Mastering Dalgona Coffee: Your Guide to the Viral Whipped Coffee (Hot or Cold!)
Dalgona coffee, a visually stunning and incredibly delicious beverage, took the world by storm in 2020, captivating millions across social media platforms. It’s an irresistibly frothy, silky, and delightfully whipped coffee cream, crafted with just four simple ingredients: instant coffee, granulated sugar, and water, then poured over your choice of iced or hot milk. This isn’t just a drink; it’s an experience, a delightful treat that transforms everyday coffee into a luxurious indulgence.
Why This Dalgona Coffee Recipe Will Become Your Favorite
The rise of Dalgona coffee was nothing short of a global phenomenon. It burst onto the scene in early 2020, quickly dominating TikTok feeds and other social media platforms. While it went viral in Korea first, famously named after a traditional Korean honeycomb toffee for its similar appearance, this whipped coffee trend swiftly made its way across continents, gaining immense popularity worldwide. Its appeal is multifaceted: it’s incredibly easy to make, requires minimal ingredients, and offers a luxurious coffee shop experience right in your own home. Whether you crave a comforting warm drink or a refreshing iced pick-me-up, Dalgona coffee can be enjoyed hot or cold, making it versatile for any season.
Our recipe perfects this delightful concoction, creating a coffee experience that rivals any fancy café. Imagine a dense, cloud-like coffee cream, rich and velvety, delicately floating atop your preferred milk. This isn’t just any cold brew iced coffee; it’s an elevated treat defined by its distinctive, fluffy coffee topping. The unique texture and rich flavor profile are truly captivating, making it a must-try for any coffee enthusiast. The satisfying contrast between the sweet, robust coffee foam and the creamy milk below is simply unforgettable – once you try it, you’ll understand why it became such a sensation!
Simple Ingredients for the Best Dalgona Coffee
Making Dalgona coffee is surprisingly straightforward, thanks to its minimal ingredient list. You likely have most of these staples in your pantry already! For precise measurements, detailed instructions, and nutritional information, refer to the printable recipe card at the end of this post.
Ingredient Spotlight: Tips for Success & Substitutions
- Instant Coffee: The Star Ingredient – This recipe hinges on the unique properties of instant coffee granules. Unlike regular ground coffee or beans, instant coffee (which is freeze-dried or spray-dried coffee extract) contains specific proteins and emulsifiers that allow it to whip into a stable foam when combined with sugar and water. Using regular coffee grounds simply won’t yield the same frothy result. You can use instant decaf coffee for a caffeine-free version, or if you prefer a bolder, more intense coffee flavor, instant espresso powder is an excellent choice. Ensure it’s truly “instant” for optimal whipping.
- Sugar: More Than Just Sweetness – Granulated white sugar is highly recommended for this recipe. Beyond adding sweetness, white sugar plays a crucial role in stabilizing the coffee mixture. Its crystalline structure helps create a robust network that traps air, resulting in that wonderfully dense, mousse-like foam. While other sugars like brown sugar can be used, their higher moisture content may lead to a less stable and slightly less fluffy topping. If you’re looking to reduce sugar, you might achieve a less firm foam, but some stability will be lost. Sugar-free alternatives like erythritol or sucralose can work, but again, the texture might be slightly different, often producing a less stable or dense foam.
- Water: The Key to Dissolving and Whipping – The temperature of your water can slightly impact the initial dissolution of coffee and sugar. While some recipes suggest warm water to help dissolve ingredients faster, using cold water (as specified in our recipe card) also works perfectly well and may even help maintain a firmer foam as you whip. The key is to ensure all granules are fully dissolved before intense whipping begins.
- Milk: Your Canvas – The beauty of Dalgona coffee is its versatility with milk. Traditional recipes often use cow’s milk, but feel free to experiment with your favorite dairy or non-dairy alternatives. Almond milk, oat milk, soy milk, and even coconut milk can create delicious variations, each adding its own subtle flavor profile. Adjust the sweetness of the whipped coffee accordingly if your milk is already sweetened.
Step-by-Step Guide: How to Make Dalgona Coffee
These step-by-step photos and instructions are designed to help you visualize the process of making this viral coffee. For the complete, printable version of this recipe, including exact measurements and detailed instructions, simply Jump to Recipe at the bottom of this page.
Making Dalgona coffee is a rewarding process that transforms simple ingredients into a gourmet beverage. The magic happens during the whipping, as air is incorporated into the coffee, sugar, and water mixture, creating a light yet stable foam. Here’s how to achieve that perfect, cloud-like topping:
- Combine and Whisk with Vigor: In a medium-sized mixing bowl, combine the instant coffee, granulated sugar, and cold water. Now comes the fun part – whisking! You’ll need to whisk vigorously. The mixture will initially be thin and dark, but with continuous effort, it will gradually lighten in color and begin to thicken. Keep whisking until it transforms into a shiny, smooth, and incredibly voluminous cream with a mousse-like structure. This is where patience is key; it can take a surprisingly long time, typically around 8 to 10 minutes, especially if you’re whisking by hand. Don’t be discouraged by the initial lack of change; trust the process!
If manual whisking becomes too tiring, or if you simply prefer a quicker method, a hand mixer or a hand frother will drastically cut down the whipping time, often achieving the desired consistency in just 2-4 minutes. You’ll know it’s ready when the cream holds stiff peaks and doesn’t easily dissolve back into liquid.
- Assemble Your Masterpiece: Once your coffee cream is perfectly whipped, it’s time to assemble your drink. Fill a glass with your desired amount of ice (if making it cold) and then pour in your milk of choice. Finally, gently spoon a generous dollop (or two!) of the frothy coffee cream over the top of the milk. The visual contrast between the dark, whipped coffee and the light milk is part of Dalgona’s charm.
