Drinks · India

Madras Filter Coffee

Name: Madras Filter Coffee
Total time: 40 min
Yield: 1
Cuisine: India
Ingredients: ¼ cup water; ½–2 tsp instant coffee with chicory root; ¾ cup milk; Sugar (optional)

Traditional Madras filter coffee requires the use of specific fresh-roasted coffee beans and chicory roots, which are not always available outside India. This recipe uses Indian instant coffee that has chicory in it, which is available in some Indian stores and supermarkets. Nestle Bru instant coffee has 30% chicory added and in general has a near enough taste to authentic Madras filter coffee.

Published October 16, 2026

EST. TOTAL TIME40 min

DIFFICULTYEasy

SERVES1

Time and difficulty are editorial estimates; allow extra time for your equipment and experience.

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What you’ll need

Tap an ingredient as you get it ready.

¼ cup water
½–2 tsp instant coffee with chicory root
¾ cup milk
Sugar (optional)

Let’s make it

Step 1
Bring the water to a boil, and stir in the coffee. Ensure there are no lumps.
Step 2
Bring the milk to a boil.
Step 3
Add the coffee mixture to the milk, and sweeten with sugar to taste.
Step 4
While the coffee is still boiling hot, pour it into a mug or, preferably, a stainless steel tumbler. While pouring the coffee, slowly raise the saucepan so the coffee falls into the mug from a height of about 1–1½ ft. This will cause the coffee to froth like espresso.
Step 5
If desired, you can dip a teaspoon in the coffee and lightly spread a few drops of it over the froth in the mug.

Madras Filter Coffee

What you’ll need

Let’s make it

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