Popular Science behind Brewing a Traditional South Indian Filter Coffee!

Say what you will, filter coffee made in South India is uniquely delicious. Let us find out how to make this heavenly beverage South Indian filter coffee at home.

Coffee Making Ingredients

The ingredients required for South Indian filter coffee are surprisingly simple for a coffee of such amazing quality. The main things required are coffee grounds and a metal percolator.

The metal percolator is the hero of the South Indian filter coffee. This device is fashioned based on a simple concept of allowing hot water to collect the essence of the coffee powder and drip into the collecting container.  A tiny umbrella shaped device allows for effective tamping of the coffee grounds as well. The next main ingredient is coffee powder. Fresh coffee powder is used where expert-roasted coffee beans are ground. This is bought freshly from time to time and is not stored for a long time to retain the freshness. The coffee powder is sometimes mixed with a certain percentage of chicory to give a denser volume to the coffee powder. The coffee to chicory ratio can be 60:40, 70:30, 80:20 or 90:10.

Coffee Preparation Methods

Preparation mainly involves keeping all the ingredients ready. Water should be boiled to a rolling boil and kept ready for pouring into the coffee filter. Milk is added to the coffee decoction and hence milk should be boiled and kept ready at an appropriate temperature as per individual preference. Sugar should be kept ready as per requirement.

The Brewing Procedure

To brew filter coffee, 4 to 5 tablespoons of fresh filter coffee powder is loaded into the top container of the coffee filter apparatus. The metal tamping device is placed on top of the coffee powder to evenly distribute the coffee powder and tamp it. This device has holes on top to let water mix with the powder. Rolling boiling water is poured into the top container and the lid is closed to maintain the steam.

When you let this sit for 4 to 5 hours, the water passes through the tamping device and through the coffee grounds into the lower container. The holes in the top container allow the decoction to drip into the lower container. The decoction collects into the lower container and is typically stronger than a shot of espresso.

The Serving Style

Once the decoction is ready, it is mixed with milk and sugar to make a cup of coffee. Usually, two tablespoons of decoction are mixed with 6 to 7 tablespoons of milk. This can be varied as per the required "strength" of the coffee that is required. One tablespoon of sugar is added for sweetening and can be varied as per personal taste.

The characteristic feature of Traditional South Indian filter coffee is the way that the coffee is poured between a davara and a tumbler. The davara is a flat-bottomed short metal cup and the tumbler is a metal container that is narrower and lengthier than the davara. The process of pouring the beverage back and forth creates an airy froth that lends a great taste to the coffee. 

Pain Points in Picking the Right Coffee Machine for Office: Things You Need to Know

There is a predominant coffee culture in the majority of offices in India. Many employees love a great cup of coffee that keeps them going in full swing throughout the day. A decade ago, helpers at offices were a common sight and they regularly supplied coffees and teas during break time from nearby shops. However, the work culture at present is very different and each employee is working on their own timing and schedule. This means that there is a requirement for coffee round the clock.

So, buying a coffee machine for your office is definitely a good investment. However, when deciding about which machine to buy, a lot of care should be taken. There are mind-boggling varieties of machines at different price ranges. Finding out what your office needs is a challenge because buying a less-suited machine will be a waste of money and resources.

Here are a few pain points that you need to deal with while buying a coffee machine for the corporate office.

Not knowing where the coffee machine will be placed

It is essential to plan in advance about where you will be placing the coffee machine once you buy it. The machine that you buy has to fit the space that you have allocated. Also, the inputs that the coffee machine will need such as water, coffee beans, etc should be in proximity to the coffee machine for ease of use. Ignoring this factor and buying a filter coffee machine without having a clear idea of where it will be placed will lead to confusions and hassles.

Having an Ambiguous Budget

All of us want the best of quality when we make a purchase. But, when the product that we are looking for offers an array of choices, there will be many other factors based on which a decision has to be made. One of the main factors is the price of the product. Keeping a fixed budget will help you narrow down your options and make a good decision without wasting time.

Not knowing the taste of employees

All said and done, the employees are the ones who will be using the coffee machine and so it is essential to spend time in knowing what they really want. Different coffee machines can give you different types of coffee and knowing the preferences of your employees will help you make the right choice.

Zero down on the right machine

When you finally get to a stage where you have to zero down the coffee machine that you should buy, you will be thrown off-guard by the various types of machines available. Here is a brief about the different types of machines.

Filter coffee machines

These machines use boiling water to collect the essence of ground coffee beans. The water is allowed to seep through the filter coffee powder to give you coffee. The downside is that these machines can make only filter coffee. The advantage is that the coffee quality is good as it retains the authentic flavor of the beverage.

Capsule coffee machines

This produces coffee at the touch of a button and is cheaper than other coffee machines. This is more suited for low-usage scenarios where less than 5 cups per day are needed. Coffee capsules have to be reloaded frequently and this is a hassle when more cups of coffee are required.

Bean to cup machines

These are automatic machines that need very little intervention and can give you various types of coffee. However, they need a lot more milk than other machines and need to be cleaned regularly to work properly.

Other types of machines such as coffee vending machines and semiautomatic coffee machines can be explored before making a choice.

Busting the popular myths and misconceptions about coffee in India!

Coffee is one of the most in-demand beverages in India. Even though the beverage is not native to India, the influence of coffee has only grown ever since it first came to India. In fact, India is one of the top producers of coffee beans in the world today!

