Max grew up in the western suburbs of Minneapolis and spent his childhood watching “diggers,” playing outside, and taking his toys apart. When it came time to think about college, his parents told him, “No less than 500 miles from home!” So, he settled on Tufts University in Boston, Mass., where he studied civil engineering during the school year and led canoe trips at Camp Menogyn in northern Minnesota during the summers. (That is also where he met his wonderful future wife, Katie).
One day a friend told him, “Hey, I roast coffee at home, it’s delicious.” Liking things that are delicious, he set to Interneting; after a few hours, he was hooked. Coffee roasting became his new favorite hobby, but the popcorn popper wasn’t quite controllable enough. So, he started taking apart and rewiring home appliances to create a custom roasting contraption (see also Childhood Activities, above).
Shortly after moving back to Minnesota in 2014, Max decided that he should buy his green coffee locally, and wound up at the Cafe Imports website. He discovered that they were hiring in the trading department. The rest, as they say, is history.
He tells his wife and three boys (almost) every day how much he loves his job at Cafe Imports.
Outside of work, his hobbies largely involve water: canoeing, taking kids tubing, catching sunfish with the kids, and playing hockey (indoors and out).