Madras Filter Kapi in Iyengar coffee house

Story of Iyenger coffee house

There is an old Iyengar coffee house in the neighbourhood that I dare you to walk past without stopping and popping in for their rich Madras Filter Kapi. I have not been successful, ever. The aroma of the Kapi arrests you on the road. It is strong and distracting. Arabica coffee beans add to the aroma of chicory. An old hand in the kitchen brews the coffee in a brass percolator. Do you know the trick behind this drink? It lies in the process of how the coffee beans roast, ground, then brew. The magic lies in its serving.

The waiter brings the Kapi to the table in a small brass glass and dabara, which is a saucer of sorts. Then he whips up a froth, cooling the Kapi by spilling it from the glass to the dabara and dabara to the glass, without losing a drop, the distance between both increasing, until the arc gets to a meter long. I understand in some parts of Tamil Nadu this coffee is also known as Metre Kapi. It is a ritual I find fascinating. Like watching a show bartender mixing and shaking an exotic cocktail.

There are several things to like about Madras Filter Kapi. It is less than a quarter the price of a Starbucks Cappuccino or Mocha. Or a Frappe, Latte, or Espresso at Café Coffee Day. It is unpretentious. Rich in aroma, strong in flavour, smooth in texture. And after the razzmatazz in its serving, the Kapi is savouring as the most indulgent drink. The coffee house is humble. It has no free WiFi to dawdle over. You finish your Kapi and go. The next customer is already waiting.

About Mark Manuel

The above thoughts/content has been proudly copied from the wall of Sir Mark Manuel. Being interviewing almost every role model of this country and going stronger each day. Mark Manuel is a respected Mumbai editor, writer, and columnist.

With over three decades of journalism in leading publications. This includes the Free Press Journal, Times, Dainik Bhaskar, Mid-Day, and Afternoon. He is famous for his brilliant pen interviews. He himself is a TEDx speaker.

Further

His interviews have featured in several leading media houses. They include the Hindustan Times, Huffington Post, BBC, and Network 18. Almost every famous person has been interviewed by him. In the country from Mother Teresa to Muhammad Ali. His first book is just out. It’s titled Moryaa Re! It is a crime thriller that is perhaps the country’s first police procedural. He began his career covering crime. And in a tribute to his experience and knowledge of this beat.

Several distinguished officers of the Mumbai Police and its Crime Branch collaborated with him to make this book possible. In a statement of friendship for Mark Manuel and admiration for his work, Amitabh Bachchan wrote the forward.

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