From Brazil to Dubai
Maria Pavani did not build her business through strategy alone. Instead, she built it around a lifelong connection to coffee.
Growing up in Brazil, she saw coffee as more than a drink. It played an important role in everyday life, bringing people together and creating moments of connection. As a result, when she later entered business, she focused not only on selling coffee but also on creating an experience around it.
Then, in 2013, she moved to Dubai. Although the move took her far from the familiarity of home, it also opened the door to new opportunities. She started working as a barista, and through that role she learned how customers behaved, what they valued, and how the local coffee market operated.
Consequently, she gained practical experience that helped her understand both the business and cultural sides of the industry.
Turning an Idea Into a Brand
Later, Maria Pavani transformed those insights into a business.
In 2019, she launched Tres Marias Coffee Company with a clear goal: to create a brand that combined quality, purpose, and experience.
Rather than focusing only on the product itself, she built the brand around community, storytelling, and emotional connection. Therefore, Tres Marias quickly stood out in the highly competitive specialty coffee market.
In addition, the company’s identity reflects the values she brought from Brazil: warmth, connection, and shared experiences. Because of that, customers relate to the brand on a deeper level instead of seeing it as just another coffee company.
Expanding Beyond One Product
However, Maria Pavani did not rely on a single product to grow the business.
Instead, she expanded Tres Marias Coffee Company across several formats. The company now offers instant coffee, coffee capsules, and home brewing products. At the same time, it has introduced plant-based options to meet changing consumer preferences.
As a result, the brand appeals to a wider range of customers, from people looking for convenience to those seeking a more specialised coffee experience.
Meanwhile, the company also expanded its reach through retail partnerships and online platforms. By doing so, Maria Pavani ensured that customers could access the brand in different ways and across different lifestyles. and food service channels across the UAE.
Building Around Community and Experience
What distinguishes the business is not only its product range but also its positioning. Tres Marias operates as a lifestyle brand that integrates education, connection, and shared experience into its offering.
Customers are not treated as buyers alone. They are part of a broader narrative built around discovery and engagement. This shift from transaction to relationship creates stronger brand recall and long-term loyalty.
The Role of Adversity in Shaping Direction
The path included financial pressure, cultural adjustment, and the challenge of establishing credibility in a competitive environment. Maria Pavani often found herself operating in unfamiliar spaces, which required both persistence and clarity in decision-making.
These conditions influenced how she built the business. Instead of reacting to challenges, she focused on internal alignment, ensuring that decisions reflected long-term vision rather than short-term pressure.
Extending Influence Beyond Business
Her work now extends into mentorship and coaching, where she shares insights on mindset and business development with aspiring entrepreneurs.
This expansion reflects a broader view of entrepreneurship, where building a company is connected to building people. The brand, in this sense, becomes both a commercial and developmental platform.
Long-Term Impact
Maria Pavani’s success does not rest on the product alone. It is built on positioning, clarity of purpose, and the ability to translate personal values into a scalable business model.
Tres Marias represents more than a coffee company. It reflects a shift in how modern brands are built, where experience, identity, and community define long-term relevance.
Source: UAE Stories

