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Dalgona Coffee is a creamy, frothy, and sweet morning pick-me-up. This easy whipped coffee recipe is made with just three ingredients and ready in under five minutes!
Lately, I’ve been all about skipping the coffee shop and making my favorites at home—like this cozy little cortado, my amazing frappe, or an iced Americano on warm afternoons. So naturally, when this frothy trend started taking over the internet, I had to try it at home.
And let’s be honest! I love a good viral TikTok or Instagram trend: hello, green goddess salad. Hey there, chicken cobbler. And one of my all-time favorites? Dalgona coffee! Also known as whipped coffee.
What Is Dalgona Coffee?
Dalgona coffee, also known as whipped coffee, is that frothy, creamy drink made by whipping instant coffee, sugar, and hot water until it’s light and fluffy—then spooned over milk. It’s named after a Korean candy it resembles, but fun fact: similar whipped coffee drinks have been around for years in places like India and Macau. South Korea just made it go viral.
Dalgona Coffee Ingredients
There are so few ingredients in this recipe, but make sure to note that we’re using instant coffee.
- Ice – Keeps your drink cool and refreshing.
- Boiling water – Hot water is key to dissolving the coffee and sugar quickly so everything whips up light and fluffy.
- Milk – Any kind works! Use whole milk for extra creaminess or go with almond, oat, cashew, or soy for a dairy-free option.
- Instant coffee – This is a must. Regular ground coffee won’t whip. Stick to instant coffee granules for that signature frothy magic.
- Granulated sugar – Helps stabilize the foam and sweetens the coffee. You can also use Monkfruit sweetener or your favorite sugar substitute.
Katerina’s Tips
- Use instant coffee. I’ve come across a few work arounds if you don’t have instant coffee. Like finely grating the coffee beans and then sifting them before using them. None of these have worked well for me. Instant coffee contains specific compounds that help create that signature frothy texture.
- Use a large bowl to whisk. You’ll need the extra space to whisk without splashing over the edge.
- Choose your whipping tool. If you don’t feel like whisking, you can use a hand mixer or a frother instead. If you’re whisking by hand, be prepared for a bit of an arm workout—it can take several minutes to achieve the desired consistency.
- Serve it hot. You can also serve your whipped warm! All you need to do is nix the ice and slightly heat your milk.
- Add flavors. Add a pinch of cinnamon, cocoa powder, or a drop of vanilla extract to the whipped mixture for a unique twist on your Dalgona coffee.
Proper Storage
You can refrigerate leftover whipped coffee in an airtight container for a few days. It may lose some volume over time, but a quick re-whip can help.
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Dalgona Coffee Recipe
Ingredients
- ice
- 1½ cups milk, (any milk – you can also use almond/cashew/soy milk, etc…)
- 2 tablespoons instant coffee, do not use regular coffee
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar, you can also use a sweetener, like Monkfruit
- 2 tablespoons boiling water
Instructions
- Prep. Grab two glass coffee mugs and add ice halfway up the mugs.
- Add milk. Pour the milk into the mugs; the milk should come about ¾ of the way up the glass. Set aside.
- Combine the ingredients. In a large mixing bowl, combine the instant coffee granules, sugar, and boiling water. You need to use a bigger mixing bowl, so you have enough room to whisk.
- Whip it. Grab a whisk and vigorously whisk the mixture; it will start to turn a light caramel color. Continue to whisk until it thickens, about 3 minutes. You’re looking for a mousse-like consistency with strong peaks. You can also use a handheld mixer or a frother for this.
- Finish and serve. Spoon the coffee mixture over the milk; give it a minute, and then gently mix it with a straw or spoon. Serve.
Equipment
Nutrition
Nutritional info is an estimate and provided as courtesy. Values may vary according to the ingredients and tools used. Please use your preferred nutritional calculator for more detailed info.
How Do You Make Dalgona Coffee
Ready to get your whisk on? This whipped coffee recipe is super easy and takes just a few minutes to whip up. All you need are a few pantry staples and a little arm power!
- Prep your glasses. Grab two clear coffee mugs or glasses, and fill them halfway with ice.
- Add the milk. Pour in your milk of choice until it reaches about ¾ of the way up each glass. Set aside.
- Mix the whipped coffee. In a large mixing bowl, add the instant coffee, sugar, and boiling water.
- Whisk it up. Use a whisk, handheld mixer, or frother to beat the mixture until it’s thick, frothy, and mousse-like. You’re looking for soft but strong peaks. This takes about 3 to 4 minutes by hand.
- Spoon the foam. Spoon that beautiful whipped coffee right over the milk and ice.
- Serve and stir. Let it sit for a minute, then give it a gentle stir with a spoon or straw before sipping.
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What a great way to start my day! Looking forward to waking up with this tomorrow!
I hope you enjoy it! Thank you so much! 🙂
My kids made this and loved it!
That’s great! I’m very glad you enjoyed it! Thank YOU! 🙂
This trend has been all over the internet. I’ve always wanted to try this and now I can! Thank you for breaking it down. I can’t wait to try this!
I hope you enjoy it! Thank YOU! 🙂
This Dalgona Coffee looks incredibly delicious!
Thank you, Erin!! I hope you enjoy it! 🙂
The invention of a pandemic lol! Thanks for breaking it all down. Delicious recipe.
Thank YOU, Toni! 🙂 🙂
We tried this and it was surprisingly good! So easy too!
I am very glad you enjoyed it! Thank YOU! 🙂
Really, looks so frothy! It’s nice when we can find that “pick me up” each morning!
Thank you, Natalie! I hope you enjoy it! 🙂
Oh this was perfection! I think this needs to be part of my daily routine.
Thank you so much, Stephanie! I hope you enjoy it! 🙂
Delicious!!
I put the ice i to my blender and ground it…just like a Timmys but much lighter.