filter coffee recipe with step by step photos – easy to prepare and popular south indian filter coffee recipe.
this recipe post of filter coffee should have been added by me long ago. filter coffee is one of my favorite coffee and i do make it occasionally for myself. even though i am a regular tea junkie, but once in a while i love to have filter coffee.
filter coffee is known in various names like degree coffee, filter kaapi, mysore filter coffee etc. lots of info about filter coffee here on wikipedia
here i am sharing the traditional way of making filter coffee. you will need the south indian coffee filter to make this coffee. this is easily available in most utensil shops in western and south india as well as online. you will see the pics in the step by step post below.
for the coffee powder, you need to use coffee powder which is meant for preparing filter coffee. when my parents travel to south, they get for me coffee powder from there. so i always have a stock. the taste of the coffee, largely depends on the type of ground coffee used. after using the coffee powder for a few times, you will get an idea on its quality and flavor strength.
filter coffee needs to be served immediately as soon as its made. you can have filter coffee just as a single beverage or serve it after tiffin breakfast items like upma, idli, dosa, uttapam or medu vada.
filter kaapi or filter coffee recipe card below:
south indian filter coffee
ingredients (1 cup = 250 ml)
- 3 teaspoons ground coffee
- 1 cup water
- ¾ cup whole or full fat milk or add as required
- 2 teaspoons sugar for each glass or mug or add as required
how to make south indian filter coffee
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take the coffee filter. fit the top vessel on the lower one. now take 3 teaspoons ground coffee and place it in the vessel with the perforations.
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gently spread and even out the coffee powder with your fingers or with a small spoon.
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place the pressing disc with the handle on the coffee powder.
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heat 1 cup water in a sauce pan and let it come to a boil.
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when the water comes to a boil, gently pour the water in the top vessel, till its 3/4 or almost full.
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cover with the lid. wait for 10 to 12 minutes till the coffee decoction percolates in the lower vessel.
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when all of the coffee is brewed, then heat 3/4 cup full fat or whole milk till it becomes hot and boils.
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now take a tumbler (glass) and add 2 teaspoons sugar in it.
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add 1/4 to 1/3 cup hot boiling milk directly in the tumbler (glass) while straining it. i strain milk, so as to avoid the malai that comes with the boiling milk. if you like malai, then you can add milk without straining it. you can add less or more milk as per your preference.
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now pour 1/4 cup or 1/3 cup of the brewed coffee. you can add less or more or as much as you like.
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now take dabarah or davara. this is a small pan shaped vessel that is used to cool the coffee. the coffee is poured back and forth from the tumbler to the davara and so on. thus the sugar dissolves and a top layer of foam forms on the coffee. pour the coffee from the tumbler from a height in the davara.
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now pour the coffee from the davara back in the tumbler.
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repeat again pouring coffee in the davara from the tumbler and vice versa. you can do this process 2 to 3 times. don't do too much as then the coffee becomes cold. you can even skip this step if you want.
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serve filter coffee hot. filter coffee needs to be served immediately as soon as its made.
how to make filter coffee recipe:
1. this picture is of the south indian coffee filter. it comes in various sizes. the one i have serves 2 to 3 tumblers (glasses)
2. these are the parts. it consists of two cylindrical vessels. the top vessel has perforations in it. this top vessel fits on the lower vessel, which collects the coffee brew. there is also a pressing disc with a handle and a lid that accompanies the top vessel.
3. this is a picture of the top vessel with the perforations.
4. this is the base vessel, where the coffee decoction is collected.
5. now coming to the coffee. use ground coffee which is meant to prepare filter coffee. fit the top vessel on the lower one. now take 3 teaspoons coffee and place it in the top vessel with the perforations. for the filter which i have, i use the following proportions:
- 4 teaspoons coffee powder – for a strong coffee
- 3 teaspoons – medium strong
- 1.5 to 2 teaspoons – light coffee
6. gently spread and even out the coffee powder with your fingers or a small spoon.
7. place the pressing disc with the handle on the coffee powder.
8. heat 1 cup water in a sauce pan and let it come to a boil.
9. when the water comes to a boil, gently pour the water in the top vessel.
10. fill it till ¾ or almost full. since i used 1 cup, the top vessel was almost full with hot water.
11. cover with the lid. wait for 10 to 12 minutes till the coffee decoction percolates in the lower vessel.
