I think the SIF is the most simplest device and what it needs is some rebranding to appeal to the younger generation who is highly obsessed with the Italian way of machine made espresso making. I am not patronizing/demeaning or degrading any way. End of the day the device is just a way to make coffee which is the hero of the story and this blog. Having said that when a simple device exists there is not necessity to complicate issues is what I certainly feel. A good positioning and re-branding will make it more contemporary to the consuming segment
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There is a lot of similarity in a coffee filter and French press.
Both are extremely simple devices with practically no moving parts. South filter is still less complicated. The plunger in a French press needs to be tight with a rubber seal to prevent grounds from getting mixed up with water directly. The Indian filter need to have no seal except to make sure that water does not leak out. If a cheap French press is used the rubber seal could lend a taste like burnt Robusta beans: P Left longer the coffee could end up getting an over exposed soggy taste on the bitter side the Indian filter has no such restriction. The water, by way of gravity, automatically flows, so no question of over exposure. The rate of flow can be adjusted by the force of tamping the grounds. The machine has to be snugly fit because Indian filter coffee takes time to trickle because of the gravity. The snug fit reduces exposure to air and thus decreases the chance of the coffee going rancid or sour. The metal filter used in both help retain the flavor and oils. It is for those who are in a hurry should use the French press those who can take time out for their coffee should prefer a south Indian filter Lets call the South Indian Filter – “SIF” from now on. It makes it more approachable and simple for typing too :D The Context A coffee fanatic has to be prepared for any condition. Because you never know in what condition might you end up in? So I was stuck in a place where I was on a very temporary assignment so I stripped down my possessions to a bare minimum. So no coffee machine :( I hated the instant coffee powder and that too having it black in the morning is one of the worst things I could do to start my day and that too I was in a place where coffee is grown. Preparation So not willing to commit that sin, I went out the first weekend to buy a south Indian coffee filter. Simple, no moving parts, no electricity needed no mess. Bought a packaged ground coffee powder so that I could experiment. So here is how that experiment turned out to be a success Method/Procedure · Take 2-3 table spoons of ground coffee powder into the top part of the filter. Take out the plunger (sort of) · Tamp it nice and hard. No pressure limitations. Use your muscle power and tamp it nice with the plunger · Leave the plunger in and pour water at normal temperature. This is because I had no hot water, kettle or any sort of heating device with me. · The catch is that you will have to do this the night before. · 1-2 table spoons of coffee take around 4 hours to trickle down with gravity. More table spoons do not necessarily add up. 6-8 hours should suffice for any amount of coffee · If you are a true coffee maniac, be ready for a not-hot-coffee in the morning. Take out the bottom part and pour into a cup. Add water if needed. Hmmm.. Tastyyy It’s very flavorful because · All essential oils stay · Its like cold pressed olive oil. It may not be very high on caffeine extraction quotient but the taste and the flavor are great because of the normal temperature water used How does this happen It works like this. The water is not hot and the extraction takes place because of long extraction time and the gravity which pulls water down. This gives the water time to absorb the taste and bring it along down to the collector which makes it get the great taste. No power used no hot water, no mess. Time replaces all of these to create a wonderfully flavorful coffee. The south Indian filter is extremely portable and can be happily replaced with a French press. You just need to have this and coffee grounds. Make a tasty coffee in tornadoes, in power cuts, in forest treks, in remote villages everywhere without making a mess in carrying and making Desperate times call for desperate measure which might lead to good results |
t.g.i.c.b"The Great Indian Coffee Blog" is by far one of the first dedicated comprehensive indian coffee blog Archives
March 2015
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