Filter Coffee Recipe | South Indian Filter Kaapi

South Indian Filter Coffee, often called Kaapi, is an Indian Traditional Coffee drink made with coffee powder and milk. The coffee is brewed using a special Indian coffee filter, and it's traditionally served in a "Debara," a set of glass and bowl.

Debjani's Note

One slow evening, I was enjoying a cup of South Indian Filter Coffee that I had made. Pasta, my daughter, came over, snuggled close, and asked for a sip. Knowing how much she enjoys the taste of South Indian Filter Coffee, I let her have some. It then struck me that I hadn't yet shared the story behind the coffee with her. As I gently patted her back, I announced, "Pasta, Momma is going to tell you a beautiful bedtime story tonight!"

"Finchess (Princess) Momma??" she asked.

"No, Momma is going to tell you the story of 7 coffee beans," I replied.

"Kopi (coffee) Momma, sotal belay kopi kay (Momma drinks coffee every morning)!" she exclaimed.

"Yes, darling, but it's coffee, not Kopi. Or maybe it's better to call it the story of South Indian Coffee, or South Indian Filter Kaapi." And with that, Momma began to tell the little pumpkin her story.

The story was incredibly special to Pasta's Mom, and even Pasta thought it was something truly unique!

The Story of 7 Coffee Beans and Baba Budan

Let me tell you the story of seven coffee beans and Baba Budan, the Sufi saint who brought coffee to India through an extraordinary journey. It's said that in the 17th century, while returning from a Hajj pilgrimage, Baba Budan visited Yemen. There, he discovered a unique drink enjoyed by the locals. He watched as they roasted and ground brownish beans to create a hot beverage called Qahwah. He tasted it and found it unlike anything he'd ever experienced, learning that the beans were called coffee. This particular region of Yemen, known as Mocha, was a central hub for coffee.

He learned the story of how a Somali goatherd had first discovered the beans. Determined to bring coffee to India, Baba Budan soon realized the Arabian people were fiercely protective of their coffee and wouldn't allow him to take any beans. He couldn't carry roasted beans, as they wouldn't grow. His only option was to smuggle a few coffee beans back to his homeland.

When Baba Budan arrived back at his home in Chikmagalur, Karnataka, he had just seven coffee beans with him. He planted these beans in Chikmagalur, and something amazing happened. They grew, and thanks to him, we now have the coffee center of India in the south! And that's the story of Baba Budan and those seven coffee beans, which marked the elegant beginning of South Indian coffee.

Different Names

I've been planning this post for a month, but I struggled to find something new to say about South Indian Filter Coffee, whether you call it Indian filter kaapi, Mysore filter coffee, Kumbakonam degree coffee, Mylapore filter coffee, or Madras kaapi - that little glass of hot deliciousness. All I had was my personal experience of enjoying it in countless places. Then, I delved into its history and uncovered some fascinating details, including a wonderful piece by R.K. Narayan. As a true Bengali, I didn't grow up in a coffee-loving household. We only drank instant coffee, heavily diluted with milk, during the winter months. I, however, always preferred mine black. In 2009, I first tasted filter coffee while working in Bihar.

South Indian Filter Coffee

I was staying with a Bengali family in Gaya as a paying guest. It was my first time living outside a major city, and in a place that was then known as part of India's Naxalite region.

I was a United Nations Volunteer then, stationed in a place I'd never even heard of before. I didn't know anyone, and after work, there was nothing to do. That's when I started writing about food. But back to coffee - my landlady was a huge coffee lover. When she discovered I drank six or seven cups a day, she introduced me to the world of filter coffee.

She ordered her coffee from South India. Like me, she preferred black coffee. Since then, I've tried many different kinds, and honestly, the coffee we used to drink back then wasn't that great compared to what I know now. My landlady also told me about chicory, a flowering plant whose root is dried and mixed with coffee powder. She said it was used to make the coffee cheaper, which seemed true after I tried both options. Eventually, I started looking for more information about it. There's actually a lot of information available, and this article on chicory is especially helpful.

R K Narayan - My Dateless Diary

You might be wondering why I'm talking about so many things instead of just South Indian Coffee, which is what this post is supposed to be about! Well, please bear with me. I have so much to share, and I need to write it all down before I can properly enjoy my coffee. After all, R.K. Narayan wrote an entire article about his love for Indian coffee, which you can find in My Dateless Diary: An American Journey. I can't resist quoting him: "Black or White?" "Neither," I said haughtily. The server looked up, puzzled. "What do you mean?" he asked. "I want it neither black nor white, but brown, which ought to be the color of honest coffee - that's how we make it in South India." His article is filled with every tiny detail about South Indian Coffee, including how to make it the right way.

Recipe Details

Speaking of making it the right way, I learned the recipe for South Indian Filter Coffee from a South Indian colleague. While I'm generally not a fan of coffee with cream, this particular kind is something special!

