Dalgona Coffee: The Viral Whipped Coffee Recipe
The Coffee That Conquered Social Media
In 2020, Dalgona coffee swept across the internet and became the most shared coffee recipe of the decade. Named after a Korean honeycomb candy it resembles in colour, this whipped coffee drink is strikingly beautiful, incredibly easy to make, and genuinely delicious. It requires no equipment — just a whisk, three ingredients, and five minutes.
Ingredients (serves 1)
- 2 tablespoons instant coffee
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 2 tablespoons hot water
- 200ml cold milk (dairy or plant-based)
- Ice cubes
Method
- Combine the instant coffee, sugar, and hot water in a bowl.
- Whisk vigorously by hand for 3–5 minutes, or use an electric hand mixer for 1–2 minutes, until the mixture turns pale, thick, and glossy — like a stiff meringue.
- Fill a glass with ice and pour over the cold milk.
- Spoon the coffee foam generously on top.
- Stir before drinking to combine the layers, or enjoy them separately.
Variations to Try
- Cardamom Dalgona: Add ¼ teaspoon ground cardamom to the coffee mixture before whipping for an Arabic twist.
- Date Dalgona: Sweeten your milk with a tablespoon of date syrup instead of sugar for a naturally sweet, Saudi-inspired version.
- Hot Dalgona: Spoon the whipped coffee over hot milk instead of iced for a warming winter version.
Important: Dalgona requires instant coffee — it will not work with ground coffee or espresso. The soluble protein in instant coffee is what allows it to whip into a stable foam.
