News Summary
Cocoa Cinnamon, a prominent coffee business in Durham, celebrates over a decade of commitment to community engagement, cultural representation, and sustainability. Founded by Areli and Leon Grodski, the business has expanded from a kitchen operation to multiple cafés. Known for its innovative menus and diverse team, Cocoa Cinnamon emphasizes ethical sourcing and community initiatives, securing multiple industry accolades along the way. As it grows, the café continues to prioritize inclusivity, environmental responsibility, and cultural appreciation.
Durham, North Carolina – Cocoa Cinnamon Celebrates Over a Decade of Community, Culture, and Sustainability
Cocoa Cinnamon, a renowned Durham-based coffee business and café, continues to expand its presence and influence within the local community and the broader specialty coffee industry. Since its inception in 2010, the company has established itself as an award-winning enterprise dedicated to cultural representation, ethical sourcing, and sustainable practices.
Origins and Growth
The business was founded by Areli Barrera Grodski and Leon Grodski de Barrera. It began in Areli’s mother’s kitchen in 2010, with an initial launch under the name bikeCOFFEE in Durham in 2011. This early operation laid the groundwork for what would become a multi-location coffee enterprise. The first official café opened in 2013, marking the beginning of rapid growth for Cocoa Cinnamon.
Today, the company operates three cafés across Durham, each with its own distinctive interior design, art, and menu offerings. This multi-site approach has allowed Cocoa Cinnamon to serve a broad and diverse customer base while maintaining a strong sense of local community engagement.
Innovative Menus and Recognitions
One of the signature features of Cocoa Cinnamon is its rotating “Wonder Menu,” which changes seasonally to introduce new drinks, adding a playful and dynamic experience for patrons. Alongside freshly brewed coffee, the cafés offer an engaging menu that emphasizes cultural heritage and storytelling around their products.
In addition to its cafés, Cocoa Cinnamon operates Little Waves Coffee Roasters, its specialty roasting arm. Originally formed to supply its cafés, the roastery has expanded significantly, especially during the pandemic, which accelerated its growth and startup of broader distribution channels.
Their recent acquisition of a 5,200-square-foot building and installation of a 160-pound coffee roaster significantly boost their roasting capacity. The new roaster can process a whole bag of green coffee, approximately 150 pounds, compared to the previous capacity of only 33 pounds, enabling higher production and wider distribution.
Community, Diversity, and Sustainability
Areli Barrera credits Durham’s supportive and community-oriented environment as key to Cocoa Cinnamon’s ongoing success. The company emphasizes its cultural heritage, sustainability, and local pride as integral values. Its team is predominantly comprised of women and non-binary individuals from immigrant backgrounds, reflecting the global origins of their coffee products. This focus on diversity is relatively uncommon in the coffee industry.
In its daily operations, Cocoa Cinnamon is committed to environmentally sustainable practices. Initiatives include reusing coffee grounds for community gardening and practicing ethical sourcing from coffee producers. Building transparent and trust-based relationships with coffee growers ensures fair and sustainable practices across its supply chain.
Industry Recognition and Community Initiatives
The company’s efforts have garnered industry recognition, including being named “Micro Roaster of the Year” by Roast Magazine, an industry publication. Additionally, Cocoa Cinnamon is a finalist in the WRAL Voters’ Choice Awards, highlighting its widespread community support.
Beyond business, Cocoa Cinnamon runs a community coffee program, allowing local residents to contribute to support initiatives that help others enjoy their products. This commitment underscores their goal to make coffee accessible and foster community connection.
Engaging Customers with Cultural Narratives
Their cafés’ design and menus are curated to engage customers with the stories behind each product, including coffee, chocolate, tea, and spices. Special events like the US Coffee Championships weekend feature signature offerings such as a Premium Pour-Over Menu with seven rare coffees to showcase their expertise and dedication to quality.
The diverse team, consisting of over 90% women and non-binary individuals from various backgrounds, reflects the global origins of their products and highlights their commitment to inclusivity and cultural appreciation.
Looking Ahead
As Cocoa Cinnamon continues to grow and innovate, it remains committed to exploring and highlighting the rich histories and cultures embedded in its products. Its continued focus on community engagement, sustainability, and diverse representation positions the company as a leading model within the specialty coffee industry.
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
HERE Resources
Cocoa Cinnamon’s Community Engagement and Sustainability Efforts
Additional Resources
- ABC11 News
- The News & Observer
- Indy Week
- Sprudge
- WRAL News
- Wikipedia: Specialty Coffee
- Google Search: Durham, North Carolina
- Google Scholar: Coffee Sustainability
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Coffee
- Google News: Cocoa Cinnamon Durham
Author: STAFF HERE RALEIGH WRITER
RALEIGH STAFF WRITER The RALEIGH STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HERERaleigh.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Raleigh, Wake County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as the North Carolina State Fair, Raleigh Arts Festival, and the Hopscotch Music Festival. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce and Visit Raleigh, plus leading businesses in technology and education that power the local economy such as Red Hat and NC State University. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREAsheville.com, HERECharlotte.com, HEREGreensboro.com, and HEREOBX.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into North Carolina's dynamic landscape.