Stir before drinking to combine the layers and enjoy the full, creamy coffee experience. Don’t forget to take a picture for your own social media! This drink is as Instagram-worthy as it is delicious.
Frequently Asked Questions & Expert Tips for Dalgona Success
Making this whipped coffee hot is incredibly simple! Instead of pouring the coffee cream over cold milk and ice, just warm your preferred milk (dairy or non-dairy) in a mug. Then, spoon the frothy Dalgona coffee cream directly over the hot milk. Stir gently to combine the rich foam with the warm milk, and enjoy a cozy, comforting beverage. It’s just as delightful hot as it is cold!
While sugar isn’t absolutely mandatory, we highly recommend using it. Granulated sugar is the crucial component that helps stabilize the coffee mixture, allowing it to whip into that dense, creamy, and long-lasting foam. If you choose to omit sugar entirely, or use a sugar substitute, you might find that the topping won’t be as fluffy, thick, or stable. It may have a looser, more liquid consistency. For the signature Dalgona texture, sugar is your best friend!
There are a few common reasons:
- Not Instant Coffee: Ensure you are using true instant coffee, not regular ground coffee or espresso powder meant for brewing.
- Ratio Issues: Stick to the equal parts ratio (coffee, sugar, water) for best results.
- Lack of Vigor/Time: If whisking by hand, it requires significant and continuous effort for 8-10 minutes. Don’t stop too soon! An electric hand mixer makes this much easier and quicker.
- Sugar Substitute Problems: Some sugar substitutes might not provide the same structural integrity as granulated sugar, leading to a less stable foam.
Absolutely! Dalgona coffee is incredibly easy to make vegan. The whipped coffee topping itself is naturally vegan (instant coffee, sugar, water). Simply serve it over your favorite non-dairy milk, such as almond milk, oat milk, soy milk, or coconut milk. The taste and texture will be just as delightful!
If you have any leftover whipped coffee cream, you can store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2-3 days. When you’re ready to use it again, you might need to give it a quick whisk by hand for about 30 seconds to restore its frothy texture before spooning it over fresh milk.
Creative Ways to Enjoy Your Dalgona Coffee
Dalgona coffee is fantastic served simply, hot or cold, but you can also elevate the experience with a few creative touches. Enjoy it alongside sweet biscuits or cookies for dipping into the rich coffee cream, creating a delightful afternoon treat. For an even more decadent experience, try adding 1-2 tablespoons of a coffee liqueur like Kahlua or Baileys to your milk before topping with the Dalgona cream. You can also garnish your drink with a dash of ground cinnamon, a sprinkle of cocoa powder, or a pinch of pumpkin spice for an aromatic twist. A drizzle of caramel or chocolate syrup inside the glass before adding milk also adds a beautiful visual and flavor layer. Don’t be afraid to experiment and make it your own!
Explore More Delicious Coffee Recipes
- Irish Coffee
- Baileys Coffee Float
- Kahlua Frappuccino
- Salted Caramel Coffee Cocktail
- Homemade Mocha Frappuccinos
- Loaded Coffee Breakfast Smoothie
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Dalgona Coffee
IMPORTANT – There are often Frequently Asked Questions within the blog post that you may find helpful. Simply scroll back up to read them!
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Ingredients
- 6 Tbsp granulated sugar
- 6 Tbsp instant coffee
- 6 Tbsp cold water
- ice
- milk
Things You’ll Need
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Whisk
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Mixing bowl
Before You Begin
- Use instant (or decaf) coffee, not regular coffee grounds/beans. The drying process of instant coffee has much to do with the outcome of the frothy consistency. You can also use instant espresso if you like your coffee stronger.
- The nutrition facts listed does NOT include the milk. Refer to the serving size on your carton or jug when pouring.
- This recipe should yield 2-3 coffees.
- I recommend granulated white sugar, as that’s what we have tried and had success with. The white sugar stabilizes the mixture and creates a nice dense foam. Other sugars like brown sugar contain more moisture but can still be used – just know the frothy topping will not be as stable.
- Try adding 1-2 tablespoons of Kahlua to your milk or top with a dash of cinnamon, cocoa powder, or pumpkin spice.
Instructions
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In a medium bowl, combine sugar, instant coffee and water. Whisk vigorously until you form a shiny and smooth mixture (coffee cream), with a mousse-like structure. It will take a considerably long time (around 8 to 10 minutes) to reach a mousse-like structure, be patient. If whisking tires you, use a hand mixer.
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Fill a glass with ice and milk and top off with a dollop of the coffee cream.
Nutrition
The recipes on this blog are tested with a conventional gas oven and gas stovetop. It’s important to note that some ovens, especially as they age, can cook and bake inconsistently. Using an inexpensive oven thermometer can assure you that your oven is truly heating to the proper temperature. If you use a toaster oven or countertop oven, please keep in mind that they may not distribute heat the same as a conventional full sized oven and you may need to adjust your cooking/baking times. In the case of recipes made with a pressure cooker, air fryer, slow cooker, or other appliance, a link to the appliances we use is listed within each respective recipe. For baking recipes where measurements are given by weight, please note that results may not be the same if cups are used instead, and we can’t guarantee success with that method.
Dalgona coffee isn’t just a trend; it’s a testament to how simple ingredients can create something extraordinary and universally loved. Whether you’re making it for a special occasion or just to treat yourself, this whipped coffee provides a delightful escape with every sip. Enjoy the process of crafting your own perfect Dalgona, and savor the rich, creamy goodness. Happy brewing!