Dalgona Coffee: the creamy and very delicious drink

You’ve probably seen the frothy drink splashed across your social media feeds: creamy milk topped with a cloud of whipped coffee. What is it? It’s Dalgona Coffee: a drink craze that’s just as fun (and easy) to make as it is to enjoy.

You need just four simple ingredients, including water, to make whipped coffee at home. So what are you waiting for? Give it a try with this quick and easy recipe.

What is Dalgona Coffee?

Dalgona Coffee is a whipped coffee drink that originated in South Korea and quickly became popular throughout the world. It spread like wildfire as videos and delicious pictures of the drink proliferated online. Soon, everyone wanted to make their own whipped coffee drink at home. And luckily, it’s quick and easy to make and every bit as satisfying as it looks.

The word “dalgona” refers to the flavor of another popular Korean coffee drink, called honeycomb coffee. However, classic Dalgona Coffee, like we’re making today, has its own simple and classic flavor: just coffee and milk, sweetened with a bit of sugar for a just-sweet-enough hit of caffeine any time of day.

Steps to Make Easy Dalgona Coffee

In a mixing bowl, measure out 60 grams of granulated sugar.

Add 60 grams of instant coffee and stir to combine.

Stir in 60 grams of hot water.

Use an electric mixer to beat the sugar, water and coffee until they’re light and fluffy.

Pour warm milk into serving glasses.

Top with the whipped coffee mixture.

Enjoy!

Ingredients

Here are the simple ingredients you need to make your own Dalgona coffee in minutes:

• 60 grams white sugar, which helps the coffee stay light, frothy and whipped to perfection. Plus, it adds the necessary sweetness to cut some of coffee’s bitter taste.
• 60 grams instant coffee, which flavors the drink and quickly dissolves into the hot water to turn into a light and smooth foam.
• 60 grams hot water, which is necessary to dissolve the sugar and instant coffee. Make sure the water is nice and hot (as if you were brewing coffee), which helps things dissolve quickly.
• Warm milk, which you’ll spoon the whipped coffee mixture over before enjoying your masterpiece. You can warm the milk in the microwave or on the stove in a small saucepan. Just be sure to watch the milk and avoid boiling, as dairy products can separate if they boil.

What Kind of Milk Should I use?

The great part about this recipe is that you can make it your own. You can make a dairy-free Dalgona Coffee by substituting cow’s milk with your favorite plant-based alternative. Warm up a cup of almond milk, oat milk, soy milk, or hemp milk. Any will be delicious underneath a pillow of fluffy whipped coffee.

You can even flavor the milk if you like. For example, stir in a dash of vanilla or almond extract to give the drink a nutty flavor. Or, a sprinkle of cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice for a warming take on a classic pumpkin spiced latte. Why not make the drink even more decadent with a teaspoon of unsweetened cocoa powder to turn your Dalgona Coffee into a take on a mocha?

What Kind of Instant Coffee is Best?

Use your favorite brand of instant coffee. However, you may want to avoid instant espresso, which can be very bitter tasting. For caffeine-free Dalgona Coffee, you can choose decaf instant coffee with no changes to the recipe.

Equipment for Homemade Dalgona Coffee

While you can make Dalgona Coffee without any special equipment, it does take a fair bit of whipping. So to save your arm, it’s best to use an electric mixer and a sturdy mixing bowl. If you have a stand mixer, opt for the whisk attachment. Otherwise, a regular hand-held mixer will do the trick.

Other than a mixer or a whisk, you don’t need any special equipment to make your own whipped coffee.

Can I Make Dalgona Coffee Without an Electric Mixer?

Yes, you can make whipped coffee by hand. Get out a whisk and use it! If you have an egg beater, that can help reduce the strain on your arm. But in truth, there’s no getting around the fact that making light and fluffy Dalgona Coffee takes some serious mixing.  Luckily, it’s worth the effort!