“The virtues of donations are great, because it helps the needy and at the same time it gives an opportunity to the donor to give the surplus to the people in need ” - Sama Veda

Search This Blog

Tuesday, December 17, 2013

South Indian filter coffee

FILTER COFFEE / SOUTH INDIAN FILTER COFFEE / DEGREE COFFEE / HOW TO MAKE DECOCTION/ HOW TO MAKE SOUTH INDIAN FILTER COFFEE?

A filter coffee??? Sounds easy.... but not everyone can make the perfect south indian filter coffee. How to make filter coffee? What should be the consistency for decoction? The key secret of Tambrahm filter coffee lies in the  perfect making  of the strong decoction. The coffee made using the 1st decoction (it is called strong decoction) and freshly extracted milk from the cow is termed as degree coffee or Kumbakonam degree coffee. However its not possible  nowadays, to get the fresh extracted milk and you can use the one you buy regularly.  The picture below gives a complete self explanatory making  of the decoction. But, I am also posting the step by step instructions while scrolling down. Just follow it and you can become the "Coffee Queen" in your home. 

The right choice of coffee powder:
I generally use freshly brewed, finely ground (but not very fine),  Peaberry coffee powder without chicory. An equal proportion and combination of 'Peaberry' and 'Plantation A' coffee powder can also be used. You get a good decoction out of this also. If store bought, cothas coffee powder  is available all over the world. Personally, I feel it is somewhat coarse and I would prefer a nicely ground, freshly brewed coffee powder. The  right choice of coffee powder also matters  in getting a tasty, aromatic, flavourful coffee.


HOW TO PREPARE A STRONG DECOCTION?:
These steps can be followed for any sized filter, be it small or big.
1. The coffee filter has 4 parts, the cylindrical base,  the cylindrical top with pores, perforated pressing disc with a stem and the lid. 
2. Place the base. Keep the pored vessel on top of that, add coffee powder little less than 1/4 filter, press gently with your fingers, place the perforated disc,  press again very gently. Bring water to a rolling boil. Pour upto 3/4th of the filter, close with the lid leaving a hairline gap. 
3. The decoction drips on the bottom portion of the filter. This is the 1st decoction. Collect this 1st decoction in a small container. This decoction is used for a degree coffee.


4. Boil little more water and brew for the 2nd time, preferably pour upto half of the filter this time. The decoction dripped is the 2nd decoction and  this will be lighter.


HOW TO MAKE COFFEE?:
Boil fresh milk.  Take little decoction, 1 or 2 tablespoons depending on your requirement, add milk to get the desired strong, thick coffee, add sugar and froth once or twice. Degree coffee/ filter coffee/ south indian filter coffee is ready.

NOTES & TIPS:
Coffee tastes good in freshly boiled milk. Let the milk be hot. 
Do not re-heat the coffee.
Choose the correct filter size.
Do not press the powder tight, gently press it.
Check clogging of pores once a week. Prick with a needle if blocked.
To avoid the block while dripping, run the cylindrical top with pores under water & place on the base before filling it with coffee powder. This enables easy flow of the dripping and strong decoction as well.
To avoid block while dripping, do not press the  powder too tight.
Coffee when mixed with 2nd , light decoction tastes bitter and less flavoured.

25 comments :

  1. super post,thxs for sharing akka..

    ReplyDelete
  2. lovely explanations with perfect pictures!! wonderful job dear!!

    ReplyDelete
  3. can almost smell the aroma of the coffee.
    Deepa

    ReplyDelete
  4. Had always wondered how to make perfect filter coffee. Thankyou so much for sharing the exact way.

    ReplyDelete
  5. lovely informative post for beginers.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Shanthi thanks for the post. The most difficult part is getting the right coffee powder. I am in California and hence I have been experimenting with different coffee powder brands to get the right taste but I guess not having chicory does not replicate the same taste. If you have any suggestions on what brand to buy and also the powder consistency - it will help people who are outside Chennai.

    ReplyDelete
  7. We used to buy the Peebri A quality seeds. Every 3 days once, we used to roast the required quantity in the house. Previous night, we will grind it into powder for use in the early morning. No chicory is added. My friends used to demand this coffee whenever they visit our house. Taste used to be excellent.

    ReplyDelete
  8. sathya, I have also added the coffee powder notes to my post now. Please see it

    ReplyDelete
  9. so aromatic and so flavorful!! cannot beat filter coffee in the morning!!

    Sowmya

    ReplyDelete
  10. பேà®·்! பேà®·்!! à®°ொà®®்ப நன்னா இருக்கு!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Such a useful picture guide. We prefer the pure coffee at home too. Folks in Bangalore can buy Kalmane coffee powder for awesome coffee. The davara- tumbler pic is superb!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Hi, Thanks for the useful tutorial. I tried following the steps, but somehow my decoction wasn't as thick as its supposed to be. What could be the reason? Thanks.

    ReplyDelete
  13. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Namaste, I am a Maharashtrian, wish to thank you (rumbo nandri) for sharing the process of how to make a good filter coffee, the South Indian way. The very process from buying the right coffee beans, then roasting them to a perfect roast, then grinding the roasted beans and making a perfect decotion ....it's a very enjoyable and satisfying. Thank you once again.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Do you know where i can buy jayanthi cofee, gold blend?

    ReplyDelete
  16. the early morning aroma makes my day, even outside india i dont hesitate to spend some extra time making milk and sugar filter coffee.i am currently using jayanthi coffee for almost 5 years, my friends get it to me from india which has 15% chikory. I love the aroma.

    ReplyDelete
  17. எங்க ஊரு பில்டர் காபி ! ... பேà®·் பேà®·் à®°ொà®®்ப நன்னா இருக்கு !!! ... >> சயின்டிபிக் ஜட்ஜ்à®®ெண்ட்

    ReplyDelete
  18. Thank you for sharing this. I was looking for recipes to make filter coffee and your is well-written and easy to follow.

    ReplyDelete

Thank you for your visit and valuable comments.