Recipe · filter coffee
Palm Jaggery Coffee (Thati Bellam Coffee)
తాటి బెల్లం కాఫీ · ताड़ के गुड़ वाली कॉफ़ी · तालगुड-काफी · Thati Bellam Coffee · Taad Ke Gud Wali Coffee
Filter coffee is how many Telugu homes start the day: a strong decoction dripped through a steel filter, topped up with hot milk and frothed between a tumbler and davara. This version is sweetened with grated palm jaggery (thati bellam) in place of sugar.
Palm jaggery gives the cup a deep, slightly smoky caramel sweetness that sits well with the bitterness of the decoction. Once the decoction is ready it takes about 5 minutes, and it suits a slow morning as much as an evening break.
- Prep15 min
- Cook5 min
- Total20 min
- Makes1 tumbler
5 minutes if your decoction is already made.
In short
Boil the milk, add it to the decoction, then stir in grated palm jaggery off the heat. Froth it between tumbler and davara.
పాలు మరిగించి డికాషన్లో కలపండి, స్టవ్ ఆపాక తురిమిన తాటి బెల్లం వేసి కలపండి. టంబ్లర్, దవరాతో నురుగు వచ్చేలా ఆడించండి. ఒక కప్పు పాలకు రెండు పెద్ద చెంచాల డికాషన్, ఒకటి రెండు చిన్న చెంచాల తాటి బెల్లం సరిపోతుంది.
दूध उबालकर डिकॉक्शन में मिलाएँ, फिर आँच बंद करके कसा हुआ ताड़ का गुड़ घोलें। टंबलर और दवरा से झाग बनाएँ। एक कप दूध में दो बड़े चम्मच डिकॉक्शन और एक-दो छोटे चम्मच ताड़ का गुड़ काफ़ी है।
Ingredients makes 1 tumbler
For the decoction
- 2 tbsp filter coffee powder enough decoction for 2–3 cups
- ½ cup water, just off the boil
For the coffee
- 1 cup milk about 240 ml
- 2 tbsp filter coffee decoction from above; 3 tbsp for a stronger cup
- 1–2 tsp grated palm jaggery to taste
Method
- Make the decoction: put 2 tbsp filter coffee powder in the top chamber of a South Indian coffee filter, set the perforated press on it and pour in ½ cup water just off the boil. Cover and leave it to drip for 10–15 minutes.
- While it drips, grate the palm jaggery finely so it dissolves in seconds.
- Pour the milk into a small saucepan and set it on medium heat.
- Bring the milk to a boil. As soon as it froths up the sides of the pan, switch off the heat.
- Pour the decoction into a tumbler and add the hot milk. Use 2 tbsp decoction for a mild cup and 3 tbsp for a strong one.
- Let it stand for about a minute, so the milk is just off the boil.
- Stir in the palm jaggery off the heat. Keep stirring for 20–30 seconds, until no grains are left at the bottom of the tumbler.
- Taste, and add a little more jaggery if you like it sweeter.
- Pour between tumbler and davara to froth. Hold the tumbler high and pour into the davara, then back again, 3–4 times, until a light foam sits on top.
- Serve straight away, in the tumbler set inside the davara.
Tips
- Add jaggery after the milk is off the boil so it does not split.
- Grate the jaggery finely: fine shreds dissolve in seconds, while lumps sink and stay at the bottom of the tumbler.
- Palm jaggery has a deep, slightly smoky sweetness, so start with 1 tsp and add more to taste.
- A steel tumbler and davara keep the coffee hot and make frothing easy; a mug and a jug work too.
Variations
- Cane jaggery: use the same amount of grated cane jaggery for a lighter, caramel-like sweetness.
- Palm jaggery tea: make your usual milk tea, switch off the heat, wait a minute, then stir in the palm jaggery the same way.
- No coffee filter: dissolve 1 tsp instant coffee in 2 tbsp hot water and use it in place of the decoction.
Serving
Serve hot after a breakfast of idli, dosa or upma, or in the evening with biscuits or murukulu.
Storage
Make each cup as you need it; coffee reheated after the jaggery goes in can split. Keep extra decoction covered at room temperature and use it within the day.
Questions
Why did my coffee curdle when I added palm jaggery?
Jaggery stirred into milk that is still boiling can make it split. Take the milk off the heat, let it stand for about a minute, then stir in the grated jaggery.
Can I use cane jaggery instead of palm jaggery?
Yes. Use the same amount of grated cane jaggery. The coffee tastes lighter and more like caramel, while palm jaggery gives a deeper, slightly smoky cup.
How much palm jaggery should I add to one cup of coffee?
1 to 2 tsp of grated palm jaggery for 1 cup of milk and 2 tbsp of decoction. Start with 1 tsp, taste, and add more if you like.
Can I make palm jaggery coffee without a coffee filter?
Yes. Dissolve 1 tsp instant coffee in 2 tbsp hot water, use it in place of the decoction and follow the same steps.
