Topic started by Pauline (@ w074.z208176148.sjc-ca.dsl.cnc.net) on Mon Aug 14 16:40:38 .
All times in EST +10:30 for IST.

Tamilnadu consumes >60% of the coffee consumption of India.
Tamils prefer coffee to tea.
coffee came to India through Arabs.
cannot forget the degree coffee (BTW what is degree coffee ?...) which we get in tanjavur/kumbakonam/trichy .
Can people share such info on coffee and any interesting stories on coffee ?....
I am a coffee lover. I liked coffee in Bangalore (most hotels), coimbatore GS/AnnaP, Udupi.. in Ashland MA.
American coffee is hopeless. Tolerable is Starbucks... what people say ...?

Responses:

• Old responses
  
• From: Mayura Cafe,Mayiladuthurai,TN India (@ sdn-ar-002nmalbup081.dialsprint.net) on: Mon Sep 25 21:53:13 EDT 2000
  
  For those of You that are new to the US of A,
  here is a list of drip coffee and their
  characteristics! & pl do not kill your taste buds
  by getting used to that miserable instant stuff:(
  
  1) Yuban : Has a smooth Colombian flavor.
  Not too strong . 4*s out of 4.
  
  2) Maxwell House : Various flavors.Not
  pricy but still pretty decent. 3*s
  
  3) Folger's: Not bad but leaves a funny
  after taste in your tongue 3*s.
  
  4) Hill's Brothers : Flat & Dead 1*
  
  5) Star Buck's: They don't taste as good
  when you buy the coffee and try at home,
  like it does in one of its cafes! wonder why..?
  2*s
  
  well there are many more.'btw' if someone is
  used to the chicery stuff they can try any one
  of the french roasted beans from any brand.
  Man! this stuff is strong and dead cheap.
  
  [chicery was introduced here in the USA
  as an alternate to expensive coffee during the great depression in the '30s]
  
  Also if you go to, say, Albertson's or Safeway
  or any one of those Super Markets,you can buy
  their generic brand beans grind 'em and bring 'em
  home.They do taste good.
  One added convinience!
  you can play with the flavors! mix some moca
  with Java,throw in some kenyan and top it
  with smooth colombian or throw in a handful
  of cinnamon flavored bean grind it and try it!
  
  Sincerely
  Still missing my dear Thanjavaur degree coffee:(
  
  
  
• From: sulochana (@ evrtwa1-ar5-244-134.dsl.gtei.net) on: Wed Oct 11 13:21:17 EDT 2000
  
  hi guys why do you struggle so much? Come to my house i will give you good filter coffee.
  
  
• From: JayBee (@ bkj-cache81.jaring.my) on: Wed Oct 11 19:41:04 EDT 2000
  
  Fine.
  Thanks.
  Where do you live?
  
  
• From: Anand.G (@ globalb3.citicorp.com) on: Wed Nov 29 10:47:44 EST 2000
  
  Hi Guys,
  
  I have good traditional coffee filter from Tamilnadu, But when i put the cofee powder into the filter and pour water, decoction does not come as thick as i used to get in india. I agree that the coffee powder is not that nice and powdery. I just want to know as whether i can use any techinique to improve the quality. I read from one of the books that adding sugar crystals along with coffee powder improves the decoction quality.
  
  Regards,
  Anand.G
  
  
• From: JayBee (@ 203.106.176.218) on: Wed Nov 29 22:16:21 EST 2000
  
  In Malaysia, coffee beans are roasted with margerine(hydrogenated fat) and sugar. Then it is powdered.
  The decoction from this powder is thick.
  This is diluted with boiling water and sugar is added.
  This has a rather bitter taste.
  This is the famous 'Kopi-O' of Malaysia.
  
  It does have a kick.
  
  
• From: pg (@ gate02.merck-medco.com) on: Thu Nov 30 08:21:29 EST 2000
  
  There are lot of family owned stores in NY area which serve excellent coffee.
  
  Au Bon Pain - a french cafe chain server wonderful coffee.
  
  Also Timothy's Coffees of the world.
  
  malli/sukku coffee is not coffee at all. It is a misnomer.
  
  Flavoured coffees are ADULTERATED !!! No way to enjoy a coffee.
  
