Indian filter coffee

Indian filter coffee is a preparation technique in which coffee is brewed with the use of an Indian coffee filter. This filter consists of two chambers—the upper one with a perforated bottom used to hold ground coffee and the bottom one in which brewed coffee is slowly dripped.

This brewing technique results in a richly-flavored, full-bodied coffee that is usually mixed with milk and sweetened with sugar. It is traditionally served in a tumbler with an accompanying saucer (davara). Sometimes, the combination of coffee and warm milk is continuously poured from one vessel to another until it is aerated and becomes frothy.

In India, coffee is mainly cultivated and associated with South India, namely Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Kerala. The tradition of growing coffee allegedly dates to the 16th century, and the drink was popularized through the 17th and 18th centuries.

Apart from ground coffee, coffee blends used to make Indian coffee also often include chicory. This tradition probably stems from British or French influences in the region. Although most blends for Indian filter coffee use chicory, it is not always the case.