Dalgona Coffee
Instant coffee, sugar and hot water whisked into a thick, glossy, caramel-coloured foam and spooned over iced milk. The whipped coffee that went round the world.
Make Ahead and Storage
The whipped coffee keeps in a covered bowl in the fridge for up to 3 days. Spoon it over fresh milk when you are ready, and whisk it for a few seconds if it has loosened.
Dalgona Coffee: The Method
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Put the instant coffee, sugar and hot water into a medium bowl.
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Whisk with an electric whisk for 3 to 4 minutes, or by hand for 10 to 15 minutes, until the mixture is thick, pale, glossy and holds stiff peaks.
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Fill a tall glass with ice and pour in the cold milk.
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Spoon the whipped coffee over the milk and stir it through as you drink.
Worth Knowing
- Use instant coffee granules or powder and not ground coffee. Only instant will whip, because it dissolves fully and holds the air.
- Keep the proportions equal, by volume, of coffee, sugar and hot water. Less sugar makes a foam that will not stiffen.
- Keep whisking until the foam holds a firm peak when you lift the whisk. If it looks like runny latte foam, it needs another minute or two.
Behind the Recipe
Dalgona coffee is a drink that became famous almost overnight in the spring of 2020, when millions of people were at home and looking for something to make. It is a coffee with two layers. The bottom is cold milk, poured over ice, and the top is a thick, glossy, caramel-coloured cloud of whipped instant coffee, sugar and hot water, which is spooned on and stirred through as you drink. The name comes from dalgona, a Korean honeycomb toffee that is sold at street stalls, and that the coffee is said to resemble in colour and sweetness, and the drink was popularised on South Korean television before it spread on social media across the world. The idea is not new. In India and Pakistan a beaten coffee, a whipped mixture of instant coffee, sugar and hot water, has been served for many years, and in Greece the frappé is made in the same way. The trick is a simple one. Instant coffee dissolves in hot water and contains the sugar and the compounds that hold air, so that when whipped, the mixture increases in volume and turns pale, thick and stiff. Equal parts of coffee, sugar and hot water is the rule. An electric whisk takes three or four minutes, and a hand whisk takes ten or fifteen and a sore arm, but the result is worth it. The foam holds for a while on the milk, and it can be made ahead and kept in the fridge.
What to Put Next to It
Shortbread · Sesame biscuits · Fresh fruit
Dalgona Coffee FAQ
How long does Dalgona Coffee take to make?
About 10 minutes in total — 10 minutes of preparation and of cooking. The recipe serves 1.
What are the key tips for making Dalgona Coffee?
Use instant coffee granules or powder and not ground coffee. Only instant will whip, because it dissolves fully and holds the air. Keep the proportions equal, by volume, of coffee, sugar and hot water. Less sugar makes a foam that will not stiffen. Keep whisking until the foam holds a firm peak when you lift the whisk. If it looks like runny latte foam, it needs another minute or two.
What should I serve with Dalgona Coffee?
Shortbread; Sesame biscuits; Fresh fruit.
How should Dalgona Coffee be stored?
The whipped coffee keeps in a covered bowl in the fridge for up to 3 days. Spoon it over fresh milk when you are ready, and whisk it for a few seconds if it has loosened.
Is Dalgona Coffee suitable for a special diet?
This recipe is vegetarian and gluten-free. Those labels are checked against the ingredient list, so a dish is only marked when nothing in it contradicts the claim.
How many calories are in Dalgona Coffee?
About 264 kcal per serving, with 9 g protein, 39 g carbohydrate and 8 g fat. The figures are calculated from the ingredient list and are an estimate.
Dalgona Coffee Nutrition Facts
Per serving, calculated from the ingredient list. Treat these as an estimate — brands and cuts vary.
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Written and tested by Turab
One person, one kitchen — no test kitchen, no team. How every recipe on this site is checked before it goes up.
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