Dalgona Coffee
What is Dalgona Coffee?
Dalgona coffee is a type of cold brew beverage made using instant coffee, sugar, water, and cream or milk. It gets its name from a traditional Korean honeycomb-shaped toffee called “dalgona” which has a similar flavor and texture to the finished product.
After mixing all four ingredients together into a bowl or cup, you must vigorously whisk them for several minutes until they form stiff peaks. The resulting foam should have an even layer of light brown bubbles on top.
About Dalgona Coffee
| Coffee Base | espresso powder |
| Added Water | yes – 1:1 espresso powder and hot water |
| Coffee : Milk Ratio | 1 tablespoon espresso powder : 1 cup milk |
| Type of Milk | hot or cold milk or nut milk |
| Cup | clear mug or glass |
| Supplies | espresso powder, milk, sugar |
| Sugar or Added Flavors | 1 tablespoon sugar |
| Notes | this is a warm or cold drink based on the milk layer |
What’s In Dalgona Coffee?
Making Dalgona coffee is surprisingly simple and requires only four ingredients. All you need are instant coffee powder, sugar, hot water, and either cream or milk. The coffee, sugar, and water are whipped to resemble whipped cream. Then, the cream is dolloped over a glass of warm or cold milk (see the recipe below).
What Type of Coffee is Best for Preparing Whipped Coffee?
For best results when making Dalgona coffee, we recommend using high-quality instant espresso powder. it will give your drink an authentic café flavor without any bitterness or grittiness that may come along with regular store-bought instant coffee products.
What Are the Best Types of Cups for Whipped Coffee?
When serving up Dalgona coffees at home, use clear glassware so that everyone can admire the beautiful layers inside their drinks. It’s a two-layer beverage with liquidy cold (or hot) milk at the bottom and a fluffy, frothy topping on top.
We recommend using tall tumblers or sundae glasses if available, as they’ll provide plenty of space for each component while still giving off an elegant presentation. If you don’t have glass coffee mugs, tumblers, or sundae glasses, any type of tall drinking glass will do just fine.
Dalgona coffee first became popular in 2019 when the South Korean television show “Pyunstorang” featured the drink. The timing was spot on, as making the unique beverage was a way to pass the time at home during Covid lockdowns.
Recipe
Dalgona Coffee – Whipped Coffee
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon espresso powder (or instant coffee)
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1 tablespoon hot water (just under boiling)
- 1 cup hot or cold milk
Instructions
- Grab a bowl, whisk, and glass coffee mug
- Add the espresso, sugar, and boiling hot water to the bowl
- Whip the mixture for about 3 to 5 minutes until it has a whipped cream consistency (note: you can use a hand mixer, but you get more control (and exercise) from the hand whisk
- Pour anywhere from 3/4 to 1 cup of cold or warm milk into the glass cup
- Dollop the whipped coffee mixture on top until the glass is filled (and then some!)
Notes
- You can make variations with add-ins like cocoa powder or vanilla extract
- If you prefer a cold Dalgona, add a few ice cubes into the milk before you top with the coffee mixture
Frequently Asked Questions
Dalgona Coffee is also called Whipped Coffee. It’s a two-layered beverage with milk on the bottom and a whipped, sweet coffee topping made from instant espresso, sugar, and boiling water.
As a result of a South Korean television show, “Pyunstorang,” Dalgona coffee gained popularity in 2019. The name Dalgona comes from a simple Korean honeycomb-shaped candy.
Whipped Coffee (also called Dalgona Coffee) can be served warm or hot. The first layer can be either iced cold milk (with or without ice) or scalded to near-boiling. The whipped topping keeps its consistency with cold milk, though.
