You, Me, & Caffeine: Week Four

Review of Cocoa and Cinnamon on Chapel Hill Rd

Hello Readers! After a short hiatus, I am finally back to reviewing Durham's local coffee shops in the search to find the best mocha and shop in Durham! Last review, I went a little off brand and reviewed Ninth Street Bakery, although not a coffee shop, definitely had coffee shop vibes and most importantly coffee. This week's review, we are back on track with actual coffee shops. So without further adieu, this week I went to Cocoa Cinnamon.

Some background about the shop, there are three location. The one I visited was on Chapel Hill Road. Cocoa Cinnamon is a small business that is best described by the business themselves: "We are small and independently owned and operated, quality, service, and heart-driven, Latina co-owned, women-forward, and our team is comprised of people of different cultures, genders, languages, faiths, and beliefs."

Who doesn't like a shop with a cause?!

First Impression

My first impression of the shop was that it is in a very popular area with great access to parking and other shops nearby. The neighborhood that it is in is a very popular neighborhood in Durham with the homes being almost 100 years old. The shop has ample parking, has a colorful friendly exterior, and plenty of outdoor seating. Inside you will find that all of the indoor seating is not available due to the pandemic but at first glance, it seems that there was once many of seats to be have. The shop space has their own roasting area next to the coffee bar that is used for their wholesale side of the company.

The Atmosphere

The atmosphere inside was warm and welcoming. Even though inside seating was not allowed, there was still many people sitting, working, and drinking in the outdoor seating. I did have the unfortunate experience of encountering a group of school children during my short time there that were not on their "best behaviors". Being the children they are, it is understandable that they might know line etiquette and inside noise levels, but I will not hold that against Cacao Cinnamon.

Because of lack of indoor seating and only being able to critique the outdoor space, I am giving the atmosphere a 3/5. The street that the shop is on is quite a busy street so noise levels are high. However, I can tell that the indoor space would have been a great place to have coffee with friends and get some work done.

The Price

This is definitely a place where you buck goes a long way. I purchased a large mocha and one churro (always buy a churro when you visit here) which all less than $10. As a girl on budget, this was a steal for my wallet because not only did I get my coffee fix, but also a morning treat too! For those that have been following along on this journey, we know I am a sucker for baked good with my coffee. So I can't help but give them a $ / four dollars. It was great coffee for a even better price!

The Coffee

I can't even begin to describe the love I have for this coffee. It was rich, it was strong, it was beautifully blended, and it made my heart skip a beat. I will be the first to admit I was a bit scared that it would taste more like Mexican Hot Chocolate (which I am not a big fan of) but all of my worries were dashed upon the fist sip. In house roasting makes a world of difference here. I wholeheartedly give this a 5/5 cups!

Final Score

After some much needed time away, I am so excited to get back into my journey of finding the best coffee shop in Durham. Though the atmosphere seemed to be a great place pre-pandemic, I have to grade just on what I experienced. The outdoor space is nice but that isn't my first place to go all the time. The price was great. I love spending less than $10 on coffee because I feel like I am spending less money for the amount I get (don't burst my bubble). And what really sets this this shop beyond the rest is the coffee. I have gone back too many times to count because the mocha is just too good. So without further adieu the final score is... 4/5 stars!

I would have given a 5/5 star but the indoor space not being available was why one was subtracted. other than that it was a 5/5 experience.

Until next time my fellow coffee consumers!