South Indian Filter Coffee is a traditional Indian style coffee which is made using a special filter. A coffee decoction is brewed which is then mixed with hot milk and sugar and to create a perfect cuppa. Here is how to make it in South Indian style.
Try my Beaten Coffee, Dalgona Coffee, Nutella Coffee, or Vietnamese Coffee as well if you are a coffee lover.
If you have ever tasted South Indian filter coffee, you would know how addictive it is!
This traditional coffee can give a tough competition to any expensive coffee sold in the cafes.
I would suggest you taste this strong and delicious coffee once, if you ever visit South India, especially in Darshinis.
Every morning, South Indian households smell with the waft of this freshly brewed coffee.
The smell itself makes everything better for the coming hectic schedule.
Strong and addictive, you will never go back to your regular coffee, once you taste this one.
Learn how to make South Indian Coffee, which can also be served during your evening tea with some delicious South Indian snacks.
What is Filter Coffee?
It is a traditional coffee that is prepared in the Southern part of India.
It is made with just 4 ingredients – coffee powder, boiling water, boiling milk, and sugar.
A decoction is made using coffee and boiling water and it is then mixed along with hot milk and sugar to make a frothy coffee.
The taste of this coffee can vary, depending upon which coffee powder you have used.
Some of the coffee powders have added chicory which changes the flavor of the extracted decoction.
Traditionally, this aromatic coffee served in small steel tumbler and dabara (container/cup) that is used to cool and mix the coffee.
Pouring the coffee between the tumbler and the dabarah creates the classic frothy layer over the coffee, which makes it even more divine.
You can even serve this coffee in a brass or copper dabara for a traditional look.
How is Filter Coffee different from regular Coffee?
The traditional Filter coffee has a set process.
The decoction is made using a filter and then mixed with boiling milk and sugar to make a frothy coffee, but in normal coffee, you can just mix everything in a pan including milk, coffee, and sugar and give it a boil.
While Filter coffee is a little frothy, regular coffee doesn’t have that texture.
Also, filter coffee is brewed for a longer time as compared to the regular coffee.
Is it good for health?
It can be good for your health, as it is loaded with antioxidants but there are some rules to follow if you drink coffee every day.
Don’t overload your coffee with sugar, it can be really bad for your health.
Either skip the sugar or use healthy alternatives such as jaggery to add a little sweetness to it.
Instead, flavor it with a little cinnamon, it adds to coffee’s nutritional benefits.
Don’t consume more than a cup of coffee in a day.
Too much coffee can reduce its overall health benefits because anything in excess is not good!
Choose a good coffee, if possible an organic one, which is free of pesticides and other chemicals.
Read the process to make the coffee and take your decision wisely.
Also, use a paper filter to reduce the cafestol, a diterpene that can raise the cholesterol levels in the blood.
How to make it without a filter?
If you don’t own a filter, don’t worry, you can still make this frothy South Indian Coffee.
Add water in a pan and let it boil. Once it boils, add coffee powder. Switch off the heat, mix it after 30 seconds and again cover with a lid.
Let the mixture rest for a minute to get clear decoction.
Meanwhile, boil milk, add sugar and froth by pouring into the tumbler from the pan and vice versa.
Next, add sugar in the stainless steel tumbler, add in the boiling milk and add the coffee decoction slowly.
To mix, pour the coffee between the tumbler and the dabara, which will create the classic frothy layer over the coffee.
Serve hot.
How to make thick decoction?
To make a thick coffee decoction, add the coffee powder in the top compartment of the coffee filter.
Press nicely with the plunger, so that the coffee powder is even.
Top with boiling water. Cover with the lid and let the coffee percolate for about 3 to 4 hours.
Your thick and strong decoction will be ready in some time.
Which coffee powder to use to make Filter Coffee?
You can use any finely grounded coffee powder to make filter kapi.
Brew this coffee powder for a longer time in a traditional Indian filter to make Kaapi, as it is called in South India.
Some people like to add some chicory to their coffee blend as well.
It has a slightly woody and nutty taste.
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Step By Step Recipe
Add coffee powder in the top compartment of the coffee filter.
Press nicely with the plunger.
Top with boiling water. Cover with the lid and let the coffee percolate.
It will take 3-4 hours for the coffee to percolate. Add 2 tbsp decoction in a tumbler.
Top with boiling hot milk.
Add sugar and mix by transferring the coffee between the davara and tumbler a few times. Serve immediately.
South Indian Filter Coffee Recipe
It is a traditional Indian style filter coffee which is made using a special filter. A coffee decoction is brewed which is then mixed with hot milk and sugar and to create a perfect cuppa. Here is how to make it in South Indian style.
Ingredients
- 4 tbsp Coffee Powder Do not use instant coffee powder to make this coffee. Any medium grind with or without chicory works fine for this
- Boiling Hot Water
- Boiling Hot Milk
- Sugar to taste
Instructions
Add coffee powder in the top compartment of the coffee filter.
Press nicely with the plunger.
Top with boiling water.
Cover with the lid and let the coffee percolate. It will take 3-4 hours for the coffee to percolate.
Add 2 tbsp decoction in a tumbler.
Top with boiling hot milk.
Add sugar and mix by transferring the coffee between the davara and tumbler a few times.
Serve immediately.
Recipe Notes
You can make a big batch of decoctions and refrigerate for 3-4 days and use as and when required.
Did you make this recipe? Let me know!