After more than two decades in customer service and hospitality, Stephen decided it was finally time to follow a daydream that had been quietly brewing for years: starting his own business.

Stephen's journey with specialty coffee began in 2011, in San Francisco. What started as a way to pay the bills, quickly grew into something deeper: a genuine passion for the coffee industry. That passion took him on a winding path across the country. He moved to New York City, then to Hawaii, then Oakland, and eventually back to San Francisco; all in search of more knowledge, more experience, and more connection to the world of coffee.

Strange Bird is the result of years of hard work, risk, and growth. It is a reflection of everything he has learned and everything he loves about coffee: the way it brings people together, the way it tells stories and the way it can do good when done right. Stephen is proud of where this path has taken him, and even more excited about where it’s going next.

At the heart of Strange Bird is a deep love for exceptional coffee. We source and roast only the finest specialty grade Arabica beans, crafting rich, delicious flavors that speak for themselves. But for us, coffee is only part of the story.

Every coffee we sell is thoughtfully packaged in home compostable, plastic free boxes. These aren’t your typical eco-friendly containers; there’s no greenwashing here. Strange Bird packaging is free of plastic coatings, aqueous layers, and forever chemicals. Made from 85% post-consumer recycled cardboard certified by the Forest Stewardship Council, and printed with water-based soy ink.

Our mission is bold but simple: source and roast delicious coffee, while setting a new standard in sustainable, plastic free packaging.