order for the drinking chocolate. Another huge bonus here is that they make FRESH churros made to order!! My personal favorite is the cardamom one. They also have a pupusa food truck called So Good Pupusas that parks in front of this location on certain days, so you can get a great pupusa, dessert, and a drink all in one location. This is a great place to study or catch up with friends. It's a little loud, and it's more like a warehouse unit than a study environment, but it's the best place for some fresh churros and amazing drinks that are so unique and delicious. Definitely give it a try! read more

I've been to this location and the one on Hillsborough so many times, love it. The area is cute and spacious, great for meeting up with friends and chilling out. The coffee is always amazing, and I love the different flavors they have. Their cappuccino is solid, and the caramelo is always great. I don't know how to pronounce what I got last time, was rose infused with honey latter, really cute but also tasted amazing! read more

Cocoa Cinnamon - Rose infused latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

I've seen Cocoa Cinnamon pop up on several lists of places to try in the Bull City. I now know why. From the decor to the churros to the delightful hot chocolate, Cocoa Cinnamon is alllll that. I came in on a Thursday morning around 830. The place wasn't too busy. By 10ish it was packed! I ordered the Guadalajara with two churros with cinnamon sugar (you can choose your sugar selection -- orange was an option. I also think the sugar dusting changes seasonally) They were both delightful. The drinks on the menu are inspired by power house women of color like Pauli Murray and Frida Kahlo. This is the perfect place for an morning coffee run, study location, sweet treat or meeting spot. read more

Cocoa Cinnamon - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Amazing food and coffee. Churros made from scratch and fried in front of you. The wait is a little long, but the owners care enough about their customers and staff to be extra careful about COVID. And, triple plus good--it's Latina-owned!! read more

I went looking for a coffee fix relatively late to get through a night of studying. There is easy parking on the side of the building, and a cute mural on the wall. The building was surprisingly large! And pretty empty when I came in around 7 PM. I'm not sure if it was just because I came in so late, but it doesn't seem as though you can sit inside currently. The drink lids/holders are to the right of the register so you can take your drink over after picking it up. I asked the the cashier for recommendations as it was my first time in, and she kindly obliged. She recommended interesting special drinks, but since it was my first time in I wanted to try something more standard. I ended up ordering the Al Mokha, which was pretty good! Although I was expecting a bit of a stronger flavor based on the vivid descriptions. I think as far as coffee goes it was pretty good quality, just had higher expectations for the chocolate flavor. I'm definitely interested in trying the drinking chocolate and churros next time! read more

Cocoa Cinnamon - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

I came at 2:30pm on a Sunday afternoon, especially because this has the largest indoor space of all the cocoa cinnamons in Durham. There was just enough parking next to the building structure. Indoor, there was plenty of space, especially if you're willing to share a long table with others. I ordered an iced 20 oz Granada and 4 churros (3 with cinnamon sugar and 1 with orange sugar). The drink itself was perfect- not too sweet and not too diluted by the ice. It was a great drink for an afternoon. The churros were freshly made and perfectly cooked- crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. I definitely preferred the cinnamon sugar to the orange sugar because the orange sugar tasted slightly "artificial" whereas the cinnamon sugar was perfect. Of all the cocoa cinnamons in Durham, this probably is my favorite just because of the capacity to fit a lot of people and because of the churros! read more

See all

I love Cocoa Cinnamon. I first visited the Geer Street location but I went to the Lakewood location and I was not disappointed! I love the ambience of this location. There were comic book ladies decking the walls in all their glory. The churros (which I'd never had before) were delicious. And there's plenty of seating available! The DURM Fog latté was my favorite thing, which was only available at the Geer Street location when I went to Lakewood. But the menu has many options and plenty of things to try! read more

