International Coffee Day: This café in Fort brings authentic flavours of coffee from an estate in Kodaikanal

Sundays are meant for leisurely walks in the Fort district After admiring the colonial buildings our favourite pass time against the backdrop of an unusually blue sky that sultry morning we dropped by Nandan Coffeersquos new flagship outlet It isnrsquot just a cafeacute but more of an experience centre that celebrates three generations of the brandrsquos coffeebrewing heritage sustainable farming and artisanal craftsmanship sourced from their estate in Kodaikanal The best part mdash the space isnrsquot overwhelming because it still exudes the warmth of a coffee shopInteriors of the Fort cafeDesigned by Farida Mariwala Interiors mdash with installations by Faizan Khatri this twolevel space blends modern aesthetics with natural elements There are seats by the large window where abundant sunlight pours in There is also seating downstairs and a communal table and lounge area on the mezzanine floor Photographs of their staff at the estate a video on the estatetocup journey and captioned history of the brandrsquos origins adorn the beige wallsAhead of their launch today on World Coffee Day they have invited friends and family for tasting We join Yahvi Mariwala mdash the thirdgeneration entrepreneur who proudly takes us through Nandan Coffeersquos journey that began with her grandparents mdash Hansraj and Hansa Mariwala over 30 years ago transforming a barren patch in the Palani Hills into Nandanvan A framed photo of the couple next makes the space feel just like homeAlso Read International Coffee Day Elevate your coffee routine with these musttry recipesAn Americano cappuccino and nachni butter cookies PicsAnurag AhireWe started by browsing through the handharvested beans grown under the estatersquos unique microclimate and roasted from light to dark roast profiles The staff lets you sample brewed coffee before you select your beans and roast First we settled on 70 per cent Selection 9 Medium and 30 per cent Hawaiin Red Caturra and thought it felt smooth on the palate without the overpowering floral notes When 10 per cent Robusta was added to it mdash making it a 603010 ratio mdash it was a surprise for our palate thanks to the added body to the texture We can safely say this is our new favouriteYahvi MariwalaWe moved on to the Create Your Own Coffee station where we learnt the art of coffee blending and brewing Our barista Shariq Hussain shared handson experience that immerses visitors in the craft of coffee making He demonstrated it once and allowed us to use the equipment for making our cuppa His latte art was Arate and ours was leaning on the abstract ldquoIf you have steamed the milk correctly and poured it right the coffee will still taste great It comes with practicerdquo Hussain encourages usYahvi speaks passionately of their unfenced estate where bison and elephants roam freely The estatersquos unique microclimate enriched by natural water harvesting organic farming principles and the coexistence of wildlife produces coffee that is as rich in flavour She is infusing it with innovation and modernity The packaging and cups are a hattip to Nandanvanrsquos landscapeShariq Hussain brews coffeeFor food the menu salutes the flavours of South India like the estate in Kodaikanal We tried the Mariwala scramble R445 the podi and parmesan were an unusual combination but a hit The nachni porridge Rs 545 was wholesome and can be a meal by itself Our favourite was the tiramisu French toast R645 and rosti Kejriwal Rs 545 mdash both felt like hugs on a plate Thankfully the food doesnrsquot digress from the coffeeFor Yahvi coffee is a tool that connects communities nurtures the environment and enriches daily life and therersquos plenty of storytelling along the way This we feel might help separate them from being just another coffee shop in an overcrowded marketNandan CoffeeOpens TodayAt Mulla House opposite Central Bank Head Office FortCall 7738069879