Gardelli - Hezya (Tanzania )

Origin & Producer
Region: Songwe, Mbozi District, southwestern Tanzania
Producers: Smallholder farmers from Hezya, Haraka, and Izumbi villages, under the Hezya AMCOS cooperative
Altitude: Approximately 1,670 m above sea level
Variety: Primarily Bourbon and Kent (classic Arabica cultivars)

🧃 Processing & Roast Style
Process: Classic washed – cherries are pulped, fermented for up to 72 hours, washed by density, and dried on raised beds for 10 days
Roasting: Roasted by Rubens Gardelli in a custom solid drum roaster, in small batches every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, and shipped the same day

☕ Tasting Notes
Flavour: Juicy grape, crisp green apple, maple syrup, and a soft hazelnut finish
Character: Bright acidity, medium round body, gentle sweetness, and a clean, elegant finish

🍳 Brewing Suggestions
Excellent for both espresso and filter methods

V60 recipe: 17 g coffee, 250 g water at ~94 °C, medium grind, brew time ~2:30
Flat-bottom filters (like Kalita/Stagg): 17 g coffee, same water/temperature, grind slightly finer, brew time ~2:25

📖 Background
This coffee comes from smallholder farmers in Songwe working through the Hezya cooperative, which was founded in 2017 and has grown steadily. In 2022–2023, the cooperative established a central processing unit to improve consistency and quality control. The Bourbon and Kent varieties thrive at high altitude, producing a cup with clarity and complexity.

📝 Final Summary
Hezya is a washed Tanzanian coffee offering juicy, fruit-forward notes balanced by sweetness and a gentle nutty finish. Its vibrant character and clean structure make it a versatile choice for both espresso and filter brewing, and a fine example of Gardelli’s precise roasting appr