Co-owner R Magendran, 45, explained that the collaboration was not about profit, but about helping a dear friend get back on her feet.

“It’s proof that the value of true friendship outweighs financial gain. We had been planning the idea for over a year. It finally became a reality, and we opened just in time for Deepavali,” he told Bernama.

For Diana Sabrin, the friend in question, the gesture was deeply personal. She shared that her friends had conceived the idea to help her embark on a new venture following her struggles with an agriculture and logistics business that she had been building since 2007.

She, however, insisted that they should all run the café together as partners. “I agreed because of the incredible loyalty they showed. When you face hard times and your friends come to your aid like this, how could you say no?”

Diana, 45, hopes the joint venture will not only thrive but further strengthen a bond that has lasted since they all met at SJK Tamil Jalan Yahya Awal over 35 years ago.

Magendran, meanwhile, shared that their café, Nellai Karupatti Coffee, has a unique signature: their beverages are sweetened with a palm sugar known as karupatti, which provides a distinct flavour.

The menu also features a variety of local and traditional treats, including Malay kuih, Indian sweets, and their own take on the classic nasi lemak.

Nellai Karupatti Coffee is an established Indian coffee chain with a global presence, boasting over 200 branches across five countries, including Australia, the United Arab Emirates, and Kuwait.

The friends are already planning to open a second branch in Kuala Lumpur next month, and hope to launch eight more outlets nationwide next year.

Check out Nellai Karupatti Coffee Malaysia on Instagram.

Nellai Karupatti Coffee
19, Jalan Titiwangsa 3/3,
Taman Tampoi Indah,
81200 Johor Bahru, Johor