Commendatore Dr Alberto Hesse, 1918-2008

19th June 2008

We very much regret to report the death on June 16 of Dr Alberto Hesse, a Pioneer Member of the SCAE and one of the best know green coffee traders in Europe. He was 90.

Dr Hesse had over 60 years of experience in the green coffee brokerage founded by his father in his home city of Trieste, and he became the owner of the company in 1958, specialising in importing speciality arabicas and robustas, and eventually becoming an exclusive importer as well of gourmet origins.

Besides being the chair of the Trieste Coffee Association, he also served as president European Coffee Traders group CECA, and as president of the European Coffee Federation.

A graduate in Economics, Social and Political Sciences and Law, he had a distinguished career as a fighter pilot during World War II, under the Italian Air Forces and, following Italy’s capitulation, for the Royal Air Force, where he served with distinction for the RAF’s Balkan Headquarters. In 1967, he was appointed Commendatore or Commander of the Italian Republic by the Italian President, and he served as Honorary Consul of the Republic of Cameroon for many years.

Dr Hesse, who was one of the original members of the SCAE and attended all of the initial meetings which preceded its establishment, was remembered with a minute’s silence at the opening of the SCAE’s Wonderful Coffee event in Copenhagen on June 19.