The ritual of making morning coffee together inspired Ally Walsh and Casey Wojtalewicz to launch their own lineĀ calledĀ CanyonĀ Coffee. Having traveledĀ the globe for workĀ ā modeling for her, music for him ā theyāve enjoyedĀ coffee across different cultures. They combined their love for a good cup with their penchant for bringing people together, and their brand of organic beans has been gaining steam since its start in 2016. We stopped by their Santa Monica home to chat about their joint venture and the best ways to balance budding careers withĀ romance.
How did two people with different creative pursuits come together to start a fair trade coffee brand? Please share when and why you launched Canyon Coffee ā and how itās evolved since thenā¦
Ally Walsh:We met almost five years ago and hit it off pretty quickly. As we traveled for work during the firstĀ few years of our relationship, we developed an appreciation for coffee. Weād scope out local roasters on the road, and really treasured being able to wake up and make coffee together when we were both home.
Before long, friends started asking us how to brew a good cup at home or where to find one. Casey started working in the coffee industry in 2015 and became friends with roaster James Klapp, who is well known and respected in the speciality coffee industry. A year later, we hatched the idea to start Canyon, and James was down to roast.
The idea was born from a genuine passion for coffee, and a vision for the kind of life we wanted to create for ourselves. For us, coffee is special. We treasure its place in our morning ritual: It warms up our days and gives us a daily dose of mindfulness. As for the coffee itself, we realized most of our friends really craved a nice chocolate or caramel-y cup. So we set out selecting beans and developing a roast profile to create just that.
How did two people with different creative pursuits come together to start a fair trade coffee brand? Please share when and why you launched Canyon Coffee ā and how itās evolved since thenā¦
Ally Walsh:We met almost five years ago and hit it off pretty quickly. As we traveled for work during the firstĀ few years of our relationship, we developed an appreciation for coffee. Weād scope out local roasters on the road, and really treasured being able to wake up and make coffee together when we were both home.
Before long, friends started asking us how to brew a good cup at home or where to find one. Casey started working in the coffee industry in 2015 and became friends with roaster James Klapp, who is well known and respected in the speciality coffee industry. A year later, we hatched the idea to start Canyon, and James was down to roast.
The idea was born from a genuine passion for coffee, and a vision for the kind of life we wanted to create for ourselves. For us, coffee is special. We treasure its place in our morning ritual: It warms up our days and gives us a daily dose of mindfulness. As for the coffee itself, we realized most of our friends really craved a nice chocolate or caramel-y cup. So we set out selecting beans and developing a roast profile to create just that.
Canyon Coffeeās brand aesthetic is understated and natural. Does that design philosophy apply to your own home? How would you describe your decor?
Ally:We take our time filling out our rooms and walls with pieces that we love. We only bring something home if we really appreciate it.
Casey Wojtalewicz:That same philosophy was applied to Canyon in that we sought to create something that (a) felt special and (b) weād want in our own kitchen. We knew it would be surrounded by ceramics made by our friends, artwork and other wares collected from our travels ā so it had to fit in!
Canyon Coffeeās brand aesthetic is understated and natural. Does that design philosophy apply to your own home? How would you describe your decor?
Ally:We take our time filling out our rooms and walls with pieces that we love. We only bring something home if we really appreciate it.
Casey Wojtalewicz:That same philosophy was applied to Canyon in that we sought to create something that (a) felt special and (b) weād want in our own kitchen. We knew it would be surrounded by ceramics made by our friends, artwork and other wares collected from our travels ā so it had to fit in!
Youāve both traveled extensively for your careers as a model and musician, respectively. Do you have favorite pieces from your travels incorporated into your home decor?
Ally:Ceramics and magazines from Japan; wooden coffee spoons from Portugal.
Casey:A rug from Sweden and a framed print fromĀ Book/ShopĀ in Oakland.
Youāve both traveled extensively for your careers as a model and musician, respectively. Do you have favorite pieces from your travels incorporated into your home decor?
Ally:Ceramics and magazines from Japan; wooden coffee spoons from Portugal.
