Jump to the Phitti Hui Coffee Recipe
Do you remember the 2002 Football World Cup? I do. Brazil played Germany, winning 2-0. Do you know what I remember most?
(rant alert)
What I remember most is getting up every 2 minutes to make a fresh batch of cookies or whip up another cup of coffee for the people we had over to watch the game. With my father, the ever generous host, if you turn down his offer for tea then you must want green tea. If you turn down his offer for green tea, then you must want coffee. If you want none of the above then it is difficult to process and so the cycle of insistence resumes. After pulling out my fourth tray of chocolate chip cookies and spending an inordinate amount of time "whipping" coffee in a metal spoon with a mug, two cups at a time, my brother Amir had had enough. He loudly announced that everyone was done having coffee and cookies so that I could sit down and watch the game. I don't think my father was impressed, but I was quite relieved.
I was also especially relieved when my practical enterprising mother discovered that you can actually make this coffee with an electric beater/ hand mixer in a larger quantity and just keep it in the fridge. Suddenly that annoying tinging noise of spoon against enamel bowl and the hand cramps were a thing of the past. Now when I know I will need it I whip it up and store it in the fridge, mixing it and tweaking it for guests. That friend who has some coffee in her sugar gets a little extra sugar added in. For myself it's an extra sprinkling of instant and so on.
Now I have struggled a little with what to call this recipe. In my family we always see "phitti hui coffee" which means coffee that has been whipped. In Pakistan you can get often get this drink from machines delightfully marked "expresso", but that is a misnomer as well. Nida, a cousin (and one of the sweetest people I know), suggested Pakistani Latte so I am going with that. Whatever you call it this smooth, sweet drink is the perfect way to combat winter blahs.
- ¼ cup instant coffee granules
- 6 tbsp caster sugar
- 6 tbsp just boiled water
- Additional Milk and Water for making the coffee.
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Put the coffee, sugar and 2 tbsp of the hot water in a medium bowl and beat on medium for a full two minutes. The sugar will start to dissolve and the mixture will become much lighter
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Add a tbsp more of water, whip on medium high for another minute, then add the water in 1 tbsp increments, whipping for 30 seconds after each until your water is used up/ The mixture will look like a luxurious coffee mousse
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Beat for another minute for additional volume.
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To make the coffee add a generous dollop into a mug, add boiling water and milk as per taste. Mix a little and enjoy. Adjust per taste, adding coffee, sugar or milk as needed.
To make this coffee prettier you can scatter some coffee granules over the top, swirling with a toothpick. This mix makes enough for 4-6 large mugs, but can easily be doubled.
LOL - I think we all remember the arm cramps and the standing in the kitchen phaintofying and phaintofying and phaintofying - I am reminded of your words to me on a previous post - Buss Himmat ki baat hai! Laughing out loud over this post right now -yeh aajkal kay nespresso peenay walon ko kya yaad dila diya! 😃
hahaa I am a Nespresso addict too, but sometimes, sometimes I really want some too sweet "expresso" without the arm wrenching!
Such happy accounts from the past are always a pleasure to read!
Early 2000's was the era when beautifully written, well-directed long plays of PTV, starring Humayon Saeed and Veneeza Ahmad, made our times a bit more memorable!
Those were such wonderful wonderful times! Hope you and yours have been well!
Oh this is bringing so many sweet memories of Pakistani winter and coffee on mall road Murree. Love the beater technique and preparing it in larger batches.
You know when I was writing the piece I really struggled with what perspective to take. Getting off at Mall Road (and you know I just pronounced it maaaalll) in Murree and going to the expresso machine is a time honored tradition. Thanks for popping by xoxo
that looks dreamy. Your description is very apt, a little coffee with your sugar 😉
lol how funny is it that I drink my coffee black 98% of the time, but the other 2% I crave this!
Tried it, Sarah! Loved it. As always, your recipes stand out! The internet really needed this one, so thank you!!
Thanks Izzah! Love that you tried it and liked it!
Hey !so if don't want to consume the whole lot do we can refrigerate or maybe just make it according to our needs?
for sure! I keep it for a week!
This has been on repeat the past two months-winter favorite!!
I can’t wait to try this - thanks for sharing! 😀
5+2 ⭐️ 🌟
thank you!
Hi, I have to say your title is very misleading. For future reference it's best to do your research. This is not just a Pakistani latte as you say. It's also an Indian beverage since generations and in Germany is called a Frappe.
Hope you take this onboard for future recipes
Hi Katy! Thanks for taking the time to share your feedback. I didn't think that I had said that this recipe is "just" made in Pakistan and nowhere else, so sorry if something I said implied that! As I am Pakistani and it is widely made in Pakistan this way that is how I identify it. Just as I identify my curries and daals as Pakistani too. Naturally with our history there is an undeniably strong tie to Indian culture and heritage and I love both the similarities and the differences because they make us who we are! Not sure about the German context, here a Frappe is quite different from this Phitti Coffee we all grew up with! Thanks again - Sarah
I just made this recipe for my wife & I (who also happens to share your name) it definitely brought back some great memories of me having this infamous “desi coffee” in the early 90’s in Lahore. However, I may have messed up the water to milk ratio once the mixture is ready. What ratio do you think works best? Also, I had a darker color compared to yours.
Hi Ayaz!!! I am so happy to hear that you tried it! Ok so for me (who isn't huge on milky coffee) I like 1/3 milk to water. My siblings tend to prefer half half. Re: the colour mine isn't always as light, but typically the beating is what lightens the color. Hope this helps!!
My hubby and I loved it Sara!!!!
That's great! Thank you so much for telling me!
I used the whisk attachment to my immersion blender and it worked wonderfully! Saved my arm haha!
That's great to hear, thanks for sharing!
You know how much I love this recipe! It is an absolute favourite! And it works just as well with brown sugar ❤️
That brown sugar bit blows my mind! I am going to try it too and THANK YOU!
This coffee is a mood, seeing the mosam outside I have to make it right now!!!! ❣️
oh absolutely!!!! hope you make it and love it!