Learn how to make Dalgona Coffee (a rich, whipped coffee foam) with this easy, step-by-step recipe ... this delicious recipe a visual delight and the perfect afternoon pick-me-up!
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Craving an indulgent coffee treat?
Then, this rich, creamy Dalgona Coffee is for you! If you've spent any time on Instagram or TikTok in the last two months, you've probably seen this interesting coffee confection pop up at least once ... or more likely ten times!
Unlike lots of trendy recipes, which usually require a million ingredients and lots of tricky steps to prepare, this one is actually really easy to make! In fact, you can make a cup in five minutes or less.
Ready to treat yourself? Then keep reading, because I'm sharing tons of tips and a detailed step-by-step recipe so you can try it at home, too!
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What is Dalgona Coffee?
Dalgona Coffee is equal portions of instant coffee, granulated sugar, and hot water that's whipped together and turned into a rich, coffee cream, then served over milk. You may also see it referred to as Whipped Coffee, Creamy Coffee, Fluffy Coffee, Korean Coffee, and even Magic Coffee.
The transformation of boring instant coffee into a thick, creamy coffee foam is pretty magical to see. And this drink is not only delicious, but also fun to make!
Who invented Dalgona Coffee?
Despite its current popularity, this coffee treat isn't necessarily a new phenomenon. Similar drinks, such as Greek Frappe and Phenti Hui or beaten coffee (sometimes called Indian cappuccino) have been around for a while. The most current iteration became popular though after South Korea actor Jung Il-woo tried it in Macau for a TV show and said it reminded him of Dalgona, a South Korean honeycomb toffee candy.
Coffee shop and homemade versions of the drink started trending after his TV appearance, and people began sharing it on YouTube and social media with the hashtag #dalgonacoffeechallenge. Then, it truly exploded in popularity when Helen Cho prepared it in a TikTok video ... which has since been viewed millions of times! These days, it seems like everyone and their mother is recreating this viral treat while we've all been stuck at home this past month.
Regardless of its origins, if you like frothy coffee drinks, then you're going to love this fun treat!
What does Whipped Coffee taste like?
Dalgona Coffee tastes exactly how you'd imagine coffee-flavored whipped cream would. It has a strong coffee flavor, and it's super thick, creamy, and luxurious. The cream is also sugary sweet, although once you mix it with milk, the resulting drink is fairly well-balanced (though still sweet).
It's also very potent ... the directions on my instant coffee container recommend using one teaspoon of grounds per drink, but you'll use one tablespoon per drink for this recipe (so triple the coffee / caffeine)! The first time I made this TikTok Coffee recipe, I assumed that it only made one drink, when actually, it makes two. I doubled everything, so my husband could try it, too ... then, I made another batch. Needless to say, neither of us could sleep that night! So proceed with caution.
Ingredients
This fluffy treat may look intimidating to make, but the recipe only requires three very basic ingredients (plus hot water). Here's what you'll need:
- Instant Coffee - You'll need the granulated type of instant coffee (or instant espresso) for this recipe. I used what I had on hand: Café Rico Instant Coffee that my husband picked up in Puerto Rico. Any kind of instant coffee works though ... Café Bustelo and Nescafé Clasico are both excellent options.
- Granulated Sugar - I used standard sugar for this recipe, but other types of sugar (such as raw sugar) will work as long as they are granulated.
- Milk - Feel free to use any kind of milk you'd like, regular or plant-based ... I used unsweetened almond milk, which makes this recipe vegan.
You'll Also Need
I recommend using a stand mixer for this recipe, which makes it a total snap to whip up! If you don't have a stand mixer, then you'll need a large bowl and a handheld mixer (with whisk attachment), a whisk, a milk frother, or a spoon. Just keep in mind that making this recipe without a mixer will involve a major arm workout!
How to Make Whipped Coffee
Creamy coffee is one of those recipes that looks impressive, but couldn't be easier to make. You'll find a detailed recipe at the end of this post, but here's an overview of the steps:
- Combine coffee, sugar, and water. Mix the instant coffee and granulated sugar together in a large mixing bowl, then add the hot water. The water needs to be hot enough to dissolve the sugar and coffee. I used water from my faucet, but if your tap water doesn't get hot enough, heat if up in the microwave first. Tip: If you don't have a mixer, add the ingredients to a large bowl, then combine by hand with a milk frother, whisk, or spoon.
- Whisk ingredients together. Using the whisk attachment on your stand mixer, mix the ingredients together on low speed until the sugar and coffee have dissolved. Then change the mixer speed to high and keep mixing. As you do, the mixture will lighten, increase in volume, and start to froth up. After a couple minutes (much longer if you're doing this by hand), this magic coffee should hold a stiff peak. Tip: As you mix, stop a couple times to scrape down the bowl with a spatula, to make sure everything gets incorporated.
