Dalgona Whipped Coffee

Dalgona Coffee, aka Whipped Coffee, is a frothy drink that’s taken the internet by storm! Made with just 4 ingredients -- instant coffee, sugar, water, and milk -- you can mix up this concoction in mere minutes.

  • Prep5 min
  • Total5 min
  • Yield1 cup
  • Calories192

Ingredients Steps Notes

Dalgona Whipped Coffee

Dalgona Coffee, aka Whipped Coffee, is a frothy drink that’s taken the internet by storm! Made with just 4 ingredients — instant coffee, sugar, water, and milk — you can mix up this concoction in mere minutes right at home.

Glass of whipped coffee on a blue patterned napkin.

Easy Whipped Coffee

If you thought you had to be a barista to brew up a gourmet coffeehouse drink, you thought wrong! In fact, you don’t even need fancy equipment to make this creamy Dalgona Coffee recipe right at home.

This caffeinated beverage consists of milk topped with sweetened whipped coffee, like a cappuccino that’s been flipped upside down. It can be enjoyed hot or iced, and you can even add your own extracts for an added dose of flavor!

While you may not have heard of it until recently, the invention of this drink isn’t new. Sources say this beverage was enjoyed in India, Macau, and Pakistan before making its debut on Tik Tok and going viral.

If you’re in desperate need of a pick-me-up, try whipping this trendy drink together (get it?) for a caffeine fix like you’ve never had before.

Angled overhead photo of a glass of whipped Dalgona coffee on a small cutting board.

What Is Whipped Coffee?

This Whipped Coffee recipe features a combination of instant coffee powder, water, and sugar. When beaten with a mixer it becomes aerated, and this creates a whipped texture that resembles whipped cream.

To make the newly-popular beverage, warm milk in a mug or pour it in a glass over ice. Next, spoon whipped coffee on top.

Why Is It Called Dalgona Coffee?

This drink is nicknamed after Dalgona candy, which it resembles; it’s a spongey-looking honeycomb toffee treat from Korea.

A spoon coming out of a mason jar with whipped coffee on it.

Whipped Coffee Ingredients

  • Instant Coffee: Normally considered an inferior alternative to the brewed stuff, instant coffee is essential for this fancy-looking recipe! Regular coffee won’t work.
  • Sugar: For a touch of sweetness and also what makes it foam!
  • Hot Water: This dissolves the instant coffee and sugar so it all blends together and becomes liquid and prevents it from having a gritty texture once whipped.
  • Milk: This is the base of the drink; the coffee foam sits on top.
Ingredients to make Dalgona Whipped Coffee on a pretty blue napkin.

How To Make Whipped Coffee

  1. Combine ingredients and stir until coffee and sugar are completely dissolved.
  2. Whip the mixture with a hand mixer or whisk it by hand; continue until soft peaks form (don’t over-whip, they’ll become too stiff).
Hand mixer with one beater making whipped coffee in a mason jar.

3. Pour milk into a cup or mug, and add ice if you’re drinking it cold. Spoon whipped coffee on top. I prefer this with soft peaks because I find it’s easier to sip than with stiff meringue-like peaks!

Whipped coffee being spooned over a glass of milk.

Pro Tips, Substitutions, & Variations

  • You can use regular milk or milk substitutes like almond, coconut, oat, etc. You can even do chocolate milk, YUM!
  • For a fun change, try adding flavor extracts to the milk for customization. My favorite is maple extract!
  • If you have an espresso machine, you can make a macchiato by adding the milk, then espresso, then your whipped coffee foam.
  • Dalgona coffee can be enjoyed hot or cold; heat the milk for a hot beverage or add ice for a cold one.
  • Brown sugar can be used instead of granulated for a hint of molasses.
  • The foam itself would also make a delicious whipped cream replacement on Flourless Chocolate Cake, Pumpkin Pie, and more.
  • Instant coffee OR instant espresso may be used. You could also make this with a Chai latte mix! And is you have an espresso machine, you can make it with a shot instead of the instant coffee and water.
  • For the best/easiest way to whip your coffee foam, use a hand mixer fitted with a single beater. I like to do this in a mason jar (these are the ones I use and I love these lids) so I can top and store the extra with fewer dirty dishes. You can also whisk it by hand or you can use a stand mixer if you’re making at least a triple batch.
  • Any extra foam will keep in the fridge for up to 3 days, so you can make a larger batch at once rather than making it daily.
Glass of Dalgona Coffee on a wooden board on a blue napkin.

More Coffee Recipes!

Steps

  1. In a mason jar or medium bowl, beat together the sugar, instant coffee, and hot water until pale, thick, and foamy, preferably with a handheld mixer fitted with 1 beater.5 About 2 minutes.

  2. Spoon onto the top of a glass of milk. Feel free to flavor the milk with a flavor extract, if desired.

Notes

  1. Brown sugar may also be used.
  2. Make sure the water is hot so that it helps the sugar and coffee dissolve and doesn't leave the foam gritty.
  3. You can use regular milk or milk substitutes like almond, coconut, oat, etc. You can even do chocolate milk, YUM!
  4. For a fun change, try adding flavor extracts to the milk for customization. My favorite is maple extract!
  5. For the best/easiest way to whip your coffee foam, use a hand mixer fitted with a single beater. I like to do this in a mason jar (these are the ones I use and I love these lids) so I can top and store the extra with fewer dirty dishes. You can also whisk it by hand or you can use a stand mixer if you’re making at least a triple batch.
  6. Nutritional information is for the whipped coffee only and does not include additional flavorings or milk.
  7. This recipe makes about 1 cup of whipped coffee, enough to top 2 drinks.
  8. If you have an espresso machine, you can make a macchiato by adding the milk, then espresso, then your whipped coffee foam.
  9. Dalgona coffee can be enjoyed hot or cold; heat the milk for a hot beverage or add ice for a cold one.
  10. The foam itself would also make a delicious whipped cream replacement on Flourless Chocolate Cake, Pumpkin Pie, and more.
  11. For the best/easiest way to whip your coffee foam, use a hand mixer fitted with a single beater. I like to do this in a mason jar (these are the ones I use and I love these lids) so I can top and store the extra with fewer dirty dishes. You can also whisk it by hand or you can use a stand mixer if you’re making at least a triple batch.
  12. Any extra foam will keep in the fridge for up to 3 days, so you can make a larger batch at once rather than making it daily.

Nutrition

  • Calories192
  • Carbs47g
  • Protein2g
  • Fat1g
  • Saturated fat1g
  • Sugar36g
  • Sodium8mg

Estimates per serving, when a serving size is listed.