Niyyah Coffee Brings a Deaf-Owned Cafe to Indianapolis

Daria Toptygina | October 14, 2026 Niyyah Coffee in Indianapolis. Image courtesy of courtesy of Talha Tufail / Niyyah Coffee. Niyyah Coffee has opened Indianapolis’ first Deaf-owned coffee shop, designed around greater access, employment and interaction for the Deaf community. Opened June 27 near the intersection of North College Avenue and Massachusetts Avenue, the shop is owned and operated by Talha Tufail, who immigrated to the United States from Pakistan with his family at age 5. His family made the move seeking greater opportunities and access for him as a Deaf child. Image courtesy of courtesy of Talha Tufail / Niyyah Coffee. The opening marked Niyyah Coffee’s fourth Indiana cafe and fifth location overall. The brand was founded by Talha Tufail’s brother and sister-in-law, Shamyl and Torrie Tufail, who expanded from a coffee cart into a brick-and-mortar retail business in 2023. Talha Tufail joined the coffee venture after pursuing a career in finance and accounting. “Niyyah” means “intention” in Arabic, reflecting the company’s stated goal of creating welcoming gathering spaces. At the Mass Ave. shop, varied seating and an American Sign Language (ASL) alphabet painted on a…