COFFEE - in the microwave

 Have you ever had coffee offered in the big jewellery and saree showrooms in Kerala? When they have the inkling that we are a potential customer, they offer us a nice hot cup of sweet coffee. I just love their coffee. I do not drink coffee frequently but whenever I crave for one , I just take milk and water in a cup , zap it in the microwave and pour it into a mug filled with instant coffee powder and sugar.

INGREDIENTS: These measurements are for 1/2 cup of coffee. Double the ingredients and time for 1 cup

1. 1/4 cup whole milk 
2. 1/4 cup water
3.  1-3/4 tsp. instant coffee powder (I have used Nescafe, Taster's Choice with the arrow between light and medium blend)
4. 2 tsp sugar (depending on your taste and the sweetness of the sugar)
5. salt (just a tad bit)

METHOD

•  Pour the milk and water in a microwavable cup. Microwave for 1 minute 45 seconds at power 6 for 1100 W microwave.
• In a steel mug, put in ingredients 3-5.
  
  
  
  

• Pour the hot milk mixture into the steel mug, to and fro , a number of times, until frothy and finally ending up in the cup. 
• Taste and see. If you feel that its sweet enough but can taste the bitterness of the coffee, add a tad bit more salt.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

• Serve hot.
  

NOTES

• A little bit of salt brings down the bitterness of the coffee powder. When the coffee is slightly bitter, we add more sugar to reduce the bitter taste. Try adding salt. A small amount goes a long way. The taste of the salt should not come up in the coffee. When you taste the coffee, if you can taste the right amount of sweetness but the sweetness is not coming up in your first sip, try adding a little more salt.
• For up to 1 cup of coffee, microwaving works. For more than that use the stove.
• For making coffee on the stove top add 2 tsp water for the above proportions of milk and water and bring to a boil.
• For Bru instant just 1 tsp of coffee powder is enough.
• Is there a difference between boiling the milk-water combination and m/wing it? Yes, there is a slight difference. Boiling brings in more taste, I think it's the milk boiling and condensing a little. 
• For boiling the milk-water solution, go here.