Casey:A rug from Sweden and a framed print fromĀ Book/ShopĀ in Oakland.
Do or donāt: coffee in bed?
Ally:Only on the weekendsā¦
Do or donāt: coffee in bed?
Ally:Only on the weekendsā¦
Do or donāt: coffee before bed?
Ally:Nope. Iād be up all night!
Casey:Every once in a while I go for an espresso after dinner. Usually, I get my afternoon āsiestaā cup in before 4pm.
Do or donāt: coffee before bed?
Ally:Nope. Iād be up all night!
Casey:Every once in a while I go for an espresso after dinner. Usually, I get my afternoon āsiestaā cup in before 4pm.
Walk us through your bedtime routines ā skincare products and all!
Ally:I wash my face withĀ Earth Tu FaceĀ every evening. Lately Iāve been usingĀ La Tierra Sagradaās hair mask, which I leave in overnight. Itās so nice! Iāll put it in while in the bath and wash it out the next morning. And I always make a cup ofĀ calm magnesiumĀ before bed.
Casey:I donāt use many products. I havenāt shampooed since 2011! I have a cup of magnesium about a half hour before I go to bed and then brush my teeth, take out my contacts and crawl in.
Walk us through your bedtime routines ā skincare products and all!
Ally:I wash my face withĀ Earth Tu FaceĀ every evening. Lately Iāve been usingĀ La Tierra Sagradaās hair mask, which I leave in overnight. Itās so nice! Iāll put it in while in the bath and wash it out the next morning. And I always make a cup ofĀ calm magnesiumĀ before bed.
Casey:I donāt use many products. I havenāt shampooed since 2011! I have a cup of magnesium about a half hour before I go to bed and then brush my teeth, take out my contacts and crawl in.
Bedside tables reveal a lot about a personā¦whatās on yours?
Ally:Stack of books, crystals and water.
Casey:A littleĀ air-cleansing plant, a stone from one of our trips and whatever book Iām reading.
Bedside tables reveal a lot about a personā¦whatās on yours?
Ally:Stack of books, crystals and water.
Casey:A littleĀ air-cleansing plant, a stone from one of our trips and whatever book Iām reading.
When you canāt sleep, youā¦
Ally:Meditate.
Casey:Tell myself I shouldāve goneĀ with decaf for my after-dinner espressoā¦then get up and read my book.
When you canāt sleep, youā¦
Ally:Meditate.
Casey:Tell myself I shouldāve goneĀ with decaf for my after-dinner espressoā¦then get up and read my book.
The Instagram account you have to browse before bed?
Ally:Ā I canāt get enough of the breakfast recipes onĀ @MyNewRoots.
Casey:I leave my phone in the kitchen overnight and usually donāt touch it after dinner.
The Instagram account you have to browse before bed?
Ally:Ā I canāt get enough of the breakfast recipes onĀ @MyNewRoots.
Casey:I leave my phone in the kitchen overnight and usually donāt touch it after dinner.
Whoās the early bird between the two of you?
Ally:Me! I love getting up early.
Casey:Ally.
Whoās the early bird between the two of you?
Ally:Me! I love getting up early.
Casey:Ally.
Who makes a better cup of coffee?
Ally:I do!
Casey:Hmmmā¦it goes back and forth. Allyās been doing pretty well lately ā I canāt complain.
Who makes a better cup of coffee?
Ally:I do!
Casey:Hmmmā¦it goes back and forth. Allyās been doing pretty well lately ā I canāt complain.
How do you make your coffee (pour-over? cold brew?) ā and do you prepare it the night before?
Ally:I love making pour-over coffee on ourĀ V-60. I wake up, start the water in our kettle, use our favorite wooden spoon to measure out the beans, grind them, and brew the coffee into our wood and glass pitcher to serve.
Casey:Ā I like to use a variety of methods when brewing coffee.Ā If Iām making cold brew, specifically, I usually grind and prep that in a french press the night before. I fill the press about 1/3 full with coarsely ground beans and fill with room temperature water. Then I let it stand for at least 12 hours, plunge it, pour it into a mason jar and dilute the concentrate about 1:1 with water.