- Serve the drink. After you've whipped the coffee, grab two mugs. Fill the glasses about halfway with milk, then add enough ice cubes to fill the glass about ¾ full. Finish your drink by spooning the coffee cream over the top.Tip: I recommend using glass mugs. They'll give your drink that coffee shop feel, and they're perfect for showing off the layers!
And that's all there is to it ... simple, right? Serve your Dalgona Coffee with a reusable straw or a spoon. You'll need it to mix the coffee foam and milk together before drinking.
Tip: if you don't have a stand mixer, you'll need a large bowl. Add the coffee, sugar, and hot water, then whip the ingredients together using a hand mixer with a whisk attachment, handheld whisk, milk frother, or a spoon.
Creamy Coffee Variations
This Korean coffee is super tasty served exactly as-is! Once you've mastered the basic recipe though, here are a few clever ways to change it up:
- Serve it hot. Heat the milk in your microwave or on the stove before topping with the fluffy coffee mixture.
- Add a topping. Sprinkle the finished coffee with cinnamon, nutmeg, coffee powder, crumbled cookies, or cocoa powder before serving. Or add a drizzle of honey, chocolate, caramel, or another syrup.
- Flavor the milk. Add a dash of vanilla, hazelnut, chocolate, cinnamon brown sugar, or another flavored coffee syrup to the milk before adding the creamy coffee topping. Just don't go too crazy, or your drink will be super sweet.
- Turn it into a cocktail. Add a splash of vodka, whisky, rum, or another spirit, to turn this coffee drink into an indulgent cocktail.
- Extra strong. Serve over Iced Coffee Cubes instead of regular ice.
Storage
If you have any leftover whipped coffee, store it in an airtight container in your refrigerator. The cream should last a day or two before it starts separating. Then, layer it over the milk just before you're ready to drink it.
Related Recipes
Looking for more coffee shop-inspired drinks? Try one of these recipes next:
- Iced Coffee - A classic recipe using brewed coffee, or if you have leftovers from this recipe, try this Instant Iced Coffee!
- Australian Iced Coffee - Coffee + ice cream = the perfect warm weather treat!
- Dirty Chai Latte - This coffee-tea combo is a tasty afternoon pick-me-up.
- Grapefruit Coffee Spritz - A bright, citrusy twist on iced coffee you'll love. This refreshing Orange Coffee is also a delicious summer treat.
- Salted Caramel Affogato - Serve after dinner or anytime you're craving a sweet treat.
- Irish Coffee - This classic recipe is inspired by the Buena Vista Cafe original. For a cold twist, make this Iced Irish Coffee.
- Brown Sugar Shaken Espresso - A crave-worthy Starbucks copycat you're sure to love!
- Sweet Cinnamon Milk Tea - This coziest, most relaxing drink!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Dalgona coffee is named for a popular South Korean honeycomb toffee candy, which it resembles in appearance.
You can serve Dalgona Coffee hot or cold, depending on your preference.
Other names for Dalgona Coffee are Whipped Coffee, Creamy Coffee, Fluffy Coffee, Korean Coffee, Frothy Coffee, TikTok Coffee, and Magic Coffee.
You can reduce the sugar, but the recipe won't turn out quite the same. The mixture will be darker, and it won't hold as firm of a peak. I'd recommend making the recipe as written first, then making small changes to the amount of sugar if you find that it's too sweet for you. And keep in mind that although coffee cream is pretty sweet on its own, once it's mixed into the milk it isn't nearly as sugary.
This recipe works best with granulated instant coffee. I've seen a few people attempt it with regular ground coffee, but the results are just not the same ... stick with instant!
This recipe makes two servings. I don't recommend cutting the ingredients in half, because they would be hard to whip together in such small portions. If you have any leftovers, you can store them in an airtight container in your refrigerator. The cream should last a day or two before it starts separating.
Whipped coffee is delicious all on its own, so skip the milk if you wish. You can eat it with a spoon (similar to a coffee mousse), serve it as a dessert topping (try it on cake or brownies), use it as a sweet dip, or enjoy it anywhere else you might eat whipped cream.
Dalgona Coffee
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons instant coffee
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoons hot water
- 1 cup milk (you may need more or less, depending on your glass size and preference)
Equipment
Instructions
- Using a stand mixer with a whisk attachment, mix instant coffee, sugar, and hot water on low speed until sugar and coffee are dissolved. (Don't have a stand mixer? See notes below for alternatives.)
- Change speed to high, then continue mixing until coffee mixture froths up and can hold a stiff peak. (Stop the mixer a couple times during this process to scrape down sides of bowl and make sure everything gets mixed together.)
- Fill two glasses ½ full with milk, then add ice until glasses are about ¾ full.
- Spoon coffee cream over milk.
- Serve with a spoon or reusable straw. Enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
