Looking for a delicious coffee drink? Dalgona coffee is a whipped, frothy iced coffee drink made with instant coffee, sugar, water, and milk. This drink is rich and creamy. You will love the sweet coffee flavor.
Looking for some more coffee inspiration? ~ Check out this Dairy Free Iced Bulletproof Coffee Latte
What is Dalgona Coffee?
Also known as "whipped coffee", "frothy coffee", or "fluffy coffee", Dalgona coffee has two distinct layers made from whipped coffee cream sitting on top of iced milk.
Dalgona coffee is a coffee drink that is made from instant coffee, sugar, water, and milk. Ok, that sounds like most cups of coffee but what makes this drink different is how it is made. It is the process of whipping together the instant coffee crystals with sugar and hot water that makes the creamy, like whipped cream, layers of sweet coffee that sit on top of cold milk. To most, it is the presentation of the drink that makes this drink so special. The fluffy coffee or frothy coffee layer just floats on top of the milk as it is so airy.
What does Dalgona coffee taste like?
To describe this delicious drink called Dalgona coffee, I would compare it to a fancy coffee shop drink like a Frappuccino but not as thick. So maybe it is like a thick, cold coffee latte. Think of the creamy top part of the whipped coffee as a scoop of coffee-flavored whipped cream and the bottom layer as ice-cold milk. When you blend the two layers together, you get a sweet creamy coffee drink.
How did this Dalgona coffee craze get started?
The viral Dalgona coffee trend that had everyone on Facebook and TikTok showing off their whipped coffee drinks did not start in the United States. This do-it-yourself coffee drink started in South Korea at the beginning of 2020 after Jung Il-woo, a South Korean actor, ordered a whipped coffee at an eatery in Macau and he likened the taste to that of Dalgona, a type of Korean candy
This got folks in South Korea stuck at home making this whipped coffee since they could not get their favorite coffee drinks at local coffee houses. Since these people had plenty of time on their hands, they shared short video tutorials on how to make Dalgona coffee on TikTok and Instagram using the hashtags #dalgonacoffee. The whipped coffee trend hit the internet in the US in March, just as folks were following social distancing rules.
Why is it called Dalgona coffee?
Dalgona coffee gets its name from Dalgona, a spongy South Korean coffee candy. The candy has a light caramel-colored bubbly texture, which looks like the coffee foam of the Dalgona whipped coffee. This sweet candy has a toffee flavor or caramel flavor. This sweet Dalgona candy is a popular treat in Korea.
Ingredients needed to make Dalgona Coffee
~ Instant coffee ~ My favorite instant coffee
~ Sugar, granulated, works best
~ Hot water
~ Ice
~ Milk or plant-based milk
~ A whisk, electric mixer, or stand mixer
How to make Dalgona coffee
Making whipped coffee is quite simple. All you need to do is combine the instant coffee, sugar, and hot water in a bowl. Then whip the ingredients together until they are light in color and resemble whipped cream texture. There are several ways to whip up the ingredients. You can use a whisk, an electric mixer, or a stand mixer. I recommend placing the ingredients in a small bowl and mixing them first with a spoon so the coffee and sugar dissolve together in the hot water.
Since the process of whipping the ingredients can take 5-7 minutes, I recommend using the stand mixer or electric mixer. The ingredients will start out thin and dark like a cup of coffee but will gradually start to get thicker and lighter. The whipped coffee mixture is done once it looks like a light brown whipped topping.
Then you fill a glass with cold milk, some people like to add ice cubes, and use a rubber spatula to spoon half or more of the whipped coffee mixture onto the cold milk. This recipe will make one to two drinks. It will look so pretty.
How to drink the whipped coffee drink
Drinking the whipped coffee drink is a matter of preference. If you like your coffee strong, then drink this coffee as is. The coffee whipped topping has a strong coffee taste and is bitter. If strong coffee is not your thing, then stir the whipped coffee into the glass of milk for a delightful coffee and milk drink.
Dalgona whipped coffee tips and questions
Can I use ground coffee or brewed coffee? ~ This recipe will not work with ground coffee or brewed coffee. It only works with instant coffee crystals or powder.
Can I use plant-based milk? ~ You can use any type of milk that you like, and that includes plant-based milk like almond milk. The secret to this recipe is in the whipped coffee layer, and this layer will blend in nicely with any milk. I used unsweetened almond milk for my drink, and as you can see in the photos, it looks perfect.
Can I use cold water? ~ Cold water will not work as the hot water helps dissolve both the instant coffee and the sugar more quickly, helping it whip up into its foamy state. I boiled my water in a tea kettle, but you can use a microwave.
Can I use other types of sugar? ~ Granular sugar works best, but I have heard that other people had good results with brown sugar, coconut sugar, and monk fruit. These types of sugar may not produce a light and fluffy coffee whip.
Can I store this in the fridge for later? ~ While you can save any leftover whipped coffee in the fridge for later, it will return to its liquid state and will have to be whipped again. So I don't recommend this.
How much does this recipe make? ~ This recipe uses instant coffee, which equals two cups of coffee, so if you like a strong coffee taste, use all of the coffee cream on a glass of milk. If you like a milder taste of coffee, use half of the coffee topping.
Dalgona Whipped Coffee
Yield ~ 1 serving
Ingredients
2 Tablespoons instant coffee granules
2 Tablespoons granulated sugar
2 Tablespoons hot boiling water
½ cup ice
1 cup milk or plant-based milk of your choice
Instructions
In a small bowl or the stand mixer bowl, use the whisk attachment to combine the coffee, sugar, and hot water.
Immediately whisk on medium-high speed until light, airy, and doubled in volume, about 4-5 minutes.
If using a handheld whisk, quickly whisk the ingredients together. This may take 5-7 minutes.
If using an electric mixer, combine on medium-high speed for 4-5 minutes.
Serve immediately. Pour the milk over the ice in a tall glass. Use a rubber spatula to place the coffee cream over the milk. To enjoy the drink, lightly mix the coffee cream with the cold milk.
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Check out how to make an even creamier whipped coffee cream that can be used for frosting a cake and more. This Dairy-Free Magic Coffee Whipped Cream uses ice water instead of hot water. It is so thick and creamy. It also stores in the freezer for several weeks. Get the amazing Magic Whipped Coffee Cream HERE!
