Same-day delivery Kachirapalayam Rd, 606202 · within 2 km
DEEPAVALI STORE · SUN 8 NOVDeepavaliLamps, oil, sweets-making and gifts
COMBO KITS · ONE TAP, WHOLE LIST combo plus Ready kits for school, pooja and snacks
FROM OUR KITCHEN AND SHELVES Samayal சமையல் · recipes, buying guides and festival lists
NEW DEALS EVERY DAY Offer zone Prices cut on stationery, pooja and dry fruits
ONLY FOR HOMES WITHIN 2 KM Local exclusive
Recipe · Drinks · Tamil Nadu

Kumbakonam Filter Coffee at Home: Decoction, Milk and the Froth

A thick decoction from the steel filter, boiling full-cream milk, and the pour between tumbler and dabara. The Tamil Nadu morning coffee, measured.

Our kitchenUpdated
Prep5 min
Dripping15 min
Cook5 min
Makes3 tumblers
Jump to recipe
Filter coffee in a steel tumbler and dabara beside a coffee filter
In this recipe5 parts
  1. Ingredients and steps
  2. What makes Kumbakonam coffee different?
  3. How strong do you like it?
  4. Which coffee powder to use
  5. Questions people ask

Quick answer

Put 4 heaped teaspoons of filter coffee powder in the top of a steel filter, pour in ¾ cup of boiling water and wait 15 minutes. Mix 1 part decoction with 3 parts boiling milk and sugar, then pour between tumbler and dabara until frothy.

Ingredients and steps

3 tumblers

Screen stays on while you cook · tap a step to mark where you are

Ingredients

  • On our shelves
  • In the shop
  • In the shop

You need

Steel coffee filterTumbler and dabaraMilk pan

Steps

  1. Fill the filter

    Put the coffee powder in the upper chamber of the filter. Tap it level and place the pressing disc (the small umbrella) gently on top; do not press hard.

  2. Pour the water

    Pour the boiling water over the disc, close the lid and leave it to drip for 15 minutes. The first decoction is the thickest and best.

  3. Boil the milk

    Bring the milk to a rolling boil and let it froth up once. Keep it hot.

  4. Mix

    In each tumbler, put 1 teaspoon sugar and about 3 tablespoons decoction. Fill with hot milk, about three times the decoction.

  5. Froth

    Pour the coffee from the tumbler into the dabara from a height and back again, three or four times, until it is frothy on top. Serve at once.

Shop tip: Pour the boiling water a little at a time if your filter drips too fast; the decoction comes out thicker. Use the second decoction, made with half the water on the same powder, for a lighter evening cup.

95kcal
4 gprotein
10 gcarbs
4 gfat

Per tumbler, an estimate. It does not change with the servings.

Made it?Tap to rate it

What makes Kumbakonam coffee different?

It is about the milk as much as the coffee: fresh, full-cream milk, boiled and frothy, with a thick first decoction. It is often called “degree coffee”; the usual story is that the name comes from the lactometer degree once used to check that the milk was pure.

How strong do you like it?

StrengthDecoctionMilk
Light1 part4 parts
Regular (this recipe)1 part3 parts
Strong1 part2 parts

Which coffee powder to use

A coffee and chicory blend gives the thick, dark decoction this coffee is known for. Not sure which to buy? Read how to choose filter coffee powder.

Try these next

A cup of sukku malli coffee with dried ginger and coriander seedsDrinksNEW

Sukku Malli Coffee: Dry Ginger and Coriander Drink

10 minin all2cupsAnjeer milkshake in a tall glass with dried figs and almondsDrinksNEW

Anjeer Milkshake with No Added Sugar

5 min+ soaking2glasses

Questions people ask

How long can I keep filter coffee decoction?
About a day in a closed steel or glass container in the fridge. It tastes best fresh, within a few hours.
Why is my decoction too thin?
Too much water for the powder, or the powder was pressed too lightly and the water rushed through. Use less water and press the disc gently.
Can I use toned milk?
Yes, but the coffee will be thinner. Full-cream milk gives the classic Kumbakonam taste.
Why does my filter not drip?
The powder is too fine or pressed too hard, or the holes are blocked. Clean the filter holes with a pin and press the disc lightly.