Filter Coffee | How to make Filter Coffee | South Indian Filter Coffee | Kitchen Basics 101

Published: Sep 7, 2013 · Modified: Sep 22, 2023 by Kalyani · This post may contain affiliate links · 29 Comments

Learn to make Authentic South Indian Filter Coffee at home, with a lot of tips and tricks to get that perfect cuppa!

Picture this : Every South Indian movie or clip representing a typical TamBram household will have a Hindu newspaper, Filter coffee in a davara (a stainless steel tumbler with a flattish cup - see pic below) and M S Subbalakshmi singing Suprabhatam (morning prayers)... Its that ubiquitous by its presence. Also called Kumbakonam Degree Coffee or kaapi (as it is popularly known) .Kumbakonam is a prominent town in Tamilnadu and this is one beverage which is a sure shot wake up call for any Tam Brahm householder.

I am sure every South Indian family - especially those in Tamilnadu and Karnataka - have their own version of making Filter Coffee : Strong , rich, with and without chicory, milky, frothy - the versions are endless. Each family will also have a coffee bean / coffee powder supplier who would be with the family for ages - supplying the same grade (and variety) of coffee for ages to come.

Today's post on How to make Filter Coffee is on popular demand by my friends not from the South, and yet who love and rather crave for South Indian Filter Coffee. I have included tips and little tricks that would be helpful for first time makers and a revision perhaps for everyday coffee makers :-))

Filter Coffee is best served fresh after any breakfast- Idli/ Vada/ Dosa/ Pongal/ Poha/ Sevai/ Uttapams or even as a refreshing drink in the evening.

Learn to make Authentic South Indian Filter Coffee at home, with a lot of tips and tricks to get that perfect cuppa!

History of Brewing Coffee

In fact, even before FDI and retail in India opened up to the numerous Cafe Coffee Days and Baristas, coffee was a special treat, either available traditionally only in homes or at some restaurants. The history of coffee goes at least as far back as the thirteenth century with a number of myths surrounding its first use.

The original native population of coffee could have come from Ethiopia, Sudan or Kenya, and it was cultivated by Arabs from the 14th century. Wikpedia tells me that Drip brewing, or filtered coffee, is a method which involves pouring water over roasted, ground coffee beans contained in a filter, creating the beverage called coffee.

Water seeps through the ground coffee, absorbing its oils and essences, solely under gravity, then passes through the bottom of the filter. The used coffee grounds are retained in the filter with the liquid falling (dripping) into a
collecting vessel such as a carafe or pot.

However, in traditional South Indian homes, coffee beans were procured from the growers themselves, based on their richness were classified into Robusta, Plantation A, Plantation B and the like. These beans were roasted and ground by hand at homes in a cast iron coffee mill (like this picture on the top. pic courtesy :Chitra Amma's Kitchen).

Without these machines now, we have the Stainless steel filter (something like a percolator, but with a sieve like partition between the two parts). So, let's get to make Filter Coffee as it makes its way to millions of Coffee connoiseurs across South India and abroad

Tips and tricks to make the best filter coffee

1) Invest in a Coffee Making Filter - pref the stainless steel version

2) Store the coffee powder in an airtight steel or glass container, and preferably in the refrigerator to ensure the aroma is locked

3) Use freshly boiled milk (tetra pack milk cartons don't (always) make good Filter Coffee) always to make a cup

4) If there is decoction left over, store it in the refrigerator without adding milk

5) If you want to re-heat previously made coffee, boil a pot of water and place the coffee mug in it to provide
indirect heating

6) You may use brown sugar or palm sugar in place of white crystalline sugar to make this coffee. however the
taste would vary slightly.

7) If making in large quantities, the proportion of decoction to milk (for strong coffee) is ⅓ : ⅔. Depending
on the taste and strength of the coffee powder and personal preferences, adjust the strength of the Filter Coffee

Let's get to making South Indian Filter Coffee / Kaapi

Prep time : 5- 8 mins + Milk boiling time ; Serves - 2

Ingredients for coffee decoction:

50 grams (or approx 4 TBSP) Freshly ground Filter coffee Powder
(Nescafe / Bru / Instant Coffee Mixes dont work)
Sugar - to taste
Water
Freshly boiled milk - to taste

How to make Filter Coffee

Bring the water to a rolling boil.
Ensure the Coffee Filter is washed and clean. Keep the upper container (with the sieve portion) near a naked flame for 1-2 secs to ensure its dry and all impurities are drained out
Depending on the size of the filter, add 5-7 tea spoons of filter coffee into the upper container. Place the upper container with the sieve on the lower cup..
Pour the boiling water till almost the top (the water should be rolling boil till you pour)
Tap once or twice gently on the top container and place the lid
After 8-10 mins (depending on the coffee powder and water used), the decocotion is percolated to the lower
container.

(see pics above)

PIN FOR LATER

To make the coffee (measurement for 1 serving)

In a normal steel or silver tumbler, add 1 teaspoon of sugar. Add ¼ cup of the decoction, and immediately add the
frothy boiling milk.
Mix this liquid with another cup up and down a couple of times till the decoction and milk mix well and you get a frothy top.
Serve immediately.

Filter Coffee | How to make Filter Coffee | South Indian Filter Coffee | Kitchen Basics 101

Kalyani

Learn to make Authentic South Indian Filter Coffee at home, with a lot of tips and tricks to get that perfect cuppa!

5 from 2 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 15

Cook Time 5

Total Time 20

Course Beverage

Cuisine Karnataka Cuisine, South Indian, Tambrahm, Tamilnadu Cusine

Servings servings

Equipment

Coffee Filter sub with percolator
Pots and Pans

Ingredients

50 grams South Indian Filter Coffee
2 teaspoon Sugar or to taste
¼ cup Milk Fresh milk, boiled

Instructions

Bring the water to a rolling boil.
Ensure the Coffee Filter is washed and clean. Keep the upper container (with the sieve portion) near a naked flame for 1-2 secs to ensure its dry and all impurities are drained out
Depending on the size of the filter, add 5-7 tea spoons of filter coffee into the upper container. Place the upper container with the sieve on the lower cup..
Pour the boiling water till almost the top (the water should be rolling boil till you pour)
Tap once or twice gently on the top container and place the lid
After 8-10 mins (depending on the coffee powder and water used), the decocotion is percolated to the lower container
In a normal steel or silver tumbler, add 1 teaspoon of sugar. Add ¼ cup of the decoction, and immediately add the frothy boiling milk.
Mix this liquid with another cup up and down a couple of times till the decoction and milk mix well and you get a frothy top.
Serve immediately.