About
"From our humble beginnings in the roastery on wheels, we learned that only through passion and relentless commitment can you truly create something special"
- Ian & Kellie Wahl
Our Story
Alternate Route Coffee Co. was built on one simple idea: take the path less traveled. What began as a shared dream between husband-and-wife duo, Ian and Kellie Wahl, quickly grew into something bigger than either imagined. From day one, we’ve chosen intention over convention and passion over shortcuts; it is our commitment to doing things differently.
Today, we are proudly women run, women roasted, and majority women owned. Led by Kellie Wahl and Head Roaster, Corie Sackville, our Alberta-based team brings precision, grit, and heart into every batch we roast. This shift wasn’t a branding strategy but happened organically, built on trust, shared values, and a belief that great coffee comes from great people.
At Alternate Route Coffee Co., roasting transcends science. It’s a disciplined craft that demands dedication, expertise, and a profound respect for the farmers and producers we partner with. We meticulously source our beans from growers who share our commitment to quality and integrity, building relationships rooted in excellence and authenticity. Our small-batch approach ensures every bean receives the attention it deserves, resulting in coffee that is rich, balanced, and intentionally roasted to showcase its best qualities. It isn’t just about coffee, it’s about doing things differently, building something with purpose, and creating exceptional coffee along the way.
Welcome to Alternate Route Coffee Co., where every sip takes you on a journey less traveled, but infinitely more rewarding.
Roastery + Tasting Lab
Alternate Route Coffee Roasters. Renowned for our precision and passion, we are changing the way we experience coffee, one bean at a time.
Located just beside the Edmonton International Airport in Alberta, Canada, Alternate Route Coffee Co. is a small batch, specialty coffee roaster blending traditional techniques with modern innovation to bring you a unique coffee experience. Every batch is carefully roasted using a Probat P12 Roaster, ensuring consistency and quality in every bag of beans.
We take pride in sourcing our beans from some of the world’s most renowned coffee-growing regions. Whether it’s the lush mountains of Colombia, the vast plantations of Brazil, the rich soils of Costa Rica, or the highlands of Ethiopia, each origin brings something special to the table.
The roastery includes a small coffee bar, retail section, as well as a beautiful custom tasting room where we host intimate coffee tasting and brewing events. Be sure to check out our store hours and we look forward to seeing you soon.