SOUTH INDIAN FILTER COFFEE

     I am a Coffee person, nothing rejuvenates me, rather than a strong aromatic Cup of Coffee right in the morning. What I love the most is the strong Black Coffee right from the Percolator without any sweetener & milk.  The first thing I do is, enjoy the aroma of freshly brewed Coffee wafting out from my wonderful Coffee. Then take a small sip... cherish the taste...  As I would like to twist the age-old proverb to,  "there is many a Sip between the Cup and the Lip". My Coffee Cup would surely understand the term as a sip(instead of slip). Coffee is the only beverage I drink and I am quite loyal(addicted) to the drink. My love for Coffee is self-proclaimed. Anything in the name of Coffee - "A Coffee is a Coffee is a Coffee"- quite captivating and levitating enough to propel your senses with its wonderful aroma and taste.
    My first rendezvous with Coffee takes me back to the memory lane.  I come from a family where Tea is the main beverage, to date and anything in the name of Coffee has always been Instant Coffee. As a kid my Mom never allowed me to have Tea/Coffee.  But when I fall sick which was quite often during my childhood days with cold and fever, my appetite would be low and my dad would cajole me to eat something. During those pampering moments, I would quietly try to sneak Bru Coffee along with Rusk. But it was during my years of board exams, I started drinking Coffee quite often, to help me keep awake. And the practice took over me into a habit eventually. But even during my childhood days, I would never miss a chance of drinking Coffee. Later my love for Coffee has taken me to the extent of learning the art of making my own filter Coffee which was literally a feat I always wanted to master.
     I love to taste best tasting coffees and I am always in search for it.  Starting with Instant Coffees, trio packs, to all-time favourite - South Indian Filter Coffee, Mamak Shop long list of Kopi O, Kopi C, Nescafe, White Coffee, my latest favourite Kopitiam Coffees.  The list continues with various Coffees like Espressos, Americano or Lattes from all prominent eateries.  It's only recently I learnt to perfectly order a coffee at such places.
     There are many different ways a coffee is made throughout the world. For instance, cold-brew(my son's favourite) and iced coffee are made differently in every country.  Countries like Turkey, Japan, Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam and Arabian countries have their own style of Coffee preparation. India also has its own way of making cold coffee, as well as its own way of making hot coffee- the Filter Coffee. Did you know that one of the most expensive Coffee come out through the gut of a Cat-like animal called Civet?  Coffee Luwak or a Cat poop Coffee.  Least to mention the wonderful Turkish Coffee, what I am fascinated about it is the vessel used for making a Turkish Coffee.
       But saying the name Coffee reminds me of the one & only South Indian Filter Coffee.  Aha Filter Coffee, Besh Besh Romba Nannarukku ( Filter Coffee, great! great! it's really nice) a wonderful conglomeration of  Milk, Decoction and Sugar.  But what makes it special is the Decoction brewed out from a South Indian Coffee Filter which follows the slow drip method. The Coffee decoction brewed out of this type of filter is thick and strong.
     South Indian filter coffee is a strong, milky coffee decoction that’s made using a coffee filter, and served in a traditional Dabarah and Tumbler. Though this is the most traditional and authentic way of preparing Coffee in South India,  the tradition was taken over by the simplicity & ease of preparation of an instant coffee. Instant Coffee has become a norm in every household, though this method of brewing coffee is often preferred because it produces a much better coffee compared to instant coffee.
     Traditional South Indian filter coffee is made with an equipment called “Coffee Filter,” but it does not have any filter(Paper filter) as such.  The South Indian Coffee Filter consists of two cups(an upper chamber and a lower chamber), one that nests on top of the other. The upper portion holds the coffee grounds, and it has holes that let the brew drip into the lower portion. The upper portion also has a removable pressing disc for tamping the coffee powder and a lid for keeping the decoction warm while brewing.  The strong decoction is collected in the lower cup.
     Once the coffee is brewed, the decoction is mixed along with Milk & Sugar and then poured back and forth between a Dabarah and Tumbler. This process aerates the decoction creating a foam. This adds texture and taste to the filter coffee. A perfect Filter Coffee should be thoroughly poured back & forth and served with a froth(foam) on top in a perfect drinking temperature.  Even the first sip should be at the right temperature. A simple Coffee with the name Filter Coffee is just an understatement, it is prepared with precision & served with pride. The pouring back and forth between the Dabarah and Tumbler has given rise to a different name for this Filter Coffee, Meter Coffee, Kumbakonam Degree Coffee, Mylapore/Madras Kaapi etc.,
     During my pregnancy, I stopped drinking Coffee & Tea since then I quit drinking tea but couldn't keep out my temptation of drinking Coffee.  My kids know my love for Coffee that my son always suggest a place where we get Good Coffee, my daughter, in turn, makes me drool over with her latest tries of good Filter Coffees in Coimbatore.  But she surprised me with a set of Brass Coffee Dabarah and Tumbler.  And to add to my Coffee love she prepared me a wonderful Filter Coffee with Palm Sugar, surprising me along with the above picture(a click by my daughter after a long time for the blog).



