Dalgona Coffee: How to Make the Viral Whipped Coffee

Flavor and Tasting Notes

Dalgona coffee is a whipped coffee made by beating equal parts instant coffee, sugar, and hot water into a thick, fluffy, caramel-colored foam, then spooning it over cold or hot milk. Viral in 2020, it is sweet, airy, and visually striking.

Fluffy & balanced: Dalgona coffee features a thick, sweet foam made from equal parts instant coffee, sugar and hot water whipped to a caramel-colored froth. When spooned over milk, the foam gradually mixes in, delivering a strong coffee sweetness up front followed by creamy milk. The foam has a meringue-like texture with a slight bitterness from the coffee that balances the sugar. The drink can be served hot or iced; the foam sits like a cloud on top, creating a layered visual contrast.

Preparation and Recipe

1. Make the foam: Combine 2 tbsp instant coffee, 2 tbsp granulated sugar and 2 tbsp hot water in a bowl. Whip vigorously with a whisk or electric mixer for 3-5 minutes until stiff peaks form.
2. Prepare milk base: Fill a glass with ice and pour in 1 cup (240 ml) of cold milk (dairy or plant-based). For a hot version, use warmed milk.
3. Assemble: Spoon the whipped coffee foam over the milk. Optionally dust with cocoa powder or cinnamon.
4. Serve immediately: Stir before drinking or leave layered for a two-texture experience.

Variation: Adjust sugar to taste or use flavored instant coffee for variety.

Dialing in and Troubleshooting

• Use instant coffee, not ground coffee, as it whips easily due to its freeze-dried structure.
• The foam may collapse if water is not hot enough or if sugar is reduced; maintain equal ratios for stability.
• For less sweetness, reduce sugar but whip longer.
• Non-dairy milks like oat or almond provide creaminess and complement the foam; avoid very watery milks.
• Make foam ahead and refrigerate; it can hold for a few hours.
• Stir gently to mix foam into milk for consistent flavor.

History and Culture

Dalgona coffee became a global phenomenon in early 2020 when South Korean actor Jung Il-woo tried a whipped coffee in Macau on television and said it resembled the Korean honeycomb toffee “dalgona”. The drink uses equal parts instant coffee, sugar and hot water whipped into a foam and served over milk. Social media challenges during lockdown popularized the drink worldwide, but the technique is similar to Indian beaten coffee and Pakistani phitti hui. The combination of whipped coffee and milk has existed for decades in South Asia and parts of Europe; dalgona’s viral fame gave it a new name and aesthetic.

Editor's Take

Practical Detail

Variations

Beyond coffee, the same whipped technique makes matcha, cocoa/chocolate, or strawberry 'dalgona' using flavoured powders. Served over hot or iced milk, dairy or plant-based.

Common Questions

Sources and Further Reading