Cinnamon Spoon

Don’t go here unless you like to be abused.
Four of us stopped in today, New Year’s day, around 3:30pm. While in line, a bald man who was making coffee (possible the owner) shouted out that they are closing at 4:00 sharp! He shouted this several times over the course of approximately 20 minutes. Just before 4:00, this same man came out from behind the counter and stopped people from coming into the café. Not only did he stop them, he told them that they were closed and that he’d «had it for the day», and then locked the door. As people would leave the café, they would unlock the door and leave. People would then come in and were promptly ushered out after being told the café was closed. This happened 4 or 5 times as we sat there drinking our coffee and eating. As if all this isn’t bad enough, he told people (including us) that they were now closed and that we’d have to get up and leave because he wanted to clean the tables and put the chairs up… people who were still eating and drinking! Complete strangers were looking at each other in disbelief — it’s as though we were on Candid Camera or ‘What would you do’!
If all this isn’t bad enough, I saw him drop a plastic cup lid on the floor, pick it up and put it on a cup and hand it to a customer!
All these actions are NOT what one would expect from a service industry anywhere, let alone a small hamlet such as Bragg Creek, particularly in an economy such as we are in now where jobs are scarce and business isn’t particularly booming.
This man has ZERO tact, ZERO diplomacy, ZERO people skills, and clearly ZERO clue as to how to run a business. If he worked for me, I would fire him in a second! If he isn’t the owner of the business, he should be fired by the owner.
I used to go to Cinnamon Spoon whenever I was out Bragg Creek way — after hiking, biking, snowshoeing, you name it, and I would recommend it to friends. I will NEVER EVER step foot in that place again, and the same goes for the other 3 people I was with. It’s just bloody awful the way we, and other patrons, were treated today. I’m still shaking my head at this about 7 hours later.
I take nothing away from the young ladies who work there… they are very nice and pleasant and the food isn’t bad, but this guy needs to give his head a shake. I really hope you take this review to heart, reader, because NOBODY deserves to be treated like the patrons were this afternoon and nobody should patronize a business which treats it’s customers the way we were treated… there are plenty of places to spend your money without being abused by this guy.

This is a great place to stop after hiking in the area. It is usually quite busy, and seems like a favorite spot for the many cyclists in and around Bragg Creek. Last time I went I treated myself to a post-​hike cappuccino cooler, a blended ice coffee drink. I opted for soy milk, and the result was excellent. Next time I might try a smoothie.

The most delicious multigrain bagel, ever. I had the lox and it was scrumptious minus the fact that it had a little too much cream cheese for my liking, but that’s a personal preference. Their small Americano comes in a cute little glass mug and is made to perfection!

Cute little coffee and lunch place in Bragg Creek. After picking one of our kids up at the Easter Seals Camp, we decided to head into town to grab lunch. Cinnamon Spoon was our coffee stop for our drive back to Calgary.
Girl behind counter was friendly enough.
My iced latte — was just ok, almost too much milk. But I would try it again.
Husbands caramel macchiatto coffee according to him was very good.
Liked it and will stop in again if in the area.

Being a Creeker I support all of our local businesses, even the bad ones… I“m just like that.
Now that the other coffee shop is shut down, we only have «the spoon».
Coffee is good, staff is generally friendly however, are slow and DO NOT greet you when they are working at something else. Makes you feel like they *might* not serve you. I think that’s restaurant/​service industry 101.
I wish they would stop using styrofoam cups as well, this is archaic and makes my ovaries ache.
Food options are ok, quite busy on weekends so brew at home Creekers.
Let’s just say that I don’t look forward to going here, but sometimes need a coffee to go.
End scene.

This past Sunday, I spent the good portion of my morning reading Hemingway at this little coffee shop in Bragg Creek. I have to say that even now, I think I am romanticizing Cinnamon Spoon a little bit because it is close to the woods. What I wish it was, is a little cabin-​y coffeehouse nestled in the trees off a beaten path (there are kind of businesses like this in Bragg Creek, and it reminds me of my woodsy BC hometown).
What it is, is a «cabin-​like» coffee shop in a strip mall that has been fabricated to look woodsy, fake logs and stones and all. Inside is cute, but the silk tropical palm trees and all the fabrications to appear cabin-​like take away its charm. Not to mention, it is hard to pretend to be a writer who has cast herself away from society (if you call Calgary «society») when the yuppy families, crying babies, lululemon clad teenage employees, and loud smoothie blenders follow you out of town half an hour.
I did enjoy my food here, though I think $ 5.75 was a little steep for a bagel topped with sprouts, red onion, tomato, and dijon. Also, I really don’t know what on earth Sapna was talking about, what with the «chai.» First of all, no «chai» served up at a coffee shop is «traditional,» this I guarantee you. However, mine was pretty standard– a sugary concentrate steamed with soy milk. No magical «mix» added to hot water. I also don’t find this shop particularly cozy. I moved rigid wooden chairs three times in order to get away from other patrons and read.
Do I regret my visit to Cinnamon Spoon? Absolutely not. But… does this represent the weird touristy, commercialization of even small towns like Bragg Creek, presenting a falsified, pseudo-​rustic image in contrast to THE REAL WOODS JUST OUTSIDE?!? Yes. Was I disappointed? Slightly, yes. Will I return? Maybe, but I wouldn’t travel to Bragg Creek just for this.

A couple of weekends ago, a few friends and I went for a long hike just outside of Bragg Creek. Wouldn’t you have it, the heavens decided that midway through our hike (you know the point where it’s too late to turn back) it started pouring. And when I say pouring, I’m not talking a little, joyful shower. I’m“m talking a torrential downpour. You know, the ‘puddles in your shoes, mascara down your cheeks, slipping more than hiking’ kind of torrential downpour.
After 2 solid hours of cursing in the rain, we decided the only thing that could somewhat make up for the fact that we were soaked was a smouldering hot cup of coffee somewhere nearby. Enter Cinnamon Spoon.
We arrived here looking more like drowned rats than paying customers, but regardless, we still got served. It was a very cute & cozy coffee shop and their drinks were fantastic! I ordered their chai, go figure, and it was like no other chai I’ve ever had! It was a mix that they added to hot water, and there wasn’t any milk in it whatsoever. What I loved most is that after having ordered it, the girl behind the till took one look at me and I swear she could see that I have chai running through my veins rather than blood because she said «I have to warn you… it’s not the traditional kind of chai». I must say, not only was it non-​traditional, it was DELICIOUS!
This place definitely helped lift our spirits. I would recommend it to anyone visiting the Bragg Creek area. The only reason I took off one star is because it was a little pricey and a little small. Overall though, no complaints. I’d go back in a heartbeat and hopefully next time I can grace them with my ‘dry’ look.