How to Make the Famous Dalgona Coffee

Nowadays, TikTok makes everything go viral, even coffee recipes. Dalgona coffee became popular worldwide on TikTok and today you will learn what it is and how to make it.

What is Dalgona Coffee?

Dalgona coffee (also known as Whipped Coffee or Fluffy Coffee) is a very popular coffee on social media and very easy to make. It is a creamy, fluffy coffee made with instant coffee and added to milk with ice. It is perfect as a refreshing summer drink or just for any time of the day when you want to enjoy a new taste and texture. 

The great thing about this recipe is that it is very versatile and you can make it according to your tastes and preferences. You can decorate it with different toppings and even use plant-based milk if you don’t drink whole milk.  

History of Dalgona coffee

Dalgona coffee is the result of a creative invention. It was created during quarantine and being at home in 2020. Yes, this recipe went viral during the time of Covid-19 in South Korea! Aside from being easy to make, this coffee is perfect for those who like uploading photos and stories to social media because of its aesthetic presentation. 

Visually, the drink is very eye-catching because of its two layers. First, a white milk layer, and second, the layer of frothed instant coffee that can be served in a cone shape for a more fun appearance. 

And like many Korean innovations, this one spread worldwide. Why is the coffee called Dalgona and where does the name come from? Well, in Korea there is a very famous and traditional sweet called Dalgona. Since the taste of this coffee is so similar to that of this candy, it was given the same name. 

And who was the name giver? A famous Korean actor named Jung Il-Woo tried it in Macau while filming a show. While doing so, he said it reminded him a lot of the traditional sweet dalgona from his childhood. From that moment on, this coffee revolutionized the digital world. 

Ingredients for Dalgona coffee

  • 2 spoonfuls of instant coffee of your choice
  • 2 tablespoons of sugar 
  • 2 tablespoons of hot water
  • 200 ml milk of your choice 
  • Ice

How to make Dalgona coffee?

  • Add instant coffee, sugar, and water in a deep container or bowl.
  • Using a hand or electric whisk, mix everything well until you get a thick, frothy consistency. 
  • Pour ice into a tall glass and top with milk.
  • Add the coffee foam.
  • Enjoy!

Tips for making a good Dalgona coffee

Whip the coffee

Perhaps the most difficult part of this recipe is whipping the coffee to the right consistency. This process can take up to 10 minutes if you do it manually. This time can change depending on the speed and intensity of the whipping. If this is the case, we recommend using a whisk instead of a fork. 

Do this on a surface that is at a convenient height for you and take a comfortable position. This way you will not get tired when whipping your coffee. 

The coffee

What is special about this recipe is that it involves instant coffee. This gives it its thick, frothy consistency in the end. A great advantage of this is that you can customize your drink. If you want, you can also use a different flavor than classic coffee, such as vanilla, caramel, amaretto, etc. 

Milk

As we’ve seen with other coffee recipes, coffee really does go with just about everything. The upside of this recipe is that you can choose what milk to add.

Usually, regular cow’s milk is used, but that’s not a strict rule. If you want, you can use any type of cow’s milk (lactose-free, skim, etc.), almond milk, soy milk, coconut milk, and many others. So, as mentioned above, it can also be suitable for vegans and people with other animal-free diets.  

Additional flavors and decoration

Just because it’s a simple recipe doesn’t mean it has to be boring and unhealthy. That’s why you can make it extra special. The classic recipe is made with white sugar, but you can also use brown sugar or another sweetener like stevia. If you don’t want to add sugar, that’s fine too.

When the drink is ready, you can give it a special touch with decorations. Add some grated chocolate, chocolate chips, cinnamon powder or cocoa on top. 

If there is a simple, but definitely delicious and innovative coffee preparation, it is Dalgona coffee. As we could see, you only need a few ingredients and you can make it at any time of the day. It is a coffee that can be enjoyed alone, but also with a snack or a dessert.

And since we know you like to experiment with innovative coffee recipes, you can’t miss the frappuccino and nitro coffee recipes either.