  
• From: Ravi Sundaram (@ pa-bethelpark2a-530.pit.adelphia.net) on: Fri Dec 1 22:45:03 EST 2000
  
  Why no one answered the question, "Why is it called degree coffee?"?
  
  Degree Coffee: There is a device that measures the density of milk. It looks like a tiny thermometer floating inside an eye-dropper (or ink filler). Milk with certified density is called degree milk and the coffee made with it is called the degree coffee. Since it looks like a thermometer and thermometer measures in degrees, people thought the quality of milk is also measured in "degrees".
  Sadly the sanitary inspectors of TN no longer carry these manometers anymore and spot check the milk density in restaraunts, and very few people are even aware that there exists a device that can measure the density of milk using just a few drops of the sample.
  
  In U.S. I like Seattle's Best coffee. I agree with pg, instead of drining flavoured coffee one can dissolve candy in luke water and drink it. It is that awful. Starbucks capuccino is ok.
  
  
• From: Sundar (@ ip9.79.blca.blazenet.net) on: Mon Dec 18 12:47:56 EST 2000
  
  Two problems here:
  
  1. Flavorful coffee: I agree with the person who said to grind your own at supermarkets. At a reasonable price, you get to pick your flavor combination. I recommend a 50-50 blend of Peaberry/Harrar with Kenya AA or Colombian. Suits the Indian taste. DOn't throw away your money on "Kona Blends" etc that may have small amounts of the bean there for namesake. If you must buy instant, buy Taster's Choice.
  
  2. Thickness: Now hear this. Throw away that damned electric filter coffee maker. The most flavorful coffee I have tasted came with a simple coffee press. This is a cyliderlike device. You put your coffee in the bottom. Boil water. Pour it in. Let it steep 5 min. Then you move the metal plunger/filter in the lid down, and pour out your coffee. The grounds stay under the filter. YOu have to grind your beans extra coarse to have the best filter action.
  
  You control the thickness, and the strength. The thing is simple, costs about $10-15 (US). You will also see that this is similar to the coffee press used at home.
  
  You can brew a 2nd brewing from the spent grouds, if you are willing to steep the coffee longer.
  
  A novel idea: A less acidic, very strong flavored coffee can be made if you let coffee steep overnight in the fridge or at room temp. This gives me a very strong "decoction". Try this. I think you will like it!
  
  I have come to enjoy the "Scandinavian Blends" very much. I buy my coffee from Ikea now, if I don't grind it myself. You can drink this stuff black. Smooth. A mellow roast gives a good flavorful coffee without the bitterness of the Starbucks/Seattle blends. Yuck!
  
  Alternatives are an espresso machine - this will make your amma's "decoction", or a percolator, or a french press. You need extra fine grinds for this.
  
  Enjoy!
  
  
• From: suman (@ ) on: Sat Jan 25 05:05:16
  
  want to know how exactly south indian filter coffee is made could anyone help me ??
  
  
• From: Ramya (@ miintg1.ameritech.com) on: Mon Jan 27 09:00:02
  
  For those of you in U.S longing for filter coffee but do not have coffee powder from India...try this.
  
  Get a pound of Espresso Roast coffee (preferably from a good place like Starbucks, Krispy Creme,Gloria Jeans,Seattle's best etc) and ask them to grind it for a turkish type filter. Press it down lightly on your regular filter and add boiling hot water.
  
  You will never go back to brining kappee podi from home.
  
  
• From: Ramya (@ miintg1.ameritech.com) on: Mon Jan 27 09:00:13
  
  For those of you in U.S longing for filter coffee but do not have coffee powder from India...try this.
  
  Get a pound of Espresso Roast coffee (preferably from a good place like Starbucks, Krispy Creme,Gloria Jeans,Seattle's best etc) and ask them to grind it for a turkish type filter. Press it down lightly on your regular filter and add boiling hot water.
  
  You will never go back to bringing kappee podi from home.
  
  
• From: rajesh (@ pool-68-160-240-247.ny325.east.verizon.net) on: Sun Feb 9 20:20:18
  
  MADRAS COFFEE
  hi can Any one tell me exactly what coffee powder is used to make MADRAS COFFEE in filter.
  I tried green label which is not madras coffee
  
  
• From: R (@ 26.f8b7d1.client.atlantech.net) on: Wed Sep 17 12:55:00
  
  Here's my 2 cents worth on 'degree' coffee
  
  I buy Folgers (big can from Costco) and mix it with 1 box of Chicory (from Giant in an orange and brown box, available at the coffee section. Ask your store manager about it. Famous and easily available in Louisiana). Mix it well. Grind (even pre-ground coffee) in a mixie or coffee/spice grinder and make decoction using a filter from India. Coffee connoisseurs in my family rave about this.
  
