Filter Coffee is a popular South Indian beverage served with breakfast. A cup of piping hot filter coffee can be made easily at home in few minutes using just 4 ingredients. Filter Coffee also known as Filter Kaapi, has marked its presence in lot of homes. Learn to make perfect Filter Coffee with step by step pictures and video.
I love coffee in any form, the aroma of coffee itself is so tempting. My daily morning starts with a cup of filter coffee which keeps me refreshing throughout the day. Being an instant coffee lover I have started loving filter coffee through the years.
Jump to:
About Filter Coffee
Filter Coffee refers to the coffee brewed using a special equipment called filter which drips slowly to make a decoction. Filter Coffee is made using filter coffee powder, milk, hot water and sugar.
Filter Coffee is made by pouring hot water over ground coffee beans, allowing the water to pass through a filter, the strained thick liquid is called decoction. Filter Coffee is made by mixing boiled milk with the prepared coffee decoction that’s prepared with a coffee filter and served in a metal dabarah and tumbler.
Filter Coffee is known by different names like filter kaapi, degree coffee etc. Making South Indian Filter Coffee isn’t a big deal but to get the perfection sure comes only by practice. It takes time and effort when compared to instant coffee but worth it. This popular coffee is served in many restaurants, hotels, also in street side shops.
Filter Coffee Video
Filter Coffee is perhaps the lifeline for most of the families in South India to start the day with. While a perfect coffee can light up the day, getting addicted to it and slightest difference in taste might pull your day!
Filter coffee is served in dabarah & tumbler set and my mom has a very lovely collection of them in steel and bronze.The taste of this coffee purely depends on the quality of coffee powder, so choose a good one.
Filter Coffee is served traditionally in dabarah tumbler be it steel or bronze. Steel is the popular one served in most hotels. Filter Coffee always reminds me of Hotel Annapoorna coffee which is the best. They use a special coffee powder and they use slightly thickened milk which makes filter coffee taste divine.
Coffee Filter
Coffee Filter is shown in the picture below and we make decoction for this coffee using this filter. You will need this equipment to make this tasty hot beverage. It has two compartments and a disc for pressing.
The upper compartment holds the ground coffee powder, hot water and it has holes that let the brewed decoction drip into the lower compartment. The lower compartment collects the strong decoction. The pressing disc is used for making the ground coffee powder even in the upper compartment and aids in pushing the ground powder & water to the lower compartment.
Coffee Filter has 4 parts :
- Upper Compartment – to which we add ground coffee beans and hot water.
- Lower Compartment – to hold the strained decoction
- Pressing disc – which presses the coffee powder and hot water to make decoction
- Lid – which is used to close the upper compartment.
Dabarah and Tumbler – Filter coffee is served authentically in a steel or bronze dabarah / davara and a tumbler set. Most hotels serve filter coffee in steel dabarah tumbler and in very few they served in bronze set. Commonly it is served in stainless steel dabarah and tumbler at homes.
Copper and bronze sets are also available in the market. Pouring coffee to and forth in dabarah & tumbler gives a frothy top which makes it more appealing.
Similar Recipes
Ready to sip a cup of piping hot filter coffee?!
Filter Coffee Ingredients
- Filter Coffee Powder – Coffee powder that is available in stores is fine for making this coffee. In the market we have Peaberry (PB) variety commonly with 20% added chicory gives a good filter coffee. Coffee powder of most of the brands sell them fresh in the above mix. All of them can make a good aromatic, tasty hot coffee! My suggestion is to try each of them which is available in small quantities with different levels of chicory and purchase that brand regularly which suits your taste most!
- Milk – Fresh full cream milk is best for making filter coffee. Store bought milk is also fine. I have tried with both fresh milk as well as tonned milk and it works.
- Sweetener – I have used white granulated sugar. But you can use cane sugar too.
How to make Filter Coffee Step by Step
Preparing Coffee decoction
1.Take the coffee filter first. This is a special equipment used to make filter coffee.
2.Fix the upper chamber first.
3.First add 3 teaspoons of filter coffee powder to the upper chamber.
4.Press with evenly with your fingers first.
5.Place the pressing disc on it.
6.Boil around 3/4 cup water. You may not need fully.
7.Add 1/2 cup hot water or little more to it. It brews up strong coffee decoction.
8.Fill till the pressing disc is visible.
9.Close with lid and set aside for 10 minutes.
10.Let the coffee decoction drip fully.
11.Coffee decoction is ready!
