Filter Coffee

Filter Coffee, a traditional South Indian Coffee made from dark roasted coffee beans is aromatic, milky with right amount of sweetness. In South India, coffee is served in a traditional steel cup and saucer topped with froth. Though I am not a coffee lover or addict, I would love to drink filter coffee once in a while. It is so refreshing. My husband is a coffee lover so I always filter coffee for him.

For brewing coffee (also called decoction), we use a metal filter which has four parts, the top container has a lid and a perforated base, the bottom container is to collect the coffee and a stemmed disc for pressing. The metal filter keeps the coffee fresh and tasty for a longer period of time. For those who live outside India, you can check with your local Indian store for this filter. The one I have is a small filter with a handle which can brew coffee for 4 to 5 people. Try to buy a filter with handle since it really helps you to remove the container easily when it is hot and you are in a hurry. Next the coffee powder, I buy mine from India from a local coffee shop where they freshly roast and grind coffee beans every day. You can add some chicory (20% for 80% coffee) to the coffee powder which gives it an added taste. I usually buy chicory in separate packets and mix it here. Some coffee powders comes with chicory. Green lable, Bru and Kothas are some of the popular brands you can find here in the U.S. Enjoy the homemade coffee and pour in your comments.

Makes Coffee for two

Ingredients:

• Coffee powder – 3 tbsp
• Boiling water – 1 cup
• Milk – 2 cups (16 oz or 480 ml)
• Sugar – 2 tsp (adjust to taste)

Adjust coffee powder and water according to the size of your filter.

How to brew coffee using the special filter?

1. Add 3 tbsp of coffee powder to the filter and press it using a ladle or spoon or the stemmed disc that comes along with filter.
2. Add boiling water slowly (very slowly) and make sure coffee powder is pressed well or else water penetrates quickly which we don’t want.
3. Close the lid and let it rest. Decoction will get collected in the bottom container.
4. This is the first decoction. You can add this to milk and make coffee which will be strong.
5. You can also add another 1/2 cup of boiling water to the filter and extract the second decoction.
6. You can use this as well for making  coffee which will not be as strong as the other. Or you can mix it with the first decoction for uniform concentration and then use it.

Preparation of Coffee:

In a small sauce pan bring milk to a boil. Reduce the heat and continue to boil for 5 minutes. Milk reduces a little bit during this process. Transfer it to the serving cups.

Add sugar and decoction (little at a time), adjust the level depending on how strong you drink your coffee. Now pour from the cup to the saucer and back to the cup until everything is mixed and froth is formed. Enjoy your coffee.