Dalgona Coffee (Whipped Coffee)

Are you looking for a caffeinated pick me up, but can’t seem to bring yourself to drink another plain jane cup of coffee? Look no further than this fancy coffee recipe, also known as dalgona coffee or whipped coffee.

close up of whipped dolgona coffee


 

Coffee is a daily necessity for many of us, but that doesn’t mean that it has to be mundane and lackluster.

That is where the whipped coffee comes into play. I kept seeing these frothier than frothy coffee on social media and decided I had to give the Dalgona coffee a try. 

close up of dalgona coffee toppings

What’s So Special About Dalgona Coffee?

Whipped coffee is essentially a reverse cappuccino. Milk in the mug or glass with a fluffy, sweetened, coffee concoction on top and it is one heck of an eye-pleasing drink, to say the least. 

What I found most interesting, is that its magic lies in instant coffee granules. Surprise! Regular ground coffee or coffee beans need not apply here. With four ingredients (not including fun toppings,) it’s a no brainer. 

  • Instant Coffee
  • Boiling Water
  • Sugar- either white sugar or brown sugar
  • Milk

Apparently this new trendy drink was named after a Korean actor ordered a frothy cup at a coffee shop and thought the top looked like the Korean candy called Dalgona.

close up of whipped dolgona coffee

Ingredients for Making Dalgona Coffee

You are going to love how simple this ingredient list is!

  • Hot water – You need to make sure the water is hot enough to dissolve both the sugar and the coffee granules.
  • Sugar – Just regular white granulated sugar is the kind of sugar that will work just fine for this recipe.
  • Instant coffee powder – The coffee mixture will not whip up properly if you don’t use instant coffee. Read the section above for specifics.
  • Milk – I prefer hot coffee in the morning, so warm or hot milk is what I used. Feel free to use cold milk in ice cubes if you’d like to.
dalgona whipped coffee in a mixing bowl

Variations

There are plenty of ways that you can make your morning coffee your own with this dalgona whipped coffee recipe.

  • Milk – Traditionally this is made with hot milk or warm milk, but if you’d prefer to have iced coffee, cold milk will work just fine. You can also use a substitute like almond milk or coconut milk too. Use less milk if you want a stronger coffee taste.
  • Toppings – I like to top mine with whipped cream and chocolate shavings, but you could top yours with anything you’d like. Sprinkles, raw sugar or even chocolate chips would be delicious.
  • Spike it – To make it really over the top, you can spike it. A shot of something like Frangelico, Bailey’s, chocolate liqueur, Kahlua, or even bourbon in each cup or mug would be great whether you choose the hot or cold version and perfect for that after-dinner drink option and perfect for holidays.
  • Caffeine free – You can certainly use caffeine free coffee, but also consider making Whipped Hot Chocolate or a mix of the two for a Mocha Whipped Coffee. Perfect for kiddos with all the frothy flavors and fun, but none of the ENERGY!

How to Make Dalgona Whipped Coffee

This beaten coffee drink is literally as easy as 1, 2, 3!

  1. Combine ingredients. In a small mixing bowl, whisk together hot water, sugar and instant coffee powder. Water needs to be very hot for sugar to dissolve.
  2. Mix. Whisk with a hand whisk, hand mixer, electric blender or immersion blender until a pale brown, light and frothy and stiff peaks form.
  3. Add milk to glass. Pour milk into a glass and spoon frothy mixture on top.
  4. Top with garnishes. Garnish with a sprinkle of instant coffee granules, whipped cream or chocolate shavings.
whipped dalgone coffee in a bowl

Optional Toppings

You can customize your coffee drink with garnishes. Whipped cream if you want a little extra sweetness, a sprinkle of coffee crystals top, or even some chocolate shavings, will make this drink feel that much more of a treat. 

  • Turbinado sugar
  • Coffee crystals
  • Shaved chocolate
  • Sparkling sugar
  • Swizzle sticks
  • Crushed peppermint
  • Cocoa powder
  • While coffee beans
whipped coffee with shaved chocolate topping

Storage and Freezing

How to Store Dalgona Coffee

The fluffy and whipped consistency will only stay that way for a few hours. If you have leftover and would like to save it, just store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week. You can whisk it up again when ready to use.

Can I Freeze This Drink?

Unfortunately I do not recommend freezing this dalgona whipped coffee.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is dalgona coffee the same as whipped coffee?

Yes, the names are interchangeable. Dalgona is just a Korean name for the trendy whipped coffee beverage.

What makes dalgona coffee whip?

This is the reason you need to use instant coffee granules. When mixed with the sugar, it makes that signature whipped texture.

How long does it take to whisk dalgona coffee by hand?

It will go slightly faster if using an electric mixer rather than hand whisking, but it should take about 5 minutes.

What does dalgona whipped coffee taste like?

