Ideal for those moments when you want something more special than your regular coffee routine…
Fancy a cloud of bittersweet coffee cream topping your choice of iced milk? Hey, who doesn’t?
Dalgona coffee, also known as whipped coffee or beaten coffee, originates from South Korea but is inspired by the Indian beverage “phenti hui coffee” and tastes similar to a Korean toffee-like candy called “dalgona”, hence the name. The drink features a distinctively thick, creamy, and cloud-like coffee foam that sits atop cold milk, creating a beautiful layered effect.
Don’t turn your nose up at the use of instant coffee in this recipe, and no, you can’t use ground coffee instead. The science behind why instant coffee is essential lies in its unique composition – instant coffee contains specific additives and processed carbohydrates that act as stabilisers, helping create and maintain that signature foam structure. Ground coffee, no matter how finely processed, lacks these crucial elements and won’t achieve the same mesmerising whipped texture.
When sipped, Dalgona coffee presents an intriguing flavour journey – the initial taste brings forward coffee’s natural bitter notes, which then gracefully transition into a sweet, almost caramel-like aftertaste. This complexity, combined with its impossibly velvety texture, creates an almost addictive drinking experience. The foam’s cloud-like consistency slowly melts into the milk below, transforming each sip into a progressively creamier adventure that keeps you coming back for more. It’s this perfect balance of bitter and sweet, combined with the fascinating textural evolution, that has made this drink a global sensation.
Dalgona coffee is perfect for those moments when you want something more special than your regular coffee routine. It’s ideal for lazy weekend mornings when you have time to whip up something indulgent, or as an impressive treat when hosting friends for brunch. The drink works wonderfully as a summer refresher, with its iced milk base providing cool relief on hot days, while the rich coffee foam makes it satisfying enough to feel like a dessert.
Dalgona Coffee Recipe
Ingredients (Serves: 1)
- 2 tablespoons instant coffee
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoons hot water
- 1 cup cold milk (you can use dairy, soy, oat or another plant based milk)
- Ice cubes
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, combine the instant coffee, sugar, and hot water.
- Using an electric hand mixer or whisk, beat the mixture vigorously for 3-5 minutes until it becomes thick and forms stiff peaks. The color should change from dark brown to a light caramel shade, and the mixture should be glossy and hold its shape.
- Fill a tall glass with ice cubes and cold milk, leaving about an inch of space at the top.
- Carefully spoon the whipped coffee mixture on top of the cold milk.
- Serve immediately, either stirred together or left layered for an impressive presentation.
Ideal Tips
- Use only instant coffee (not ground coffee) for the crucial stabilizing additives that create the foamy texture
- Some of your favourite instant coffee brands that are ideal for this recipe include London Nootropics mojo,Café Direct Machu Picchu and Carte Noire classique instant. For a decaffinated version try Whole Earth Foods Wake Up.
- The key to success is equal ratios of all ingredients (1:1:1)
- Whisking by hand is possible but will take 8-10 minutes of vigorous beating
- For best results, use very hot water to help dissolve the coffee and sugar completely
- If you find it too sweet, you can reduce the sugar slightly, but keep in mind this may affect the foam’s stability
The finished drink should have a striking two-tone appearance with a thick, creamy coffee layer floating on top of the white milk, just as shown in the final image of the sequence.
Now, here are 6 of the best summer coffees, IDEAL for a caffeine hit when the weather’s hot.
