Indian filter coffee is made with Arabica or Robusta beans that have been medium roasted. This gives it a strong and aromatic flavour.
For those of you who don’t enjoy drinking coffee sans milk, Indian filter coffee is actually the perfect drink. Its bitterness is balanced out by the sugar and milk that is mixed with the decoction.
In your attempt to learn how to make Indian filter coffee, you may have stumbled upon some myths unknowingly. It can be baffling when you don’t quite know the dos and don'ts of trying out a new coffee drink.
So, today, we are going to clear 5 misconceptions about filter kaapi.
All Indian Filter Coffee Contains Chicory
Traditionally, South Indian filter kaapi is made with some percentage of chicory added to the mix. That is what gives it a more bitter taste.
Over time, more and more people have begun experimenting with different filter coffee blends. And so you’ll definitely be able to find Indian filter coffees produced without any chicory.
Leaving out chicory will only slightly change the coffee taste. You can pick a medium or dark roast Indian filter coffee.
And to make up for the lack of chicory, simply let the coffee brew for some more time.
Making Indian Filter Coffee is a Complicated Process
It is a common misconception that traditional coffee brewing is generally more complex. This doesn’t necessarily have to be true just because there’s more to it than stirring hot water with coffee powder.
Once you have clarity about the steps involved in making Indian filter coffee, making it at home can seamlessly be incorporated into your daily routine.
It involved a couple of easy-to-follow steps. Get a grasp on these, and you’ll not look back.
If you need some help, check out our handy coffee brewing guide.
Indian Filter Coffee Can Only Be Made With Traditional Equipment
We can see how the confusion may have seeped in with regards to how Indian filter coffee is made.
Yes, it is originally made with a stainless steel filter that uses the drip technique to craft the brew from coffee grounds.
But if you have a French Press or a Moka Pot at home, you can still make Indian filter coffee with the right coffee powder.
Coffee Remains Fresh Forever
Some people believe that coffee doesn’t expire. And technically, that is true; it doesn’t go bad so easily.
Sources even suggest that you can’t get sick from having coffee that is past its shelf life.
However, it does not mean that the coffee is fresh.
A lot of time passes between the coffee beans being roasted and the packaged grounds being purchased by you. This is why manufactures typically mention an expiry date on the packaging.
If you store the coffee incorrectly or keep it for several months past its expiry date, the taste will be nowhere near as good.
The longer it is stored, the more it loses its flavour and begins to taste stale. Whether it's filter coffee or instant coffee, you should ideally consume it within a few weeks of opening the pack.
A tip to know when it's time to get rid of the grounds is to check its smell and appearance. If it smells funky or has become mouldy because of moisture having gotten into the container, dispose of it.
Water Temperature Doesn’t Matter
Granted that most of us don’t sit perched in the kitchen with a thermometer to check the temperature of boiling water, there’s a specific range that works best for brewing coffee.
The National Coffee Association states that 195° F to 205° F is the right water temperature for making coffee.
If you use room temperature water to make your Indian filter coffee, it’ll be under-extracted and watery.
And if you use too hot water, it will impair the taste of the coffee, often giving it a burnt taste.
For the perfect cup of Indian filter coffee, just bring the water to boil before you keep adding it bit by bit over the coffee grounds if you are using the traditional setup or the plunger.
Even if you don’t plan to get the Indian style filter, you can get our Malgudi Days filter coffee ground for the device you use.
In the comments, let us know what other misconceptions you’ve heard about Indian filter coffee.
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