Yahvi Mariwala, Co Founder, Nandan Coffee, introduces the brand’s first Bengaluru flagship at Embassy One, bringing estate grown coffee from Nandanvan Estate in Kodaikanal, a dedicated Filter Kaapi Bar, all day dining and experiential retail under one roof.
Yahvi Mariwala is the Co-Founder of Nandan Coffee, a third-generation, estate-grown coffee company built on a farm-to-cup philosophy, where coffee is grown, roasted, and served by the same brand. Based in Mumbai, she grew up spending time at the Nandanvan Estate in Kodaikanal, developing a close connection to both the land and the values that built the foundation of Nadan Coffee.
Yahvi studied at Emory University and returned to India in 2018 at age 22 years to take forward her grandfather’s coffee business. At the time, Nandan Coffee operated on a small, relationship-driven scale, serving friends and family along with limited exports. She first began expanding the B2B business, then moving into in-person experiences with pop-ups and eventually established the brand’s first shop-in-shop at Jio World Drive, Mumbai in 2021.
Her approach has always been instinct-led, building the brand steadily across different formats that meet customers where they naturally engage with coffee. What began as pop-ups evolved into shop-in-shop concepts and now standalone cafés in Mumbai and Bengaluru – each format further expanding access to specialty coffee. Yahvi’s focus remains on creating spaces that feel intuitive and accessible, while maintaining a clear standard of quality, sustainability, and transparency, from how the coffee is grown and roasted to how it is ultimately served to the customer. She sees India’s coffee culture expanding in multiple directions- from everyday consumption to more nuanced, quality-led experiences as the country shapes its own distinct voice as a coffee-growing and consuming market.
Under her leadership, Nandan Coffee has transitioned from an estate-led operation into a hospitality-first brand. The brand’s evolution has brought customers closer to the journey of coffee, making origin, process, and brewing part of an everyday interaction. Each format reflects a deliberate shift towards building a more immersive, consumer-facing experience, while retaining the depth and integrity of its farm-to-cup foundation.
The company, founded by her grandparents, Hansraj and Hansa Mariwala, who moved to Kodaikanal in the early 1990s transforming a barren plot of land into the biodiverse Nandanvan Estate, where coffee is grown alongside native trees in an open, fenceless environment. Hansraj, a biochemist, brought a scientific approach to cultivation, while Hansa fostered a culture of hospitality, roasting small batches of coffee and serving guests at home, establishing an early standard of quality, care and personalised hosting. This forms the very foundation of Nandan Coffee, carried forward by the family.
Just like her father and grandfather, who were avid equestrians, a discipline that emphasizes sensitivity, consistency, and a close relationship with animals and the land; Yahvi too is a national-level equestrian, grew up within this environment, where care, attention and responsibility were practiced every day. This connection to animal care extends beyond the estate, with her father, Shyam Mariwala, serving on the committee of the Bombay Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
At Nandanvan Estate, the land remains unfenced, allowing wildlife to move freely, shaping a space that prioritises coexistence. This thinking extends into the cafés, which are designed to be naturally welcoming to animals, including pet-friendly environments and dedicated menus. What begins at the estate carries through into every space, forming a quiet but consistent part of how Nandan Coffee is built. Through Nandan Coffee, Yahvi is building a modern Indian coffee brand with global ambition, one that remains grounded in its origin while translating seamlessly across cities and cultures.
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