Interview with Ryan Walker, Owner of Birdy Coffee Co.
How did you first get into specialty coffee?
I got into it about ten years ago. I have always had a love for good food and drink. I was on a journey trying to be more aware of what I was eating and drinking and the processes that go into it. During that journey, I noticed coffee had its micro-niche world of that exact microcosm, and I loved it. Since then, it’s just a growing love for the coffee world.
I began a roastery with a friend; it was called Maker House Coffee. It was a hobby, but we produced enough coffee for a few cafes. It ended a few years ago with a seamless transition into starting Birdy as my own roastery. Maker House was slightly more conventional, but Birdy is more specialty, and I aim for a Nordic roasting style. There are a lot of darker coffees around the Red Deer area, so I wanted to do something lighter and more expressive.
Can you tell us more about the name Birdy Coffee Co. and why you chose it?
When we started Birdy here in central Alberta, there wasn’t much specialty coffee around. What I did see tended to have these really harsh, almost aggressive names—things like Deathwish Coffee—with branding that was all about intensity and getting caffeine into your system. We wanted something different, and softer. From the beginning, we knew we wanted both the word and the visuals to feel gentle and approachable. Birdy just felt right; it’s a soft word, fun to say, and it connects with something personal. Our family loves watching birds. We’re not ornithologists by any means, but we enjoy spotting the ones that land in our yard and just appreciating them.
It’s been five years since you started Birdy Coffee Co. What are you most proud of in your journey thus far?
One of my friends who runs a brewery once told me that the best part of running his business wasn’t the product itself, but the people he got to do it with. And honestly, I couldn’t agree more. For me, it’s the team. I’ve been lucky enough to work alongside my brother, my wife, our baristas, and everyone who’s been part of Birdy along the way. It might sound cheesy, but it’s the truth. We’re a small team, with a lot of part-timers who pour so much love into what we do. That’s what I’m most proud of, and what I’ll never forget. It’s been a joy to learn, grow, and do this together. We feel really blessed by the people who’ve come alongside us and given their time and energy to Birdy. That’s the part that means the most.
What is your cafe space like with Craft Beer Commonwealth?
We are located in the Gasoline Alley Farmers Market. When they built the space, a group of breweries made Commonwealth Brewery. They then asked me if I wanted to take one end of the bar for Birdy and roast coffee there. After a while, I became the general manager of both businesses, and I could leave my construction job and do Birdy full-time. It’s been such a cool adventure and a positive time with my business partners; they are just letting me do what I love.
What is the specialty coffee scene in Red Deer like?
It feels like a slow process here. There aren’t many specialty roasters in and around our city, but the people who seek it out really love it. And sometimes, it’s not the people you’d expect, which makes it even more exciting. Red Deer has a real rural feel. For a lot of people, coffee has just been a means to an end; something to drink in the morning or a quick pick-me-up. But now, more folks are approaching it with intention. We definitely glean a lot from the bigger cities to the north and south—Edmonton and Calgary—and you can feel that influence pressing into Red Deer from both directions. It’s slow, but steady growth, and honestly, that’s kind of nice. What’s been beautiful is that as we’ve experimented and grown, our community has grown with us. We haven’t been shouting from the rooftops for years about having these coffees—we’ve just introduced them naturally, together, step by step. And that’s made it a really fun, meaningful journey.
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