How to Make Madras Filter Coffee

What is Madras Filter Coffee? Filter coffee is one of the popular beverages in Madras. It is known for its strong flavor, aromatic aroma, and the unique brewing method using a coffee filter. We use the traditional coffee filter for making the madras filter coffee. If you have a coffee machine or Mokapot etc. you are free to use that.

Ingredients to make Madras Filter Coffee:

• 1 tablespoon of finely ground coffee powder (preferably a blend of coffee and chicory)
• Coffee filter (“dabara” or “tumbler” set)
• Fresh water
• Milk (dairy or non-dairy)
• Sugar or sweetener to taste

Instructions for making Madras Filter Coffee:

1. Start by boiling the water in a pot or kettle.
2. Take a traditional South Indian coffee filter, which consists of two cylindrical chambers, a perforated disc, and a plunger.
3. Remove the top chamber and add the coffee powder to the bottom chamber of the filter. Gently tap and level the coffee powder using the back of a spoon.
4. Place the perforated disc on top of the coffee powder, ensuring it covers it completely.
5. Carefully place the top chamber on the perforated disc, making sure it fits snugly.
6. Position the coffee filter over a wide-mouthed serving vessel or cup.
7. Pour the boiling water into the top chamber of the filter, allowing it to slowly percolate through the coffee powder and the perforated disc. The water will gradually filter down and collect in the serving vessel, leaving behind the coffee grounds in the filter.
8. Let all the water pass through the filter and collected in the bottle chamber, remove the top chamber and set it aside.
9. Boil fresh milk and keep it ready.
10. Add hot milk to the coffee decoction (the liquid collected in the serving vessel).
11. Stir in sugar according to your taste preferences. It is typical to add a generous amount of sugar to balance the strong flavor of the coffee.
12. To achieve a frothy layer on top, pour the coffee back and forth between the serving vessel and a tumbler or a wide-mouthed cup.
13. Serve it immediately and enjoy!

Summary:

The result is a strong and flavorful cup of coffee with a distinctive aroma and a layer of frothy decoction on top. Traditionally, people serve Madras Filter Coffee in stainless steel tumbler and davara sets, and they refer to the process of pouring the coffee back and forth as “degree coffee.”

Feel free to adjust the coffee-to-milk ratio, the strength of the coffee, and the sweetness level according to your preference. People often enjoy Madras Filter Coffee as a morning beverage or as a part of traditional South Indian meals.

Enjoy the rich and aromatic flavors of Madras Filter Coffee and savor the unique brewing process that makes it a beloved choice among coffee lovers.