• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Herbivore Cucina

  • Recipe Index
  • Indian
  • Instant Pot
  • Air-Fryer
  • International
  • Cakes & Bakes
  • More..
    • Featured
menu icon
go to homepage
  • About Me
  • Recipe Index
  • Instant Pot
  • Contact
  • Web Stories
  • Get Social

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • About Me
    • Recipe Index
    • Instant Pot
    • Contact
    • Web Stories
  • Get Social

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • ×
    Home » Uncategorized

    Published: Apr 5, 2016 · Modified: Mar 10, 2022 by Smruti · This post may contain affiliate links · Leave a Comment

    Indian Filter Coffee

     

    Indian filter coffee is a coffee drink made by mixing boiled milk with the decoction obtained by brewing finely ground coffee powder in a traditional Indian filter. The drink is also known as kaapi, which is the South Indian phonetic rendering of coffee. The drink is also referred to as Kumbakonam degree coffee, Mylapore filter coffee, or Madras kaapi. 

    Apart from the ingredients used, this coffee is made using a traditional metal device that resembles two cylindrical cups, one of which has a pierced bottom that nests into the top of the tumbler cup, leaving ample room underneath to receive the brewed coffee. The upper cup has two removable parts: a pierced pressing disc with a central stem handle and a covering lid.

    The upper cup is loaded with freshly ground coffee. The grounds are then compressed with the stemmed disc into a uniform layer across the cup's pierced bottom. With the press disc left in place, the upper cup is nested into the top of the tumbler and boiling water is poured inside. The lid is placed on top, and the device is left to slowly drip the brewed coffee into the bottom. The chicory holds on to the hot water a little longer, letting the water dissolve and extract more of the coffee grinds. The resulting brew is generally much stronger than Western drip/filter coffee, and often stronger than even espresso. 

    To make this coffee, I was so happy to use my brand new Gooseneck Kettle to heat the milk as well as water. I was sent this stainless steel kettle by Willow and Everett. I am so impressed by it! Made from great quality material, this 40 oz kettle is really great to boil water, tea or coffee. It comes with a sturdy handle and the gooseneck is perfect to avoid dripping any liquid from the kettle. The cap comes with a few holes, to let out steam and identify that the water has boiled. If you want one too, get yours here. 

    Traditionally, the coffee is consumed by adding 1–2 tablespoons of the brew to a cup of boiling milk with the preferred amount of sugar. The coffee is drunk from the tumbler but is often cooled first with a dabarah, a wide metal saucer with lipped walls. Coffee is typically served after pouring back and forth between the dabara and the tumbler in huge arc-like motions of the hand. This serves several purposes: mixing the ingredients (including sugar) thoroughly; cooling the hot coffee down to a sipping temperature; and most importantly, aerating the mix without introducing extra water. An anecdote related to the distance between the pouring and receiving cup leads to another name for the drink, Meter Coffee.

    Ingredients

     

    Ground Indian Coffee Powder 1 tbsp

    Boiling Water ¼ cup

    Milk 2 cups

    Sugar to taste

    Method

     

    To make authentic Indian style coffee, use a steel or brass four part coffee filter. Place the lower container on the kitchen counter, place the perforated chamber on it. Then, add ground coffee powder to the perforated chamber. Press it down using the pressing stem.

    Heat water in a kettle and pour it over the powder and stem. Close the lid immediately and let the flavor steep for for 10-12 minutes, till the decoction reaches the bottom container. 

    Add sugar in the individual glass/mugs. Divide the coffee decoction into the two glasses. Heat milk, and pour it over the coffee. To mix, pour the coffee from the glass to the bowl below and back to the glass. Enjoy the coffee Indian style!

    More Uncategorized

    • A black tray filled with cream cheese wontons with scallions and sauce on the side.
      Cream Cheese Wontons
    • Air Fryer Peanuts in a blue bowl on a wooden board and a printed cloth on the side.
      Air Fryer Peanuts
    • A grey platter with dudhi dhokla and cilantro chutney on the side.
      Instant Dudhi Dhokla
    • A tray filled with achari focaccia and some koro sambhar and oil on the side.
      Achari Focaccia

    Reader Interactions

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    About Me

    Smruti headshot

    This blog is dedicated to one of my greatest passions, Cooking. I have always loved to cook, especially trying out some unconventional recipes.

    Learn more about me →

    Delicious sweets to enjoy!

    • Strawberry cheesecake ice cream in a green bowl topped with mint, strawberries and graham crackers.
      No-Churn Strawberry Cheesecake Ice Cream
    • A brown plate with sooji halwa served topped with rose petals on top; with diyas on the background.
      Rava Sheera | Sooji Halwa
    • An oval bowl with carrot kheer; topped with nuts, rose petals and saffron with a spoon on the side and nuts in small bowls.
      Carrot Kheer ( Gajar Halwa Kheer)
    • Gulab Jamun cheesecake mix in phyllo cups topped with saffron and nuts.
      Gulab Jamun Cheesecake Bites
    • Ice Halva sheets placed on top of one another with diya and pistachios in the background.
      Bombay Ice Halva
    • Rava Ladoo in a plate topped with dried rose petals and silver foil with diyas in the background.
      Rava Ladoo

    Popular Recipes

    • Air Fryer noodles in a tray with vegetables
      Air Fryer Noodles
    • Rose Peda in plate
      Instant Rose Peda
    • Instant Pot Pickled Jalapeños
    • Front view of Papdi Chaat Dip
      Papdi Chaat Dip
    • Top view of chaat
      Khasta Kachori Chaat
    • glass with rose boba tea
      Rose Boba (Bubble) Tea

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Accessibility Policy

    Contact

    • Contact
    • About Me
    • Work with Me

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2025 Herbivorecucina.com