Boiling milk
12.Boil 1 cup milk – This makes 2 filter coffee. Use fresh thick milk preferable full cream milk.
13.Simmer for a minute and switch off.
Preparing filter coffee
14.First add 2 tablespoon prepared coffee decoction to the coffee tumbler.
15.Add 1 and 1/2 teaspoon sugar to it. You can adjust it according to your liking.
16.Add around 1/2 cup hot milk to it. You can strain and add milk to avoid malai.
17.Froth by pouring to and forth.
18.Froth it by pouring to and forth also to dissolve sugar.
19.Keep the tumbler inside the dabarah.
Serve filter coffee hot!
Expert Tips
- Coffee powder – Make sure to buy good quality coffee powder.
- Coffee decoction – Use less water to make strong coffee decoction. We can take even 2 decotion by adding in little more water once the 1 st decoction is taken and used. The 2nd decoction is not very strong.
- Sweetener – Coffee is meant to have a slight bitterness so I woul d suggest not to add more sugar.
- Serving – Add coffee decoction as per your taste, add little more if you like your coffee strong. Always froth the coffee by pouring back and forth into the davara tumbler and then serve.
- Reheating – Once the decoction is added to the milk and coffee is made, do not heat. If you want to heat then place the coffee tumbler inside a container which has boiling water.
Serving and Storage
Serve filter coffee hot in a metal dabarah & tumbler set. It goes well with a sweet and Kaaram (Savory) and widely called as SKC (Sweet Kaaram Coffee) at hotels & south indian homes!
When you are busy to find time for preparing this coffee in your routine, be sure not to miss it in the weekends! We deserve something special in weekends! Don’t we?
Decoction storage: Prepare decoction such that it is consumed in whole after preparation. 3 tablespoons of coffee powder with 1 cup hot water will yield about 3 to 5 cups of coffee depending on how strong the coffee you want it to be. If you are left with excess decoction, it can be stored for a day when refrigerated. When you are using it you have to heat it by placing the decoction container in hot water in order to retain the flavor.
FAQS
1. What is the difference between filter coffee and instant coffee?
As the name suggests instant coffee is made instant coffee is made instantly by adding boiled milk to instant coffee powder / granules while filter coffee is made by mixing boiled milk with decoction prepared using a filter. Even the coffee powder is different for both.
2. Is filter for coffee necessary for making this coffee? Where can I get it?
Yes obviously – It is mandatory for making filter coffee and it is available commonly with vessel merchants and online with Amazon, Flipkart, etc.
3. Is the entire decoction used to make one cup of coffee?
For the above measure 2-3 cups of filter coffee can be prepared also depends on how strong the coffee you want it to be.
4.What can I do with excess decoction?
You can refrigerate the decoction for a day, however when you are using it you have to heat it by placing it inside hot water. Do not heat it directly.
5.What coffee powder to use?
Ground coffee beans known as filter coffee powder is available in stores which is to be used for making filter coffee. Do not use instant coffee powder.
If you have any more questions about this Filter Coffee Recipe do mail me at sharmispassions@gmail.com. In addition, follow me on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest ,Youtube and Twitter .
Tried this Filter Coffee Recipe? Do let me know how you liked it. Also tag us on Instagram @sharmispassions and hash tag it on #sharmispassions.
📖 Recipe Card
Filter Coffee Recipe
Equipment
- Coffee Filter
Ingredients
For the coffee decoction:
- 3 teaspoon coffee powder
- 3/4 cup water
For making 1 cup filter coffee:
- 2 tablespoon coffee decoction
- 1/2 cup hot milk
- 1 and 1/2 teaspoon sugar
Instructions
Preparing coffee decoction
- Take the coffee filter first. This is a special equipment used to make filter coffee.
- Fix the upper chamber first.
- First add 3 teaspoons of filter coffee powder to the upper chamber.
- Press with evenly with your fingers first.
- Place the pressing disc on it.
- Boil around 3/4 cup water. You may not need fully.
- Add 1/2 cup hot water or little more to it. It brews up strong coffee decoction.
- Fill till the pressing disc is visible.
- Close with lid and set aside for 10 minutes.
- Let the coffee decoction drip fully.
- Coffee decoction is ready!
Boiling milk
- Boil 1 cup milk. This makes 2 filter coffee. Use fresh thick milk preferable full cream milk.
- Simmer for a minute and switch off.
Preparing filter coffee
- First add 2 tablespoon prepared coffee decoction to the coffee tumbler.
- Add 1 and 1/2 teaspoon sugar to it. You can adjust it according to your liking.
