So what’s South Indian Filter Coffee you ask? Well put it very simply there are multiple ways one can make coffee. I’m sure many of you have heard of the more popular forms, such as Drip, French Press, Aero Press, Espresso, and Pour Over. There are many other ways of brewing coffee, but we can cover that in another blog post.
South Indian Filter Coffee is made very similarly to French Press or Aero Press, but without the plunger that pushes the grounds downwards. Basically, you have two cylindrical chambers made from stainless steel that are attached together and a lid is fitted above. The top chamber has a bunch of tiny holes punched out so the coffee can filter out to the bottom. The bottom vessel is the same size and acts as a receptacle for the coffee flowing from the top container.
So let’s see how this all comes together. I have attached pictures to help you visualize the contraption. You have both cylinders attached together. A scoop or two of finely ground coffee (depending on the amount of coffee you want to make) is dropped into the top chamber right over those micro holes. The grounds are similar to espresso, almost like a powder. This lends to a more condensed liquid.
A lightweight coffee “tamper” is placed right over the grounds to keep them all in place. This tamper will come with your coffee filter, so don’t worry about getting one. Then you slowly pour hot water into the top chamber, little bits at a time. Just a heads up, this is a LONG process, about 10-20 minutes depending on how much coffee you make. You can pour in all the water at once if you have room, cover with a lid, and wait. Because the holes are so small, it takes time for the water to steep the grounds and pass through them. It will drip very slowly into the bottom vessel and become very thick, almost like espresso but without the crema. So allow time for this steeping process, you can even do this the night before in a large batch and keep it for a day or two. They have filters that can make up to 5 cups of coffee. The coffee at this stage is also called "decoction."
What is so special about South Indian filter coffee? Well not only the process, but the flavor. Chicory is added to the coffee beans to add a bitter, more complex flavor than it would have without it. Chicory is a flowering plant in the dandelion family which is tough and has a bitter quality. The root is ground up and added to the coffee to create this distinct flavor. You might have has chicory coffee in places like Cafe du Monde in New Orleans, LA.
Boiled whole milk and sugar is then added to balance out the flavor. Because the beverage is so hot, it is then “pulled” in opposing directions to cool down the coffee, also creating a froth. This is often done roadside in India on small coffee and snack carts. Pulling coffee is also a tradition done at home or in restaurants. The coffee is served in a small stainless steel tumbler and a 2” x 1.5” cylinder to catch the coffee when it’s being pulled.
So there you go! South Indian coffee is a staple in every home and restaurant. It’s creamy, rich in flavor, and delicious! We hope you can try our signature South Indian coffee at the cafe, or take a shot at buying your own South Indian stainless steel filter and make this delicious beverage at home.