▶ Watch Siddhi make it
Tandoori Coffee, step by step on video
See how to heat the kulhad evenly on the flame, and watch the coffee bubble as it is poured into the hot clay cup.
4:34 · Recipe video · Cooking with Siddhi
Tandoori Coffee is a unique, smoky flavoured coffee inspired by the tandoori chai that became famous at Chai La in Pune. Milk, sugar and coffee powder are simmered together, then poured into a clay kulhad that has been heated on the flame.
The coffee bubbles up as it hits the hot kulhad, and you get a smoky flavoured coffee. It is really easy to make at home with just a clay cup and three ingredients.
Every recipe on Cooking with Siddhi is cooked in my own kitchen before it goes live.

Why you will love tandoori coffee
- Smoky flavour: from the very hot clay kulhad.
- Just three ingredients: milk, sugar and coffee powder.
- Fun to make: watch the coffee bubble in the kulhad.
- Inspired by Pune: a coffee twist on famous tandoori chai.
Ingredient notes
- Kulhad: a clay or earthen cup, washed clean and dried before heating.
- Coffee powder: 1/2 tbsp, simmered with the milk and sugar.
- Milk: 1 cup.
- Steel vessel: stand the hot kulhad in a steel vessel before pouring in the coffee.
Tandoori Coffee Recipe
A smoky, frothy milk coffee: milk, sugar and coffee powder simmered together, then poured into a kulhad heated on the flame so it bubbles up.
Ingredients
- 1 cup milk
- 1 tbsp sugar
- 1/2 tbsp coffee powder
- 1 clay or earthen cup (kulhad)
Instructions
- Prepare the kulhad. Wash the clay cup clean and dry it.
- Heat the kulhad. Turn on the flame, place the kulhad on top of it and let it heat evenly from all sides.
- Make the coffee. Meanwhile, heat a steel vessel and add the milk, sugar and coffee powder.
- Simmer. Lower the flame and let the coffee simmer well.
- Keep turning the kulhad. On the other stove, keep turning the sides of the kulhad so it heats evenly.
- Take the coffee off. When the coffee comes to a boil, turn off the flame and set the vessel aside.
- Heat the kulhad upside down. Move the kulhad to the stove you made the coffee on, turn it upside down and heat it on a full flame for a minute.
- Set the kulhad in a vessel. Switch off the flame and place the hot kulhad, facing upwards, in a steel vessel.
- Pour. Pour all the coffee directly into the kulhad. You will see it bubbling because of the heat the kulhad has absorbed.
- Serve. Once the bubbling stops, remove the kulhad, transfer the coffee to a cup and serve.
Nutrition Facts
2 servings per recipe
Serving size1 serving (½ recipe)
| Nutrient | % Daily Value* |
|---|---|
| Total Fat 4 g | 5% |
| Saturated Fat 2 g | 10% |
| Cholesterol 12 mg | 4% |
| Sodium 53 mg | 2% |
| Total Carbohydrate 13 g | 5% |
| Total Sugars 12 g | |
| Protein 4 g | |
| Vitamin A 198 IU | |
| Calcium 138 mg | 11% |
| Potassium 205 mg | 4% |
* The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in one serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
Values are approximate and calculated from the ingredients listed. The actual amounts depend on the brands you use and the milk you use.
Recipe by Siddhi Panchal.
Tips for perfect tandoori coffee
- Wash and dry the kulhad before you heat it.
- Keep turning the kulhad so it heats evenly from all sides.
- Heat it upside down on a full flame for a minute just before pouring.
- Stand the hot kulhad in a steel vessel before you pour in the coffee.
What to serve with Tandoori Coffee
Transfer the coffee from the kulhad to a cup and serve hot. For more hot drinks, try my Adrak Masala Chai and Hot Chocolate.
Tandoori Coffee FAQs
What is tandoori coffee?
A smoky flavoured coffee inspired by the tandoori chai made famous at Chai La in Pune. Hot milk coffee is poured into a clay kulhad heated on the flame.
Why does the coffee bubble in the kulhad?
Because of the heat the kulhad absorbs on the flame.
What do I need to make it?
Milk, sugar, coffee powder and a clay or earthen cup (kulhad).
Where do I put the hot kulhad?
Switch off the flame and place it, facing upwards, in a steel vessel before pouring in the coffee.
How many does this recipe serve?
It serves 2, at about 102 kcal per serving.
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