I consider myself a true Indian coffee lover. For the past three or four years, I've been using a simple French press to make my daily espresso. But a few months ago, a friend from South India gave me a wonderful gift: a traditional Indian coffee press, a special coffee glass, a bowl, and a bag of coffee. She even showed me how to make authentic South Indian filter coffee. I've enjoyed the milky, frothy South Indian coffee many times during work trips to Chennai and even in Delhi. It's a delightful change from my usual espresso. Although I'd never made it at home before receiving the gift, I now enjoy preparing it occasionally for a delicious alternative. It's absolutely perfect.

Recipe Tips - South Indian Filter Coffee

So, you want to make the perfect South Indian Coffee? You'll need a traditional Indian coffee filter, which is easy to find online (I've included some details below). For the best flavor, use medium-roasted coffee beans, ideally Arabica, although some people prefer Robusta. The coffee should be ground very finely. While many add chicory, I personally don't. The South Indian filter consists of two connected cups. The top cup has small holes and a removable disk, also with holes, used to press the coffee. A lid tops the filter.

To brew, connect the top and bottom cups. Fill the top cup with coffee powder, press it down gently with the disk, pour hot water over the grounds, and then cover with the lid.

Let's make some delicious South Indian Coffee! The secret is in the decoction, which needs to be really strong. That's why it tastes so good with rich, full-cream milk and a little sugar. For the true South Indian experience, serve it in a traditional "Deborah" or "Debra" set - a small tumbler nestled inside a bowl.

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South Indian Filter Coffee

South Indian Filter Coffee or Kaapi is a coffee-based beverage prepared with coffee powder and milk. A traditional Indian coffee filter is used to prepare the decoction and the drink is served in a traditional glass and bowl set called Debara.

Course Beverage

Cuisine South Indian

Keyword Debjanir Rannaghar, filter kaapi recipe, south indian filter coffee recipe

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time 10 minutes minutes

Total Time 15 minutes minutes

Servings 2 Cup

Calories 171kcal

Author Debjani Chatterjee Alam

Cost Rs 50

Equipment

• 1 Debara set to make traditional filter kaapi

Ingredients

To make the Coffee Decoction:

• 3 tablespoon Filter Coffee Powder
• 1 cup Hot Water

To Make South Indian Filter Coffee:

• ½ cup Coffee Decoction adjust as per your requirement
• 1.5 cup Full Cream Milk
• 1.5 tablespoon Sugar adjust as per your requirement

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Instructions

Let's make coffee decoction!

• First, put 3 tablespoons of coffee powder into the top part of your coffee filter.
• Use the disk to gently press the coffee down, making the surface nice and even. Next, boil some water and pour it slowly over the disk, then close the lid.
• Make sure the top and bottom parts of the filter are securely connected, so the coffee can drip properly.
• Now, just let it sit undisturbed for about 10 minutes while the rich coffee decoction slowly drips into the bottom.
• This coffee decoction is incredibly strong, even stronger than espresso! You can usually make about 5 cups of coffee from one decoction made with 1 cup of water.

Ready to make South Indian Filter Coffee?

• 
• Here's how to make two cups.
• Feel free to adjust the amounts to make more or less, depending on how many cups you need.
• Remember, everyone likes their coffee a little different, so play around with the ingredients until you find your perfect balance. I personally like mine a bit sweeter.
• Start by boiling the milk.
• While that's heating up, put the sugar in your glass (I'm using a traditional Debara glass).
• Pour about a quarter cup of the coffee decoction over the sugar.
• Adjust sugar as per your taste. I use 1.5 tablespoons of sugar for two cups of Filer Kaapi.
• Then, strain the hot milk into the glass.
• Now, pour the coffee back and forth between the glass and the bowl, as pictured.
• Repeat this step three to four times until your coffee becomes nice and frothy.
• Then, savor your delicious caffeine treat - South Indian Filter Kaapi or Coffee.

Notes

• If you don't have a traditional Debara set, a regular cup and bowl will work just fine for creating the froth.
• Feel free to adjust the amounts of coffee, milk, and sugar to perfectly match your personal taste.

Nutrition

Serving: 503g | Calories: 171kcal | Carbohydrates: 23g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 22mg | Sodium: 78mg | Potassium: 540mg | Fiber: 0g | Sugar: 18g | Calcium: 239mg | Iron: 0mg

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Have you tried the South Indian Filter Coffee recipe from Debjanir Rannaghar!

Please inform me of your experience, and feel free to send a photo to [email protected]. Additionally, you can find me on various social media platforms such as Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, Pinterest, Google News, X, and Thread. Don't forget to use the hashtag #debjanirrannaghar when sharing your attempts at my recipes or if you have any questions or recipe requests.

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About Debjani Chatterjee Alam

I am Debjani Chatterjee Alam. A CSR specialist by profession and a food writer, food blogger, and food photographer as well. I live in Kolkata along with my Husband Mehebub who is an architect by profession, my daughter Pasta, and also my dog daughters Coffee and Luchi.

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