Cuisine - South Indian
Recipe Type - Beverage
Difficulty - Medium
Serves -2
Author - SM   


Brewing Time - 15-20 Minutes
Preparation & Cooking  Time - 5 - 10 Minutes

HOW TO MAKE SOUTH INDIAN FILTER COFFEE

SOUTH INDIAN FILTER COFFEE

INGREDIENTS:

To brew Coffee in  Filter/For Coffee Decoction:

Finely ground Coffee Powder - 4 Tbspn
Boiling Hot Water - 1/2 Cup

For South Indian Filter Coffee:

Milk - 1/2 Cup
Coffee Decoction - 1 -2 Tbspn
Sugar/Palm Sugar - as required

Serving Suggestion:

Dabarah & Tumbler(Optional)

METHOD:

To brew Coffee in  Filter/For Coffee Decoction:

• Briefly, heat the upper chamber (the portion with the holes) on direct flame for about 4-5 seconds.
• Place the Upper Chamber over the Lower Chamber.
• Add 4 Tbspn of Coffee Powder in the Upper Chamber of the Coffee Filter.
• Slightly Tamp/Press the Coffee Powder with the Pressing disc(which comes along with the Coffee filter).
• Leave the Pressing Disc inside the Coffee Filter after Tamping the Coffee Powder.
• Meanwhile, boil 1/2 Cup of Water.
• Pour the boiling water in the upper Chamber with the tamped Coffee powder.
• Cover the Coffee Filter with the lid and let the Coffee Brew.
• It will take about 15-20 minutes(depending on the size of the filter and the amount of Water used).
• While the Decoction is brewing, heat the Milk on medium flame.
• Pour in the required Coffee Decoction to the hot Milk. (for 1/2 a Cup of Coffee you may need about 1-2 Tbspn of Decoction).
• Add in the Sugar/Palm Sugar.
• Pour the mixture back and forth between the Dabarah and Tumbler using high arcing motions lifting the tumbler high enough to pour.
• Pour it out thoroughly until the Coffee froths and the Coffee is at the right temperature to drink. (Do not overdo as it may end up in a cold Coffee).
• Serve South Indian Filter Coffee in a Dabarah and Tumbler or in a Cup.

TIPS & TRICKS FOR A PERFECT SOUTH INDIAN FILTER COFFEE

 

Selecting the Coffee Powder:

• I buy freshly ground Coffee Powder from a local Kopitiam(Coffee Shop).
• While I was in India, I used to prepare Filter Coffee with Green Label Coffee Powder/ Cafe Coffee Day Coffee Powder, Narasus Coffee also works well.
• Try your hand with your choice of preferred Coffee powder.

Milk :

• Always use freshly boiled milk.
• Reheated milk spoils the taste of a filter coffee though. (Can reheat the milk using a double boiler method).
• Do not add Sugar/Palm Sugar while boiling the Milk.
• Full cream Milk suits well for a filter Coffee, thicker the milk the coffee comes to be called as Degree Kappi/Meter Kaapi.

Using the South Indian Coffee Filter :

• Briefly, heat the upper chamber (the portion with the holes) on direct flame for about 4-5 seconds.
• Place the Upper Chamber over the Lower Chamber.
• Add the Coffee Powder in the Upper Chamber of the Coffee Filter.
• Slightly Tamp/Press the Coffee Powder with the Pressing disc(which comes along with the Coffee filter).
• Leave the Pressing Disc inside the Coffee Filter after Tamping the Coffee Powder.
• Tamping mainly ensures that the coffee powder is even in the chamber.
• Can prepare the Coffee Decoction in an Electric Coffee Maker too.

Coffee Decoction :

• Do not add more water to the filter as it will end up in making a thin decoction.
• Adjust the amount of Coffee Powder and Water, as per your requirement.
• The given measurement best suits for making 2 small Tumblers of Filter Coffee.
• Never heat up the decoction, if you want to heat it up by keeping it in hot water for a few minutes.
• Can store the decoction in the refrigerator for a day.
• Can add Sugar to the Coffee Powder while preparing the Coffee Decoction.
• This will yield a thicker Decoction.
• Place Sugar in the lower chamber of the Coffee Filter. 
• If you need a stronger Decoction, add more Coffee Powder. 
• The first brew would be thick and strong.
• I brew the using same mix twice, the second brew would be slightly lighter, can add some instant coffee powder and prepared a combination of filter and instant Coffee(being stringent as any normal homemaker does).

South Indian Filter Coffee:

• Never reheat the coffee as it will not taste good.
• So care should be taken to retain the right temperature while making a Filter Coffee.
• Hot Milk and Coffee Decoction along with Sugar/Palm Sugar should be quickly and thoroughly poured back and forth until the Coffee froths.
• Pouring the mixture back & forth ensures the ingredients are well mixed, sugar is dissolved and the Filter Coffee is aerated.
• Do not overdo as it may end up in a cold Coffee.

*Overall - Practice makes things Perfect and rule goes for a South Indian Filter Coffee too!