Every other day, there is news about coffee and its effect on consumers. Sometimes there is news that it helps in delaying the onset Alzheimer’s and at other times it is said that coffee triggers Migraines. As a nation with a large population of coffee lovers, it is important for us to know what the truth about coffee is. So, let us know about a few coffee myths that are mistaken to be strange coffee facts.

Coffee is responsible for stunted growth

It is widely discussed that coffee may hinder growth among people. This is in fact one of the most misconceived notions about coffee because there is no basis for this claim. No study has confirmed this and there is no proof for this allegation against coffee.

Coffee is harmful during pregnancy

Many people say that coffee is linked to higher abortion rates or stillbirths when pregnant women consume it. This is not completely true. It is true that coffee can reach the foetus through the placenta. However, caffeine within the limit of 200 mg is considered to be safe for pregnant women and this is around a single cup of coffee every day. It is when the caffeine intake increases more than 200 mg per day that there is a danger during pregnancy.

Coffee relieves stress

This statement is not true. Coffee is a nerve stimulant because of its high caffeine content and this can work against you when you are stressed out. Happy hormones do get secreted while you drink coffee but this effect wears off soon and stress multiplies when this happens. So, coffee is best consumed under normal circumstances when you are not too stressed out.

Coffee in the daytime causes sleepless nights

Many people restrain from a cup of coffee in the afternoons because they fear that this will cause sleeplessness in the night. However, there is no reason to think like this because coffee passes through the system between 3 to 7 hours. So, a cup of coffee at 3 pm when you need a boost of energy the most is not a bad idea at all.

Coffee cures hangovers

A hangover can leave you hazy-eyed in the morning and coffee is usually consumed with the hope of jolting out of that haze. However, there is no truth in this assumption. Gulping down coffee and assuming that the hangover will go away can lead to disappointment.

The hotter the water is, better the brew

Filter coffee powder is a brew that is most loved in India, especially in South India. To bring out the flavor of the coffee powder, hot water is added to it in a filter and a decoction is obtained. For this, it is assumed that hotter water will give a richer flavour. However, this is not true. When the temperature of water exceeds 200 degrees Fahrenheit, the coffee ends up having a ‘burnt’ taste.

Automatic Vs Semiautomatic Vs Manual: Decoding the three primary types of Coffee Machines

Coffee machines give us what we love – coffee. However, there are different types of coffee drinkers and different types of coffee machines as well. One way of categorizing these machines is as automatic, semiautomatic and manual.

So, what are the pros and cons of each type of machine? Let us see.

Automatic machines:

These machines are bean to cup and don’t need any manual intervention once programmed.

Pros:

Convenience – Automatic coffee machines are mostly single-button operated and hence don’t need any external work to be done. They can make good coffee in an instant without any fuss.

Drip coffee – Automatic machines have a drip option for use at home where people can have ready coffee when they wake up or during dinner for best drip coffee maker.

Cleaning up – These machines have an automatic clean-up option that empties the system and clean-up as programmed. In fact, many machines stop functioning until cleaning is done periodically.

Time – Time is the main advantage of automatic drip coffee machines. Given the rise of demand for coffee on the go, machines that can give coffee at the touch of a button are loved by people.

Cons:

Quality – Quality does take a hit with automatic coffee machines. There is not much that can be controlled in terms of quality as the machine is pre-programmed. If a different brew is required then it has to be re-programmed. Also, high-quality coffee is generally achieved only with the slow process of brewing and fastening the process results in loss of quality.

Doesn’t demand skill – With the advent of the automatic coffee machine, a culture of ‘anyone can make coffee’ has started off. This has led to unskilled baristas who do not know the secrets to a great coffee brew.

Monotonous – Automatic machines serve exactly the same kind of coffee each time and this can get boring for real coffee lovers who expect authenticity in their cup.

Semiautomatic machines:

These machines have some features that need a manual operation and other features that are automatic.

Pros:

Hybrid – Semiautomatic machines have the advantage of being hybrid machines that contain the advantages of both automatic as well as manual machines. They are suitable for people who want something more convenient than manual machines but tastier cups of coffee than ones given by automatic machines.

Time – Semiautomatic coffee machines allow you to control the brew to a certain extent. So, you can have better coffee than you get to have with automatic machines and yet not take as much time as you will take with manual machines.

Control – You can grind and tamp the coffee before adding it to the machine. So, you will have better control over the beverage. In fact, you can also use this feature to make other beverages such as tea and Americano.

Taste – As an extension of the previous point, the added control that you get to have can let you make a better cup of coffee when compared to what you get with automatic coffee machines.

Cons:

Effort – You will have to put in more effort with semiautomatic coffee machines than with automatic ones.

Quality – Even though these machines can give you a higher quality of coffee when compared to automatic machines, they certainly cannot provide the authentic taste of manually made coffee.

Manual machines:

These machines have to be managed manually at every step.

Pros:

Quality – With each step being controlled manually, the authentic taste of coffee vending machine can be experienced only with manual machines.

Looks – Manual coffee machines usually come in suave forms and look ravishing in your kitchen.

Satisfaction – Making coffee is as satisfying as drinking it for true coffee lovers. Commercial Manual coffee machines can give you this pleasure.

Cons:

Time – It takes a lot of time to brew a single batch of coffee.

Effort – Every step has to be micromanaged to get the right cup of coffee and so this is definitely effort-intensive.

Hassle – A quick cup of coffee when you need it might not be available if you are using a manual coffee machine.