How do you make your coffee (pour-over? cold brew?) ā and do you prepare it the night before?
Ally:I love making pour-over coffee on ourĀ V-60. I wake up, start the water in our kettle, use our favorite wooden spoon to measure out the beans, grind them, and brew the coffee into our wood and glass pitcher to serve.
Casey:Ā I like to use a variety of methods when brewing coffee.Ā If Iām making cold brew, specifically, I usually grind and prep that in a french press the night before. I fill the press about 1/3 full with coarsely ground beans and fill with room temperature water. Then I let it stand for at least 12 hours, plunge it, pour it into a mason jar and dilute the concentrate about 1:1 with water.
Among all the countries youāve traveled, where did you find the best cup of coffee? Or do you bring your own Canyon Coffee beans and coffee accoutrement?
Ally:I really loved the coffee in Japan. I think the cup I had atĀ Shozo Coffee in TokyoĀ was my favorite! I also loved having oat milk cortados in Copenhagen and Stockholm on our recent trip. But, I think my favorite cup could still be an americano fromĀ The Mill in San Francisco.
Casey:In terms of countries, weāve got it pretty good in the U.S. You can find amazing coffee everywhere from Maine to Minneapolis to our home in Los Angeles. Outside of the U.S., though, I think my favorite cups have been pour-overs fromĀ Little Nap in Tokyo,Ā 108 in CopenhagenĀ andĀ Satanās Coffee at Casa Bonay in Barcelona.
Among all the countries youāve traveled, where did you find the best cup of coffee? Or do you bring your own Canyon Coffee beans and coffee accoutrement?
Ally:I really loved the coffee in Japan. I think the cup I had atĀ Shozo Coffee in TokyoĀ was my favorite! I also loved having oat milk cortados in Copenhagen and Stockholm on our recent trip. But, I think my favorite cup could still be an americano fromĀ The Mill in San Francisco.
Casey:In terms of countries, weāve got it pretty good in the U.S. You can find amazing coffee everywhere from Maine to Minneapolis to our home in Los Angeles. Outside of the U.S., though, I think my favorite cups have been pour-overs fromĀ Little Nap in Tokyo,Ā 108 in CopenhagenĀ andĀ Satanās Coffee at Casa Bonay in Barcelona.
Whatās your advice to other couples who want to start a business together? How do you separate shop talk from pillow talk?
Ally:Make sure to keep date nights and other rituals that keep the relationship separate and special!
Casey:Believe in your capacity to learn and growĀ together. Starting a business requires doing lots of things youāve never done before. Trust and support each other in taking on new roles and responsibilities. Itās not easy (growth occurs at the edge of your comfort zone), but itās very rewarding to watch each other transform! Also, before starting a business with your partner, think about what you want your lives together to look like. Then, see if starting a business together is going to help bring that vision to fruition. If you donāt have a shared passion or vision, then it might not be the right time. Itās not right for everyone, and itās important to acknowledge that. Canyon Coffee came about pretty naturally and was enabled through our unique experiences and friendships. In hindsight, the wheels were turning years before we launched.
Whatās your advice to other couples who want to start a business together? How do you separate shop talk from pillow talk?
Ally:Make sure to keep date nights and other rituals that keep the relationship separate and special!
Casey:Believe in your capacity to learn and growĀ together. Starting a business requires doing lots of things youāve never done before. Trust and support each other in taking on new roles and responsibilities. Itās not easy (growth occurs at the edge of your comfort zone), but itās very rewarding to watch each other transform! Also, before starting a business with your partner, think about what you want your lives together to look like. Then, see if starting a business together is going to help bring that vision to fruition. If you donāt have a shared passion or vision, then it might not be the right time. Itās not right for everyone, and itās important to acknowledge that. Canyon Coffee came about pretty naturally and was enabled through our unique experiences and friendships. In hindsight, the wheels were turning years before we launched.