- Add around 1/2 cup hot milk to it. You can strain and add milk to avoid malai.
- Froth by pouring to and forth.
- Froth it by pouring to and forth also to dissolve sugar.
- Keep the tumbler inside the dabarah.
- Serve filter coffee hot!
Video
Notes
- Coffee powder – Make sure to buy good quality coffee powder.
- Coffee decoction – Use less water to make strong coffee decoction. We can take even 2 decotion by adding in little more water once the 1 st decoction is taken and used. The 2nd decoction is not very strong.
- Sweetener – Coffee is meant to have a slight bitterness so I woul d suggest not to add more sugar.
- Serving – Add coffee decoction as per your taste, add little more if you like your coffee strong. Always froth the coffee by pouring back and forth into the davara tumbler and then serve.
- Reheating – Once the decoction is added to the milk and coffee is made, do not heat. If you want to heat then place the coffee tumbler inside a container which has boiling water.
Cilantro
Absolutely loved the first click, Chuda Chuda Coffee. Just had mine and can`t resist looking at the pic. I make filter coffee daily and I am not a big fan of instant coffee.
sangee vijay
Its been years i had this strong filter cofee, looks…perfect tempting pictures…loved your pictorials too 🙂
Reva
Wow.. this is superb Sharmi..:)) Loved it.. My favourite..
Reva
Anzz
Looks super delicious. Quite tempting since I just gave up coffee..! The first click is amazing, the steam is so evident… a cup of hot coffee..!!
Aarthi
wat a flavourful coffee…
Priya's Feast
🙂 my all time fav….luvly pic..
simply.food
What a lovely authentic gadget.
Radhika
Loved the clicks Sharmi especially the steam wafting. amazing.
Pushpa
WhooooW!!!! Am a big fan of filter coffee….missing it so much….Sharmi , Will i get this filter in Kannan Departmental store?
Kurryleaves
i can have this any time a day….amazing clicks,,,love the first and the second last one the most…lovely…
An Open Book
ah such a fav of mine..it comes nowhere close to the cafetiere version i have every day
Suma Gandlur
I don't drink coffee but your pictures are truly tempting.
Vanamala Hebbar
looks super…nice pics
Sushma Madhuchandra
Filter coffee is a must for my lazy afternoons. I put my decotion everyday & love it 😀
Shabitha Karthikeyan
What a coincedence..I was planning to do this post this week !!! I'm not a coffee lover..that too coffee in the US arghhhh. So gave up coffee..But I found a filter coffee powder here which so much like our style and was planning to do this ..Very nice pics !!!
vanaja
which coffee powder is beat in US?
Alpana
Very tempting…….though I'm not a big fan of coffee but this makes me feel like I shd a cup right now. Beautiful pics.
Nalini's Kitchen
Wow!!such a flavorful filter coffee,makes me drool…….
Hema
Love the 'aavi parakkum' coffee, nice clicks, going to have my coffee rightaway..
Cham
I never drink coffee outside of my home because of instant flavor. I am purely addicted to filter coffee but from past few years I moved to tea 🙂 Like the click!
Sobha Shyam
i like filter coffee especially which we used to get in small hotels at my place…nice post Sharmi..
Suja
Love the click..flavorful and refreshing
Vardhini
I have one of these, but I use it only when we have guests 🙂 nice clicks
Namitha
Love it !
Mythreyi
I can totally co-realte to you, Love the steam coming from the glass in the picture…Oh Dear! I just woke up, and you are making me to have this right now..:-)
Torviewtoronto
yummy looking coffee fabulously taken picture
Gayathri Kumar
Beautiful snaps…
Maayeka
love the coffee!!perfectly done pictorials and beautiful clicks..great post dear!!!
manjooo
that is perfect!!!
uma shankar
superb photos!
DEESHA
wow .. what a post .. I love filter Kaapi .. love the last pic especially
chd
Sharmi
You have posted this post at right time for me. I do not drink coffee and tea. My husband need only filter coffee. Moreover next week i have to make coffee for nearly 20 to 25 members. Can you share me the percentage of coffee powder . Normally at my home 80 and 20 ratio. I would like to know your coffee and chocory ratio. So that you are helping me a lot.
Thanks in advance
Sharmilee! :)
You can use 10-12 tsp of coffee powder, water and milk around 5-6 cups. I have just rounded off, you can adjust according to your taste. But do you have a filter that can hold so much? Else you can make it in batches and refrigerate it. Hope this helps!
Prathima Rao
I can almost get the aroma of freshly brewed coffee here!!!
