The Coffee Blend:
South Indian filter coffee typically uses a blend of Arabica and Robusta coffee beans, which are roasted to a medium-dark finish and ground finely. The coffee is often mixed with chicory, a roasted root that adds body and a slightly nutty, woody flavor to the coffee, making it thicker and more robust than other types of coffee.
The Coffee Filter:
The brewing process relies on a special metal filter, known as a “South Indian coffee filter”, which has two compartments:
- Top Chamber: This is where you place the ground coffee.
- Bottom Chamber: This collects the brewed coffee decoction.
The filter is small and cylindrical with a perforated bottom. Hot water is poured over the ground coffee in the top chamber, and it slowly percolates through to the bottom, collecting as a strong coffee concentrate or decoction.
