Our story

Downriver is a small, award-winning specialty coffee roastery proudly based in Inverclyde on the west coast of Scotland. Our coffee is transparently sourced, carefully roasted in small batches, and consistently delicious. Every coffee has a story and we feel it's our duty to share the stories of the incredible producers we buy from, importers we work with, and communities that we roast for. 

Downriver gets its name from its position on the Clyde ('doon the watter' as some may say), nestled in the town of Port Glasgow. We're proud of Inverclyde's incredible coastal scenery, its industrial shipbuilding history, and its strong sense of community spirit. 

Downriver won the Entrepreneurism Award and was a finalist for the Sustainability category at the 2024 Inverclyde Chamber of Commerce ICON Awards.

 

The people of Downriver


close-up of Ryan, owner

Ryan (she/her)

Owner, head roaster, wholesale, kind of everything I guess?
Originally from New York, I moved to Scotland in 2015 for school. I didn't realise I wouldn't be going back, nor that I'd be opening a coffee roastery on the west coast. Back in the US I'd worked as a barista while completing my undergrad and learned about quality and social responsibility in coffee from my cafe's wholesale partner, Counter Culture. That knowledge, passion, and curiosity has always stayed with me.  
The last few years took me on a different journey. I was working as a university research fellow, not long after completing my PhD, when I realised I wasn't on the right career path for myself. When my wife and I moved to Inverclyde during the pandemic, I saw an opportunity to build something special here. Downriver is the culmination of a lot of things, but mostly, a huge leap of faith to do what I love. 


Roastery VIPs

When they say it takes a village, they mean it. Shout-out to my superstar family who lend an essential helping hand and get paid in bottomless coffee cups (and/or dog biscuits).