Funny you should ask because me and one of my friends had totally different experiences. I like my coffee black, so dalgona tasted pretty sweet to me, but she thought it was a little bitter.
I think it really depends on how you usually take your coffee and also the flavor and intensity of your instant coffee crystals.

More Recipes That Use Coffee

If you’re in the mood for something different for your morning pick me up, here are some of our favorite recipes that use coffee.

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Vanilla Mocha Biscotti

Vanilla Mocha Biscotti are easy to make and perfect for pairing with coffee or tea. Subtle coffee, vanilla and chocolate flavors make them suitable for any occasion. 
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Tiramisu Cups are an easy, make-ahead dessert recipes layering mascarpone custard with espresso soaked lady finger cookies and whipped cream. #easytiramisurecipe #tiramisucups www.savoryexperiments.com

Tiramisu Cup Recipe

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close up of whipped coffee for pinterest
close up of whipped dolgona coffee

Dalgona Coffee (Whipped Coffee)

4.82 from 16 votes
Dalgona Whipped Coffee is a fast and easy recipe that gives you the jolt of caffeine you need while making you feel like you are in a fancy coffee shop.
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes
Servings: 1 serving

Ingredients

Whipped Coffee:

  • 2 tablespoons hot water
  • 2 tablespoons sugar
  • 2 tablespoons instant coffee powder
  • 1 cup milk

For garnish:

Instructions

  • In a small bowl, whisk together the hot water, sugar and instant coffee powder. Water needs to be very hot for sugar to dissolve.
  • Whisk with a hand whisk, electric blender or immersion blender until a pale brown, light and frothy.
  • Pour the milk into a glass and spoon frothy mixture on top.
  • Garnish with a sprinkle of instant coffee granules, whipped cream or chocolate shavings.
  • If you've tried this recipe, come back and let us know how it was in the comments or star ratings.

Video

Notes

For iced whipped coffee, use cold milk or even add 1-3 ice cubes to the milk.
For hot whipped coffee, heat milk slightly (but not to boiling otherwise the whipped mixture will dissolve immediately).

Nutrition

Calories: 277 kcal, Carbohydrates: 43 g, Protein: 9 g, Fat: 8 g, Saturated Fat: 5 g, Cholesterol: 24 mg, Sodium: 109 mg, Potassium: 676 mg, Sugar: 36 g, Vitamin A: 395 IU, Calcium: 290 mg, Iron: 1 mg
Author: Jessica Formicola
Calories: 277
Course: Drinks
Cuisine: American
Keyword: dalgona, whipped coffee
Did you make this recipe?I’d love to see your recipes – snap a picture and mention @savoryexperiments or tag #savoryexperiments!
dalgona whipped coffee for pinterest
Jessica Formicola in her ktichen

About the Author

Chef Jessica Anne Formicola

Jessica the mom, wife and chef behind Savory Experiments. You might see her on the Emmy- nominated TV show Plate It! or on bookshelves as a cookbook author. Jessica is a Le Cordon Bleu certified recipe developer and regularly contributed to Parade, Better Homes & Gardens, The Daily Meal, Mashed and more!

Read More About Jessica

4.82 from 16 votes (3 ratings without comment)

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Recipe Rating




Questions and Reviews

  1. 5 stars
    I couldn’t agree more with you! As a coffee lover, I’m always on the lookout for new ways to jazz up my daily caffeine fix, and Dalgona whipped coffee has been a game-changer for me. It’s not only delicious but also so easy to make with just a few simple ingredients. I love how the whipped coffee adds a frothy and creamy texture to the drink, making it feel like a special treat every time I make it.

  2. 5 stars
    This coffee recipe is so fun! I really enjoy it with rice milk. It’s definitely a nice treat on weekend mornings. 🙂

  3. 4 stars
    The taste was great (I added about a tsp more than recipe called for) and perhaps that’s why I did not get any froth, certainly nothing like the picture. How long did you blend and how high, I had mine as high as it would go and blended for probably 3-4 minutes checking twice for “frothiness” but no froth appeared so I went ahead and poured it on top of my milk. Flavor was great but I was hoping for the beautiful froth as pictured.

    1. 5 stars
      Hi! I’m wondering if it was the brand you used or that you used a blender. We used a whisk or a whisk attachment. It is actually possible to over blend things and then you kinda hit the peak and come down the other side and it gets watery- like with over whipping whipped cream.

  4. 5 stars
    I’ve joined the crazed for dalgona coffee for a couple of weeks now. It’s so pretty and so delicious. Makes me feel like sipping a cup of fancy coffee in a coffee house somewhere. 🙂

  5. 5 stars
    I do love my caffeine fix and this sounds so delicious. I keep meaning to try this whipped coffee because I keep seeing it everywhere.

  6. 5 stars
    This Dalgone Whipped Coffee was sooo yummy and full of flavor. My first time ever trying this. Thank you for sharing!

  7. 5 stars
    I keep seeing the dalgona whipped coffee everywhere but I haven’t tried it yet. I love that I can use this recipe for a delicious pie too.