Prathima Rao
Prats Corner
Ramya
Oo my..I am already feeling refreshing by looking at the kaapi clicks!! Lovely clicks as always
faseela
wow….lovely filter coffee….
TheYummyMorsel
I saw your post while sipping my morning coffee! Wow, filter coffee!
TheYummyMorsel
I saw your post while sipping my morning coffee. Wow! filter coffee. Photos is perfect with the bubbles on top.
Srimathi
I am looking at this post on Sat morning and this post makes me want to go make the coffee instantly. Perfect clicks.
divya
Wow! Looks fantastic! I am drooling all over it 🙂
Chitra
i lovvvvvvvvvvvveeeeeeeeeee coffee a lot…its a gr8 refreshing drink for me 😉
Nimi
Classic post Sharmi, I loved the steam in the photograph!
Priya
Omg, feel like having that super tempting filter kaapi.
Roshni
love the post. lovely clicks… just noticed that in the tumblar, there are letter engravings… My mom's tumblar and dawara also have such engraving which are very common in our homes.. just remember the visits to steel patra kadai as kid where the guy will do engraving after you buy 🙂 First time in your blog.. happy to follow you…
jeyashrisuresh
I love to have filter kapi any time of the day. Nicely explained with great clicks
rekhas kitchen
I can not imagen my day with out coffee. looks so tempting.
Premalatha Aravindhan
My day will not start without this…Now a days am audited to filter coffee:)Very nice post…
Mahek
Hummm….
waiting to have a cup…
I love filter coffee..and your pictures make me want to run to the kitchen…
Nisa Homey
Sharmi, your first picture is making me want more coffee.
Coral Crue
wow! i had always wanted to see how this works out and this is like a live demonstration almost with pictures and all…really cool blog!
fujiia
Hello, I'm just visiting from Knapkins.com, intrigued by your filter kaapi. I know of American drip coffee, espresso, coffee from a French press, an Italian press, Turkish coffee, instant coffee, but I have never heard of South Indian filter coffee. The utensils are beautifull. Thanks for sharing. Cheers.
Laure
thrishala jain.k.s.
coffee is my life.. elixir.. love the way u have demonstrated with the temting pics!
Pappu
Looks luvely . Just decided today to cut down on filter coffee to one a day .but after ur pics, iam tempted to give my resolution a bye bye 🙂
babitha costa
sharmis,ur step by step procedure is very helpful,i too love filter coffee but it won't come coorect,must try it.i am following ur indian expresso coffee from the day u showed,it is absolutely tasty
Shema George
wow..ur pics are making me feel like drinking some filter coffee
Turmeric n Spice
aww brings back memories….looks awesome
ajith
i generally use a piece of cloth insted of the filter .. it also wrks.. just incase filter is not available..
ajith
i have seen that when u use a filter, the coffee strains keep coming so i switched to the cloth..
Regi M
Very nice preparation!
KhaugaliDeals
I really like this blog about Coffee Making..Thanks for sharing with us great blog.
Ramya K.S.
Hi sharmilee , suggest me the coffee powder too.
SHARMILEE J
I used a brand we get here…you can try out narasus or any filter coffee powder
Ramya K.S.
Gonna make filter coffee for the first time
Lavina
Hi Sharmi, I love filter coffee and an avid drinker. Could you please throw more light about the ratio of the chicory and coffee powder. I love vasantha bavan and saravana bavan coffee. Could you please provide more information on that
SHARMILEE J
Sure will let you know if I come across that info….
Dr Shivani Mediratta
Hi.in my filter water ran out very fast as soon I poured in upper chamber. What could have been the reason.
SHARMILEE J
Do you have the filter holes big? Even if it passes faster no issues unless and until your decotion is good and thick enough….
Unknown
Hi
Do you put in the plunger thing after or before adding the water? does it make a difference?
Thanks! Great photos!
SHARMILEE J
Yes I usually put it after adding water…it helps in dripping easier and faster
Tanushree Sasi
Hey Sharmi,
I love filter coffee very much, but I do not have a filter and since I am not in India and did not find a filter in the local Indian store here, could you please tell me if there is a way to make coffee with the same taste. I did manage to get Narasus coffee powder though.
Thanks in advance,
Tanu
ajith
Hi Sharmi.. Started using a Percolator to make the decoction…. its easier cause its more instant. its available in Amazon…..
ajith
To use the percolator i usually add less water then boil it without the filter. later on i add the filter part.. its easier cause i don't have to wait for the decoction to be made.
Sruthi M
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.