January 2022: Canyon Coffee | Los Angeles, California

Such a lovely place. Such a lovely face.

California. It's the movies. The glitz and the glam. The vistas. The epicenter of an explosion of musical, cultural, and social expression that defined a generation. Effortlessly, unapologetically, "cool".

California is a state of mind. It's a feeling, an energy, a vibe.

Much like the state they call home, this roaster evokes a feeling. Maybe it's the design of the packaging, or the airy flow of product imagery, or the stories behind how they came to be. 

Whatever it is, there's a feeling we can't escape when thinking about this roaster. We hope you feel it, too.

Presenting, from Los Angeles, California, Canyon Coffee.

"They're gonna put me in the movies"

Canyon Coffee, starring:

Ally Walsh (left): Ally and Casey met back in 2013. Ally was a model, traveling the world and learning about all things coffee. As their relationship grew, so did their love and knowledge of coffee. In 2016, their passion project became their business. Canyon Coffee was born. Their apartment seemed a fitting place to call headquarters.

Casey Wojtalewicz (right): Casey is originally from Minnesota, has a striking resemblance to a young David Bowie, and is the former drummer of the band Cayucas. Casey worked his way around the coffee scene of southern California, which is where he met James Klapp.

James Klapp (not pictured): James is Canyon's head roaster. James and Casey met when they worked together at Bar Nine in Culver City, which planted the seed for what ultimately became Canyon Coffee. James also is owner of an Instagram page that will incite serious wanderlust.

 "They're gonna make a big star out of me."

Canyon's roasting philosophy is simple. Feature the bean, not the roast. Roasting is a delicate game and, of course, an important element in the equation, but excellent coffee starts with excellent beans.

Instead of saying, "we need a light roast, a medium roast, and a dark roast", Canyon starts by seeking out interesting flavors they'd like to accentuate.

By putting the coffee's unique taste profile first, they can standardize the roasting process while still being confident that their offerings will be varied, distinctive, and delicious.

"Take a look around, see which way the wind blow."

Those lyrics, penned by the great American poet, Jim Morrison (L.A. Woman, 1971), make for poetic fodder for rock 'n' roll music.

But they're not so perfect for describing Canyon Coffee. They have high standards of sourcing ethically and roasting responsibly. They stick to those ideals, no matter what's currently in vogue in the coffee market.

Rebuffing convention at every step, Casey Wojtalewicz built Canyon Coffee with a single thing in mind: good coffee takes love.

We had the chance to sit down with him to talk about the things that make his world go round: relationships, a sustainable coffee future, morning rituals, and one-hit wonders. 

Check it out:

BG: Why is organic coffee important?

 BG: What's your most memorable coffee experience?

 BG: Which city you've traveled to has the best coffee?

BG: What's your favorite music? Band, concert, song, concert?

 BG: Do you have a morning ritual? If so, what is it?

 And that, folks, is Canyon Coffee.

 Enjoy!