Filter coffee, more popularly known as Kaapi in South India, is brewed in a metal device, resulting in a much stronger coffee flavor. It owes its strong taste to the added chicory, which is a seed with a taste, similar to coffee when roasted. It is added to powdered coffee to make it last longer and also to enhance the taste.
- coffee powder
- hot water
- milk
- sugar(according to your taste)
How to achieve Kumbakonam style filter Kaapi:
1. Choose a filter coffee powder of your choice. More chicory gives you a stronger drink. I've used a powder with 60% coffee and 40% chicory. Add 1-1.5 tablespoons of coffee powder to a stainless steel filter and top it with hot water. Close the lid and let the decoction drip for 15-20 minutes.
2. Meanwhile, boil your milk (or water, if you prefer black coffee). Take a tumbler and add 20-30 ml of the decoction and a teaspoon of sugar (adjust sugar according to your palette). To this, add the hot milk.
3. Now onto the mixing and the frothy top. Take a coffee mug and pour the coffee from the tumbler to the mug.