Yesterday, Carpe Diem lost one of the most valued members of her team. Richard Halbmaier walked into our lives and answered our prayers. He possessed an encyclopedic knowledge of coffee roasters and brewers, and for the next umpteenth years, he answered one emergency repair call after another, never failing us.

Richard was also an amazing teacher who generously shared his knowledge of brewer mechanics with our other employees. He was our go-to person for troubleshooting in the field, walking us through complex repairs OVER THE PHONE.

More than an employee, Richard became a member of our family, always a cheerful, concerned, and loyal friend. He is already deeply missed. We are incredibly sad to say goodbye, but we are hopeful that he no longer must answer emergency calls.

With love,
Jane and Gussie
Chris, Hannah and Nate