Kumbakonam Degree Coffee
We were eagerly waiting to taste the Kumbakonam degree coffee on our way to Thanjavur, the hinterlands of Tamilnadu. We had tasted this special brew a few years ago near Chennai and were smitten by its aroma and taste. The coffee has a classy smoothness, rich flavour and aroma which is hard to explain in words. You have to taste it to experience it!
Degree coffee is nothing but filter coffee brewed in a specific way. Many Indians, especially from the South, cannot start their day without a cup of steaming hot filter coffee. My dad is one amongst them and it is the frothing tumbler of hot filter coffee that has kickstarted his day for the last 7 decades.
Why it is known as Kumbakonam degree coffee?
Kumbakonam is a temple town of South India with a rich history and culture of its own. It was once the capital of the Cholas and is located in the Thanjavur district of Tamilnadu. Known for its numerous temples, the town has a large affluent Bramhin population who prepare this degree filter coffee with the first decoction. They discard the second and subsequent decoctions as it is more watery and less strong. Hence, the coffee has earned the term ‘degree’ to point out its fine quality along with the town’s name attached to it. Fresh milk, devoid of any water, is typically used to prepare this coffee and not the packet milk. So you can imagine the taste and richness of this brew.
There is no recorded explanation as to the name of this coffee but there are several stories doing the rounds on the internet as to the quaint name of this brew. But the above explanation is what I got from the coffee shop owner on my way to Chennai. 🙂
Ingredients & Recipe for Decoction
Coffee powder with chicory (not instant coffee powder) – 3 tbsp
Boiling water – 1/2 cup (120 ml)
Put the coffee powder in the top half of the filter and place it on the lower half. Now boil the water and pour it on top of the powder in the filter.
Allow the water to percolate down the coffee powder and imbibe its flavour and aroma. Allow 10-15 minutes till all the decoction trickles down in the lower half of the filter.
The decoction is ready!
Preparing the Degree Coffee the Right Way…
- First, add 1.5 tsp of sugar to the tumbler (size as shown in the pic; about 150 ml).
- Then add about 3-4 tbsp of freshly prepared decoction.
- To this add the boiling milk from a slight height.
- Next, pour the mixture into the davara and then again into the tumbler, a couple of times. This will dissolve the sugar and also cool down the coffee a bit giving it a frothy and perfect texture.
- Adjust the sweetness and the decoction to your liking. Try it a couple of times and you will master the art of making a perfect ‘degree coffee’.