An Introduction
Although whipped coffee has recently become a fascinating trend, it actually isn’t a brand new invention in the culinary world. The actual name of the whipped coffee that everyone is going crazy about now is “dalgona coffee” and as the name would suggest, it is a South Korean creation. However, this type of coffee beverage has existed in several cultures for years now – albeit sometimes with different ingredients.
In Indian culture, a similar type of whipped coffee is known as “beaten coffee”. In Greek culture, frappe coffee is specifically a type of whipped iced coffee.
Regardless, none of these other types of whipped coffee have ever taken the internet by storm like dalgona coffee has managed to do.
Let’s take a look at this dalgone coffee recipe and see how to make it for ourselves.
Brew Time
5-10 min
What you’ll Need
The Basics
- Instant Coffee (or Fine Ground Espresso)
- Sugar
- Hot water
- Milk
Recommended
- Grinder (if not using instant coffee)
- Stovetop or electric kettle
- Timer
- Mixing Bowl
- Measuring spoons
- Whisk or Electric Mixer
- Pinch of Cinnamon
Dalgona Coffee Recipe
- Add the first three ingredients – coffee (instant coffee or espresso powder), boiling water, and granulated sugar – to the mixing bowl.
- Ideally, these three ingredients should be used in a 1:1:1 ratio; 2 tbsp. of each will make 1 – 2 servings, so you can easily increase the quantity of each ingredient if you need to make more servings. A dash of cinnamon can also be added to add more flavor.
- Using your whisk; mix the instant coffee, boiling water, and granulated sugar for about 10 – 15 seconds. Then, start whisking the mixture, maintaining a steady speed while doing so. Ideally, you’ll want to whisk the mixture about 400 times (2 – 4 minutes).
- If you are using a stand mixer or a hand mixer, then things are going to be a bit different. First, you are going to want to start mixing at the lowest possible speed until the mixture is nice and even (i.e. all of the sugar and coffee are dissolved. Then, switch your mixer to its highest setting and mix the contents of the bowl for approximately 2 minutes.
- Ideally, after whisking, the mixture should be light brown, have a fluffy texture and also hold stiff peaks. If your mixture isn’t as described, then you may need to whisk it some more.
- Taste the mixture, keeping in mind that it is supposed to taste very strong at this stage because of the 1:1 ratio of coffee and water. If you have a sweet tooth, you may want to add more sugar. However, remember that you are now going to be diluting this final mixture with milk.
- Finally, add the whisked coffee mixture to a glass of milk of your choice – regular, low fat, soy, almond, etc. Give it a few swirls with your spoon or straw and you’re ready to go.
- Remember, one of the great things about dalgona coffee is how easy it is to enjoy it hot or cold. If you want it hot, then just add it to your glass of warm milk. If you want it cold, then add ice cubes to your glass, then you milk, and then finally put the coffee mixture on top.
Are There Any Alternatives To Make Dalgona Coffee Recipe?
Why is instant coffee – the bane of every coffee aficionado’s existence – the recommended cornerstone of dalgona coffee? Well, there are two main reasons, the first being that with other types of coffee it is either harder or impossible to get the desired texture with your mixture. Secondly, instant coffee is simply one of the most accessible types of coffee in the world.
However, if you are a coffee aficionado like myself, you will be happy to know that some people have tweaked the dalgona coffee recipe and still managed to taste success. People have had success using drip coffee or espresso powder to successfully make dalgona coffee.
Using Drip Coffee To Make Dalgona Coffee
The main caveat of using drip coffee is that it takes longer to whisk. If you’re using a hand mixer or a stand mixer, then it can take about 7 – 10 minutes. If you’re whisking by hand, then it is going to take longer than 10 minutes (about 10 – 15 minutes).
Another caveat is the fact that you’re going to be using way more ingredients for the same results. If this is the method that you choose to go with, then you’re going to be using about 3 – 4 tbsp. of ground coffee and 5 tbsp. of hot water.
Using Espresso Powder To Make Dalgona Coffee
The espresso powder method is a bit more forgiving and it is also the only alternative method that we personally recommend.
The first warning to give you about using espresso powder when making dalgona coffee, is to remember that espresso powder espresso powder and instant coffee may look similar; however, espresso powder is significantly more concentrated.
Sadly, if you’re going to use espresso powder to make dalgona coffee, then you are going to have to make peace with the fact that there is going to be some trial and error. If you want to be on the safe side, I would recommend that you start with 1 tablespoon (maybe 1 ½ tablespoons if you’re feeling daring) of espresso powder.
Thankfully, on the plus side, it is not as hard to whisk a mixture that uses espresso powder – compared to if you use drip coffee. When using instant coffee I whisked my mixture for about three minutes. Comparatively, when I used espresso powder, I whisked for just a little over four minutes.
You can purchase all of our coffee pre-ground to espresso powder. Just choose the grind type drop down at checkout.
Dalgona Coffee FAQ
For many people, dalgona coffee is an intriguing and strange concoction. Let’s answer a few of the common questions that a lot of us are too afraid to ask.
Do I Need To Use A Whisk To Make Dalgona Coffee?
As I’ve already stated above, using a hand mixer or a stand mixer are both viable alternatives to using a whisk when making dalgona coffee. Honestly, the equipment that you choose to use depends wholly on your preferences.
People who have a high affinity for the culinary arts will tell you that whisking by hand will give you the most control over what is going on in your bowl and also let you have the perfect texture in the end. However, if you value time (and your arm muscles) over absolute perfection, then it is perfectly reasonable to use a hand mixer or a stand mixer.
Can I Make Dalgona Coffee Without Sugar?
The perfectionist in me wants to say no but the truth is that you can technically make sugar-free dalgona coffee. However, there are going to be noticeable differences, specifically in the end result.
If you use sugar to make your dalgona coffee, then you could set it down on your table and have it stay in its fluffy state for hours. On the other hand, if you opt for the sugar-free version, then it will only stay fluffy for a couple of minutes. Eventually, it will dissolve over time and just leave you with a cup of boring liquid.
Do I Have To Use Instant Coffee To Make Dalgona Coffee?
You know, I may be a self-described coffee fanatic but even I think that other coffee aficionados are too hard on instant coffee. Still, if you just simply can’t stand the stuff, then you will be happy to know that some people have managed to successfully tweak the dalgona coffee formula.
As I have l already mentioned above, I have personally tried dalgona coffee that was made with espresso powder and it tasted great – although I still prefer the instant coffee version. Some people have also tried to make dalgona coffee with drip coffee. I haven’t personally tried that variant but it seems to have been successful enough.
Conclusion
This dalgona coffee recipe seems to be the most widely circulated recipe around the internet, but it certainly isn’t the only one. Be creative and expirement with different ingredients, timing, toppings, and more.
Dalgona coffee is a great alternative to a plain cup of joe or even that latte from your local coffee shop. Go out and try this dalgona coffee recipe for yourself and see what you think. Leave a comment and let us know how it tasted.