Those of us who rely on caffeine for our daily lattes and iced coffees are always looking for new ways to enjoy at-home brews. Enter dalgona coffee (whipped coffee), the solution for enjoying “fancy” coffee at home. A reverse latte of sorts, this trendy drink features coffee as the frothy ingredient to top your milk. Instant coffee (yes, instant) is mixed with granulated sugar and water and whipped into a fluffy texture before it’s spooned over milk. The trend started with a TikTok video that’s had more than 10 million views since posting, and now it seems like everyone wants to make the creamy coffee drink.
How to Make Whipped Coffee
Dalgona coffee is supposed to have a taste similar to a toffee-like South Korean street candy with the same name, which combines caramelized sugar with baking soda for airiness. To make the drink at home, mix equal parts of instant coffee or espresso powder, granulated sugar, and hot water (from the tap is fine). Whip or stir it in a bowl until it’s frothy and light brown. Just as in making fresh whipped cream or meringue for pie, you’ll see stiff peaks forming as more air gets beaten into the liquid. A lot of the videos show this process being whipped by hand. (This is how I first tried it, and I definitely got a good arm workout.) If you have a hand mixer, use it for a speedier process. After the coffee mix reaches a cloud-like texture, spoon it over your favorite dairy or non-dairy milk for a sweet treat. (It can be made iced or with warmed milk.) Take a photo for social media and include #dalgonacoffee in your caption, then mix it up and sip away.
Can I Make Dalgona Without Instant Coffee?
The reason the coffee is able to whip into foamy, stiff peaks is because instant coffee is dried from regular roasted coffee beans. One YouTuber attempted several experiments to try to get regular coffee to work. She actually got her coffee to a foamy texture, but only after boiling it down to a syrupy consistency, and the process seems time-consuming just to get one serving. So, unfortunately, you won’t be able to pour your leftover brewed coffee into a bowl and expect it to whip up the same way instant does. Non-coffee fans or kids can also enjoy the sweet drink craze by whipping chocolate and strawberry milk. If you’re a coffee fanatic like me, just hearing the words “instant coffee” might make you cringe. But maybe this is the one way to drink it that’s actually tolerable (and photogenic). It will at least keep you energized as you finish your workday from home or try out the latest celebrity chef cooking tutorial.
