Utensils & kitchen tools · Coffee maker
South Indian coffee filter
A two-tier stainless steel drip filter that makes the thick decoction for South Indian filter coffee.
Specialist · No power needed · 1 recipe
What it is
Two stacked metal cylinders: an upper cup with a finely perforated base that holds the coffee (often a coffee-chicory blend), a pressing disc with a stem, a lid, and a lower cup that collects the decoction. Just-boiled water poured over the coffee drips through slowly by gravity over 10–15 minutes, giving a small amount of strong decoction that is mixed with hot milk and sugar.
What it’s for: Brewing a strong coffee decoction for filter kaapi without electricity.
How to use it
- Spoon the coffee powder into the upper cup and rest the pressing disc on it without packing it.
- Pour in just-boiled water, cover and leave it to drip undisturbed for 10–15 minutes.
- Mix about 1 part decoction with 2–3 parts hot milk and sugar to taste.
Good to know
- Tasks
- brewing filter coffee decoction
- Materials
- stainless steel, brass
- Care and cleaning
- Empty and rinse after each use; clear the holes with a soft brush if they clog.
- Limitations
- Slow; ground too fine, it barely drips; ground too coarse, the decoction is thin.
Safety
- The metal gets very hot; lift by the rim or with a cloth.
If you don’t have one
- Filter coffee maker — Brew very strong, about 1 part coffee to 6 parts water.
- French press / cafetière — Steep a small amount of water with plenty of coffee and press.
Related tools
Recipes that use it
South Indian filter coffee
Indian · 23 min · 138 kcal · Vegetarian