Cocoa Cinnamon - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

We have visited this Cocoa Cinnamon location many times over the last few years. We've so enjoyed sitting inside and leisurely drinking coffee and eating churros. The shop has a welcoming atmosphere and a delicious smell. Thankfully we are still able to come during COVID, although it does look different. I've outlined a few ways things have changed. 1. Ordering: You can order ahead of time through their website or their new app (which helps make sure you get the location correct!). You can also order when you arrive with no contact payment. 2. COVID Safety. There are signs on both the website and on the premises that require masks and 6 feet of distance. There is no seating at any location. They have a great and thorough statement on their website that explains why they have not reopened for indoor dining-- and opportunities to support them in other ways. 3. Drinks/Food: If anything, their drinks and foods have gotten better during the pandemic! They have pastries from Ninth Street and Strong Arm, churros as always and with new flavors, unique and new signature drinks, and delicious classics. We recently tried the Guadalajara chocolate and the Dr. Durham with our cinnamon sugar churros and Strong Arm croissant. Cocoa Cinnamon is a wonderful place, full of love and goodness. Support them and enjoy yourself! read more

Keeping true to its java-scented renovated brick garage feel of the original location in Durham, but with some more indoor seating, and some crispy sweet heavenly CHURROS! A welcoming open space with plenty of warm sunlight, with lovely latte art for the eye and heart, as well as your tastebuds (and caffeine for my sleepy brain). I loved the cinnamon cardamom churros, and can't wait to come back to experiment with more flavor combinations. Also, not sure if this is the norm, but I'm appreciating the chill but trendy kpop music of today. Brought a book for today but no doubt I think I've found a nice study spot too. Thrive on, Cocoa Cinnamon! read more

Cocoa Cinnamon - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

See all

Great spot to study! They have amazing churros, variety of coffee and some pastries. They also have wifi so you can come and study as you sip your coffee and enjoy your cinnamon churro. Churros are freshly made and very tasty!! Highly recommended!! read more

Welcome to Cacao Canella: a Latin cultural experience, caffeine included!! This vibrant cafe offers up quirky beverages inspired by history and cultures from around the world...and then there's churros! And to be completely transparent, I come for the Churros!! Oh the Churros, those hot, crunchy, sugar coated delicious little sticks handed down from from Heaven by God himself. Y'all! I gotta stop here and go eat my churros!! read more

See all

Do yourself a favor and get the churros! This location has the most delicious churros - and you can get them covered in cinnamon sugar, orange sugar or cardamom sugar. They also have chocolate sauce and sweetened condensed milk (my favorite!). I like how this location has a much larger seating area than the Geer st location - abundant indoor seating as well as an outdoor patio. The vanilla latte is delicious! read more

Cocoa Cinnamon - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

I hate to give this review because I'm such a fan of Cocoa Cinnamon but I was underwhelmed. I visited on a weekday evening and there were two sets of customers in front of me and a woman waiting for her beverage order. So hardly a line at all. Orders were taken quickly but there was a long wait for our beverages. The woman who had already been waiting before us still hadn't gotten her order by the time all of us gotten ours, and she had ordered an iced chai latte. I only know this because they gave to her hot and overheard her say that wasn't what she ordered. Oy. I got the chocolate granada and four churros. The churros did come out quick, and it was neat to see them make it for you. I'll give this location another try because I am a fan of the one on Geer St, and I do love the concept and decor. read more

If you're looking for a locally run business led by women, you will love this place! Their coffee is roasted in store and you can see them making it when waiting for your order. The churros are next level! read more

Yet another shining example of Durham's firm footing in destination dining and imbibing!! I never thought drinking chocolate would be so memorable but it is forever ingrained into my consciousness. One sip and I was transported to South America and I felt both electrified and zen. Does your hot chocolate do that for you? Enough said. read more

This place is actually quite amazing (both coffee and sweets). This type of venue still doesn't make sense to me to me (why are they not selling savory lunch type items?), But everything I tried we're really unique and good. I am amazined by the simplicity of it's concept and approach...and pureness read more

Cocoa Cinnamon - An unique ice cream sandwich - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

The churros and coffee are amazing. The only problem is that the way it was really really long there was only one guy doing coffees and taking orders and one lady making the churros and the line was almost out the door they need more staff. read more

Good, strong drip coffee. Day-old croissant, sold at full price.