  
• From: Latha (@ aim-176-84.tm.net.my) on: Fri Sep 19 02:53:37 EDT 2003
  
  Well Jay bee, now I know that kopi 'o' is just not coffee minus the milk (black)
  
  
• From: Vishesh (@ ) on: Wed Apr 14 11:49:47
  
  Does anyone know % of blending to make perfect Madras Filter Coffee. i mean using all Indian coffee's A.Parchment, A.Cherry,R.Parchment and R.Cherry
  
  
• From: Vishesh (@ 61.1.139.42) on: Wed Apr 14 11:54:50 EDT 2004
  
  How to get a buttery,creamy finish in the cup? Especially in madras filter coffee. Does anyone have a traditional madras filter coffee preparation ideas?
  
  
• From: Madhu (@ lan-202-144-61-145.maa.sify.net) on: Thu Apr 22 03:37:44 EDT 2004
  
  Rajesh,
  
  For Madras coffee : ("Coffee Day" is good)
  
  For 1/2 kg of coffee powder :
  
  Grind 250 gms Plantation A, 250 gms Peaberry and 25 gms chickory powder. The shopkeeper will do this for you.
  
  Take four tablespoons of this powder, put it in coffee filter and press it so that the gap between the particles is not much. This will help you to get thick decoction. Pour boiling water over the powder now. (Boiling water can be poured twice. Pouring boiling water the third time will give you a very dilute solution).
  
  Add this to boiled milk, add sugar and drink. Perfect coffee !!!!!
  
  Please note : If you a person who drinks coffee very often, boil little bit of milk as and when required. Do not use the boiled milk again and again, as it will reduce the taste of coffee.
  
  Also, do not add water while preparing coffee, to the already prepared decoction. A bit of hot water may be added to milk, but not to the decoction.
  
  
  
• From: V (@ ns2.annauniv.edu) on: Fri Apr 30 03:01:42 EDT 2004
  
  Dear Madhu
  My friend says "it is not Peaberry" It is Plantation B..in short P.B." Is it correct?
  
  If you want to enjoy the REAL COFFEE taste, Chickory should not be added. Chickory is absolutely un-connected with coffee theroy, which is the dried form of a root portion of a plant.
  Should we add this Chickory with coffee powder,for just adding the color of the coffee?
  
  Is it correct to keep the one time used coffeepowder in the filter, and use the the same for next day?
  
  
• From: sdfg (@ ) on: Sat May 22 06:54:26
  
  gsdfgsdf
  
  
• From: Burt Clarke (@ nat-7.cat.com) on: Mon Sep 20 11:34:07
  
  I would like to buy a personal size Indian coffee filter. I have found many sources for the Indian coffee on the web, but does anyone know of a website source for the filter?
  
  
• From: satish (@ 61.2.236.184) on: Mon Sep 20 12:46:42 EDT 2004
  
  filter coffee, edhu "bru"da
  
  
• From: suemani (@ ool-18ba9d80.dyn.optonline.net) on: Tue Sep 28 11:05:26 EDT 2004
  
  i live in the north east . new york to be precise.
  any one knows wehre to find chicory , i read on this forum it is avialble in Giant. guys there is no giant store here so any likey i will find it in any stores here. please postt the names of diff stores in newyork area.
  thanks in advance
  susan
  
  
• From: Cheeni (@ ) on: Sat Oct 23 20:32:05
  
  Burt:
  Try http://cafenavilu.com/ordercofee.htm
  They sell Indian coffee and metal filters.
  
  Dark French roasted turkish ground Arabica, Malabar PeaBerry or Robusta (I don't think it's widely available except in India, and in any case it's just a cheaper version of Arabica) gets you the best Indian coffee flavor.
  
  I prefer strong coffee that is not too acidic and lets the flavor rise through the milk or cream.
  
  I also like Kiva Han's Louis XIV blend.
  http://www.kivahan.com/coffees/louisXIV.html
  
  

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