What Is Dalgona Coffee?

Dalgona coffee took the internet by storm a few years ago, and it's easy to see why. The drink consists of a thick, creamy whipped coffee foam — made from just three ingredients — spooned over cold or hot milk. It looks spectacular, tastes surprisingly good, and requires nothing but a bowl and a whisk (or a hand mixer if you're impatient).

The name comes from a Korean honeycomb toffee candy called dalgona, which the whipped coffee is said to resemble in colour and texture.

Classic Dalgona Coffee

Ingredients (1 serving)

  • 2 tablespoons instant coffee
  • 2 tablespoons granulated white sugar
  • 2 tablespoons hot water
  • 200–250ml milk of your choice (dairy or plant-based), cold or warm
  • Ice cubes (for iced version)

Instructions

  1. Combine the instant coffee, sugar, and hot water in a bowl.
  2. Whisk vigorously by hand for 5–8 minutes, or use a hand mixer on medium-high for about 2 minutes, until the mixture becomes thick, pale, and holds stiff peaks.
  3. Fill a glass with ice (for cold) or warm your milk gently (for hot).
  4. Pour the milk into the glass, then spoon the whipped coffee foam generously on top.
  5. Stir before drinking to combine — or enjoy the layers as they are for the first sip.

Note: This recipe works best with instant coffee. Brewed espresso or filter coffee won't whip to the same texture because it lacks the soluble solids that create the foam's structure.

3 Creative Dalgona Variations

1. Dalgona Matcha Latte

Replace the whipped coffee with whipped matcha. Combine 2 teaspoons of ceremonial-grade matcha powder with 2 tablespoons of hot water and 1 tablespoon of honey or sugar. Whisk until frothy (it won't get as stiff as the coffee version, but will be beautifully airy). Spoon over cold oat milk for a caffeine-light alternative.

2. Mocha Dalgona

Add 1 teaspoon of unsweetened cocoa powder to your classic whipped coffee mixture before whisking. The result is a richer, chocolate-forward foam that pairs beautifully with whole milk. Finish with a light dusting of cocoa powder on top.

3. Spiced Chai Dalgona

Dissolve 1 tablespoon of instant chai latte powder (or a concentrated chai syrup) with 1 tablespoon of instant coffee, 1 tablespoon of sugar, and 2 tablespoons of hot water. Whisk until thick and spoon over steamed milk. Finish with a pinch of cinnamon and cardamom on top. Warming, aromatic, and completely unique.

Tips for the Best Results

  • Use fine sugar: Caster sugar dissolves faster and helps the foam come together more quickly than granulated sugar.
  • Don't skimp on whisking: The foam needs to reach stiff peaks or it will collapse into the milk too quickly.
  • Try oat milk: Its natural sweetness and creamy texture complement the bitter coffee foam exceptionally well.
  • Adjust sweetness: The classic recipe is quite sweet. Reduce sugar by half for a less sweet, more intensely coffee-forward flavour.

Dalgona coffee is one of those rare recipes that's genuinely fun to make, impressive to serve, and flexible enough to adapt to your own tastes. Try all four versions and decide which one becomes your go-to.