Desi Coffee / Indian Espresso - by him!

ere is a instant coffee recipe that is now on top of my list of recipes for coffee based drinks. The other day on a lazy sunday afternoon we felt like some hot coffee. Just when I was about to put a pot on, hubby out-of-the-blue asked if I had any instant coffee. He had suddenly recalled how him and his hostel buddies used to make instant coffee during college days.

There is no way I am ever going to drink hot coffee any other way now. I am so hooked. It is special also as I believe somehow it makes me a part of those days when he was in college (of course I gave him a hard time about what took him all these years to get reminded of it :) Besides the emotional aspect of it, I was also enamored by the details of the steps involved in getting it perfect.

Let me tell you that this coffee is the way coffee is done in Indian households (except with his twist in the whisking process). If you have lived outside of India for a while and your taste buds have gotten used to the bitter black coffee (or for that matter have never tasted 'Indian coffee'), this may take a little getting used to. This coffee is much lighter in color, is sweet, is milk based and is totally out of this world good.

Here's how the coffee changes as you whisk-

Ingredients:

Instant Coffee Powder ...................... 2 tbsp (I use Nescafe)

Sugar .......................................... 1 tbsp + 2 tbsp for serving (adjust to taste)

Milk ............................................ 2 cups + 2 tbsp (any kind you like, I used 2%)

Method:

1. Take coffee powder in a glass or cup with a narrow mouth. Add 1 tbsp of sugar and 2 tbsp of warm milk. Hand-whisk the mixture using briskly with a stainless steel spoon for about 10 minutes till the dark brown coffee mixture turns to a bright copper color and becomes frothy and creamy (see pictures above).

2. Heat two cups of milk till boiling hot. Pour into coffee mugs. Add one tbsp of the coffee mixture to each mug and mix with a spoon till completely dissolved. Add sugar and mix. Taste for coffee strength and sweetness and adjust with more coffee mixture and/or sugar per your taste. Serve. ENJOY!

Notes:

1. Using a stainless steel spoon for whisking is important. Do not use a plastic spoon.

2. For whisking, use a cup or glass with a narrow mouth. This helps to avoid splashing of the mixture.

3. Hand-whisking for 10 minutes takes a little effort but its totally worth it, you can take my word on it! But if you really don't want to put in the effort, you can always use the little motorized whisks they sell in the stores for about three to four bucks. Remember to use the one with the metal which though and not the plastic one.

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