Dalgona coffee, also called “whipped coffee,” is known for its light and airy top layer that resembles a coffee flavored fluffy whipped cream. This iced coffee recipe only takes 5-minutes to make and you can serve it hot or cold.
This simple three-ingredient recipe – instant coffee, sugar, and hot water – went mega viral on TikTok and Instagram. It’s super easy to make, and it looks so pretty – the perfect combination for social media and also tastes delicious!
What is Dalgona Coffee?
“Dalgona” is a kind of South Korean candy with a spongey texture. “Dalgona Coffee” resembles the candy with the way whipped coffee foam looks. It became a social media hit back in 2020. The trend started in South Korea when people started making whipped coffee at home to replace their usual coffee shop routine. Then it took off in America after the Los Angeles Times wrote about it. With that much buzz, you just know I had to try it!
Dalgona whipped coffee is a frothy coffee drink that is usually enjoyed chilled. Instant coffee powder is beaten along with sugar and water until is creamy, light, and fluffy. Then this layer is spooned on top of iced milk. Because the density of this “whipped coffee layer” is so much lighter than the milk, it floats on top. It tastes a bit like a Starbucks Frappucino, except it looks prettier!
You then stir the frothy coffee layer into the iced milk layer. This infuses the cold milk with coffee flavor but also lends a fluffiness factor that you wouldn’t get with a typical iced coffee.
Ingredients Needed
This whipped coffee recipe only takes just 5-minutes! Here’s what you’ll need to make it in your own kitchen. Be sure to scroll down to the recipe card for specific amounts.
- Instant Coffee Powder – You have to use instant coffee (or instant espresso powder) to make a proper Dalgona coffee drink. (Although there are recipe variations that do not use coffee, more on that below.)
- Granulated Sugar – Sugar helps stabilized the whipped layer so don’t leave it out. You can also use brown sugar (or coconut sugar) but the coffee layer won’t be as fluffy. Regular white sugar works best!
- Water – The water should be HOT to help the instant coffee and sugar dissolve evenly.
- Milk – Regular cows milk or any plant-based milk will work.
- Ice cubes
How to Make Whipped Coffee
Just a few simple steps!
- Start by mixing the coffee powder, sugar, and hot water using a whisk. I like to combine the coffee and sugar first, then add the hot water. You’ll need to mix this quite well! By hand, you are looking at about 4 minutes of vigorous whisking. But you can also use a stand mixer or a hand-held electric mixer. In this case, it will take 1-2 minutes to get that light and fluffy coffee layer.
- Add ice to a glass and pour in the milk. How much ice you use is up to you. I like to add a generous amount so that the milk gets nice and cold.
- Then top with your whipped coffee. You can use a rubber spatula, large spoon, or even a cookie dough scoop to gently add the whipped coffee layer on top of the iced milk.
Variations
- Whipped Hot Chocolate: Mix 2 tablespoons of sugar and hot chocolate mix/cocoa with four tablespoons of whipping cream. Whisk together the ingredients until you get a nice fluffy mixture either by hand or with an electronic whisk. Add the creamy chocolate mix to the top of a cup of hot milk. Mix together and enjoy
- Matcha Whipped Latte: In a small bowl, beat 1 tablespoon of matcha powder, 1 tablespoon of sugar, 1 tablespoon Dream Whip, and 1 to 2 tablespoons of Milk. Spoon the mixture on top of chilled milk.
- Different Flavors: Add coffee flavor syrups of your choice to the milk before adding the whipped coffee.
- Keto Whipped Coffee: For a sugar-free and keto-friendly version, follow the instructions as usual, but replace the sugar with Swerve. You will need to use heavy whipping cream instead of milk. You can also add some sugar-free coffee flavoring to the heavy cream.
Extra Tips
Decafinated Dalgona Coffee – You can use a decaf instant coffee or even hot chocolate powder for a creamy chocolate version. Below I’ve even detailed out some other non-coffee versions of the beverage to try.
Instant Coffee Granules are a must – Regular coffee grounds won’t work as well and will settle at the bottom of your cup.
Hot Dalgona Coffee – Simply leave out the step where you add the ice and then warm your milk on the stovetop or in the microwave before spooning the whipped layer on top. Now you have a cozy drink for chilly mornings!
Serving – Best enjoyed as soon as it’s made. Once it starts to melt into the milk, the froth starts to disappear. Drinking with a froth mustache is part of the whole experience!
Make Ahead and Storing
You will need to whip the coffee layer really, really well. Use a stand mixer or hand-held mixer to get it as fluffy as possible, then gently transfer the whipped coffee to an airtight container and store it in the fridge. It will keep for 1-2 days, though of course the sooner you use it the fluffier it will be. (If you store it for too long it will turn back into liquid coffee.)
My recommendation would be to make the whipped layer at most a day in advance. So for example, you could make it the night before for an easy Dalgona coffee drink first thing in the morning!
Whipped Coffee (Dalgona Coffee)
Ingredients
- 3 Tablespoon Instant Coffee Powder
- 3 Tablespoons Granulated Sugar
- 2 Tablespoons water hot
- 4 cups milk
- ice cubes
Instructions
- In a small bowl, mix instant coffee powder and sugar. Add 2 tbsp water and beat the coffee and sugar until it is light and fluffy using a whisk. Add a few more drops of water while beating the coffee if needed.
- Fill a glass with ice cubes. Then pour in the milk. Top the milk with whipped coffee.
- Mix and serve chilled.
Last Step:
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21 comments on “Whipped Coffee (Dalgona Coffee)”
What brand of coffee powder do you use?
Should the water be hot? The recipe doesn’t specify, but the water in the video looks hot. Does it matter? Or is one option easier, faster, or otherwise better than the other? Thanks.
Can you use instant coffee crystals?
Just made it now – SO YUMMY! Actually would make such a great topping over vanilla ice cream as a simple, but slightly fancy dessert!
I made the Dalgona coffee using instant espresso powder (I didn’t have regular instant coffee). It looked just like the photo! I found it a bit sweet as I don’t typically put sugar in my coffee, but once I mixed the topping into the milk, it was delicious. Like sweetened coffee-flavoured milk.
My daughter made the same recipe but with cocoa powder instead of coffee. She loved it.
Where do I buy coffee powder? How do I make a hot coffee version? Thanks
I used 2 tbsp of each Instant Coffee, Granulated Sugar, Hot water. Whipped everything using a hand mixer. Took less then 5 minutes. Nice and frothy.
How on earth do you get this done in five minutes. I’ve made this about four times already and it takes 20 minutes every time… Using both a hand whisk and a KitchenAid mixer.
Immersion blender is the ticket! Did it in just a few minutes. Whisk would take ages though.
will it work without sugar?
Tried the balgona coffee. But since we are everywhere in virus lockdown I used french vanilla cappuccino instead. Wasn’t as frothy but boy it was good. Looking forward to being able to socialize and treat guests.
Where do you buy coffee powder? I’ve never heard of that. Looks so delicious!
You can get instant coffee powder in any grocery store.