Struck while riding his bike early Saturday morning in Oakland, Adam Koehler remains in critical but stable condition with severe head trauma
Editor’s note: Regular Barista Magazine contributor Ashley Rodriguez works with Adam Koehler at Sightglass Coffee in San Francisco, and asked if she could write this piece for us when Adam was severely injured in a bike accident last week. Ashley asked that rather than paying her regular writing fee, we donate it to the campaign to raise money for Adam’s medical bills.
BY ASHLEY RODRIGUEZ
SPECIAL TO BARISTA MAGAZINE
The first thing I was told about Adam Koehler before I met him was that I’d love him. No explanations or reasons ”just that I’d love him and it’d be obvious why. And every single person who told me that ”and there were a lot of them ”were right. Adam is the funniest, goofiest, most well-meaning guy I know, and it pains me to write here that he was seriously injured in a hit-and-run accident early Saturday morning. He’s sustained a number of injuries, including severe head trauma. He’s currently in critical but stable condition at Highland Hospital in Oakland, Calif., and has the love and support of his family and wonderful girlfriend as he weathers this terrible tragedy.
Adam is the Director of Sourcing and Quality Control for Sightglass, and I’m lucky enough to get to work with Adam every day. He’s our resident punster and overall lover of a good joke, and goes to great lengths to make everyone around him laugh. And someone that funny and likeable shouldn’t be that smart ”but Adam is. Watching him guide a public cupping or talk about a new coffee he’s sourced is a delight, and he’s basically the most lovable weirdo you’ll ever meet. Who else would tattoo a signature of Leonard Nimroy on their arm, or buy your buddy a tote with Spock petting a cat?
If you haven’t guessed, Adam is really into Star Trek.
I’m devastated by the news of his injuries, and along with my Sightglass and Bay Area family, as well as the large coffee contingents in Portland and Seattle, where Adam worked for Stumptown Coffee previously, continue to send well wishes to him and his loved ones. And when I say loved ones, I basically mean everyone Adam meets or is lucky enough to count him as a friend. I know how much I love him, and could have guessed many feel the same way, but am overcome and overjoyed with just how many people have declared their love and admiration. In just over a day, his friends and supporters have raised more than $24,000 to help with Adam’s medical bills.
But Adam still needs your help. I urge you to keep donating to the GoFundMe campaign set up to help his family handle the financial burden of mounting hospital costs. You can leave a message, or even better, a coffee pun (You Gaturiri understand, there are Hue Hue too many people that love ya out here!), and keep updated on his progress.
If you live in the Bay Area, you can also show your support by visiting Sightglass Coffee on October 17 between 5-8 PM. We’ll be raffling a number of prizes donated by Espresso Parts, and selling retail coffee from a number of different roasters and importers, including Sweet Maria’s and Red Fox Coffee Merchants, with more sponsors to come. All the proceeds will go to the Half Pounds for Half Batch fund (Adam’s Instagram handle is @halfbatch), which will directly help Adam and his family. If you can’t make it then, Sightglass and a number of local shops and roasters will be selling the Half Pounds for Half Batch coffee all day on October 17. We will provide you with a complete list of locations soon.
And of course, we’ll be having a rocking party because Adam would accept nothing less. Live long and prosper, friends.
If you want to donate to this event or want to be involved, please get in touch with Jamie at jamie@sightglasscoffee.com. You can reach the author at ashley@sightglasscoffee.com.
