Liza Legodi was recently nominated in three categories in the SAAGRIAWARDS 2026.
In a village where farming in livestock and maize has been the norm for decades, Legodi has taken a different route. The 25-year-old human resources management graduate and her pensioner father, Lesiba Office Legodi, farm coffee beans in Bellingsgate, a rural village under the Ga-Mashashane traditional authority in Limpopo province.
The father and daughter team ventured into this unusual crop a year ago on the family’s one-hectare plot in the village’s communal agricultural land, where maize is the crop of choice.
In the first of a series of weekly profiles of movers and shakers in the business and SME sector, Vutivi Business News chats to the agro-processor about her unique brand, Liza’s Classic Coffee
Vutivi Business News: Can you tell us about your journey and what inspired you?
Liza Legodi: I started my coffee business while I was still a student. I was inspired by my
father and also by seeing how people in my community drink too much strong caffeine. I
wanted to create a healthier, organic coffee that people can enjoy every day. That is how
Liza’s Classic Coffee started.
Vutivi Business News: What makes your coffee unique?
Liza Legodi: My coffee is 100% pure and organic. It has no chemicals or additives. I focus
on quality and making sure it tastes natural and smooth. It is also proudly made at home in
my community.
Vutivi Business News: How has this year’s harvest season been?
Liza Legodi: This year has been good, but also challenging. We are learning and
improving every day to produce better quality coffee.
Vutivi Business News: What challenges do you face?
Liza Legodi: We face challenges like weather changes, limited resources, and manual
labour. To overcome this, we work as a team and plan our work properly.
Vutivi Business News: Can you explain the process from picking to brewing?
Liza Legodi: We start by picking the coffee beans, then we clean and dry them. After that,
we roast the beans, grind them into powder, and prepare them for brewing or packaging.
VutiviBusiness News: What sets your process apart?
Liza Legodi: I take my time to make sure everything is done properly. I focus on
cleanliness and quality. My packaging is simple but neat and attractive.
VutiviBusiness News: How do you ensure quality?
Liza Legodi: I check every batch myself. I make sure the coffee smells good, tastes right,
and is fresh before selling it.
Vutivi Business News: How do you market your coffee?
Liza Legodi: I use WhatsApp, word of mouth, and local selling. I also create posters and share them with people. I mainly use WhatsApp and social media, but I also rely on people telling others about my coffee.
Vutivi Business News: What feedback have you received?
Liza Legodi: Customers say my coffee tastes natural and strong in a good way. They also
like that it is fresh and affordable, and they say it has a nutty chocolate flavour and makes
them feel at home.
Vutivi Business News: Have you created jobs?
Liza Legodi: Yes, I sometimes hire people to help during busy times. This helps them earn
money.
Vutivi Business News: How does your business help the community?
Liza Legodi: My business supports local people and promotes healthy coffee. It also
inspires young people to start their own businesses.
Vutivi Business News: What are your long-term goals?
Liza Legodi: I want to grow my brand and make it known across South Africa. I also want
to improve my packaging and production. I want to sell nationally and even internationally
in the future.
Vutivi Business News: What advice would you give to others?
Liza Legodi: I would advise people to start small, believe in their idea, and not give up.
Use what you have, don’t wait for funders, because funders need to see where you have
started and keep learning every day.
Vutivi Business News: Share the secret that sets your coffee apart from other popular brands?
Liza Legodi: What sets my coffee apart from many popular brands is the simplicity and purity of the ingredients I use. While a lot of commercial coffees are blended with additives, artificial flavourings, or mixed beans from different sources to standardise taste, my coffee is made from carefully selected, organically grown beans with no added chemicals or preservatives. I focus on maintaining the natural quality of the coffee, ensuring it is 100% pure filter coffee, which preserves its authentic aroma, rich flavour, and health benefits.
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