12. here in this pic, a bit of water is still left.
13. in the below pic, all of the coffee is brewed. cover and keep.
14. when all of the coffee is brewed, then heat ¾ cup full fat or whole milk till it becomes hot and boils. you can even start heating milk just before all the water percolates.
15. now take a tumbler (glass) and add 2 teaspoons sugar in it.
16. add ¼ to ⅓ cup hot boiling milk directly in the tumbler while straining it.
17. i strain milk, so as to avoid the malai that comes with the boiling milk. if you like malai, then you can add milk without straining it. you can add less or more milk as per your preference.
18. now pour ¼ cup or ⅓ cup of the brewed coffee. you can add less or more or as much as you like.
19. so here the filter coffee is ready, but a few steps more before you savor it.
20. now take dabarah or davara. this is a small pan shaped vessel that is used to cool the coffee. the coffee is poured back and forth from the tumbler to the davara and so on. thus the sugar dissolves and a top layer of foam forms on the coffee. pour the coffee from the tumbler from a height in the davara.
21. now pour the coffee from the davara back in the tumbler.
22. repeat again pouring coffee in the davara from the tumbler and vice versa. you can do this process 2 to 3 times. don’t do too much as then the coffee becomes cold. you can even skip this step if you want.
23. serve filter coffee hot. filter coffee needs to be served immediately as soon as its made.
What I want to know, if the entire decoction is used in one cup of coffee? If not, to what time can you use the leftover decoction before it turns rancid. Plus if we use left over decoction, it will be cold. Won’t it effect the coffee.
I really need the answer for this
the entire decoction can be used to make 2 to 3 cups of coffee. leftover decoction can be refrigerated. you even make coffee shakes or cold coffee with it.
I love Sagar ratna’s filter coffee. I have tried so many coffee brands but never got that taste, not even close. Any leads how they make it, which coffee brands they use.
i have no idea akanksha. they must be sourcing it directly from the coffee powder manufacturers.
Thanks for sharing the recipe!
Could you also mention filter coffee brands available in North India?
welcome akanksha. i do not know of any filter coffee brands available in north india. my parents purchase filter coffee from local shops when they visit kerala and get for me too. you can check on amazon.in and see the reviews. i am sure you will get a good brand of filter coffee.
Hi dassana….does filter coffee give instant coffee taste….actually i m having davidoff cafe brand …I bought it thinking its instant…but its not….particles settles down….last time also wasted whole pack… Can this b used to make filter coffee….does this give instant coffee taste….last time I baked coffee cookies but ended up like mud taste….
shubha, filter coffee tastes very different than instant coffee. since i have both on occasions, i can tell you the taste is remarkably different. you can try percolating the coffee decoction using davidoff coffee. you can even use a french press if you do not have the dawara. i have not tried davidoff coffee so i cannot say if the taste will be same like filter coffee. since the taste largely depends on the variety, type and grade of coffee beans. i have never had coffee cookies but had coffee cake and it tastes amazing. may be you can try some tried and tested recipe for coffee cookies from the web.
my decoction turned very watery.. how can I get better decoction
shilpa, the decoction is watery. add less water.
Could you plz put a link to but that instrument used for percolating coffee?
upasna, will add in a few days.
which coffee powder to be used? any name of rhe brand. I am not from the south so i am not aware of any brand name. please tell.
there are brands, but the ones my parents or i purchase are from coffee shops in south and there are many such shops there. you can even grind coffee beans at home. the below quora link can be helpful as it discusses the various filter coffee brands. you can purchase them online. buy a small packet and see if you like the aroma or taste.
link – https://www.quora.com/Which-is-the-best-South-Indian-coffee-powder-filter-coffee-powder-I-mean-available-in-the-market
does it take only 10 minutes for percolation?
i have heard that u need to keep this overnight if you want to have coffee in the morning.
it does not take much time. it also depends on the size of the coffee filter. the one i have just takes 10 to 12 minutes. some people do keep overnight for a strong decoction.
I would lik add tips for more tasty .mix sugar n coffee syrup in two glass twice or thrice so tat sugar dissolve n ten add hot milk to it n mix tat wil more tasty n above coffee again pour little coffe syrup for aroma
thanks for sharing your tips and suggestions harshya 🙂