An Irish coffee glass filled with whipped coffee.

Coffee, sugar and hot water are put into a bowl and whisked until it reaches a creamy, velvety and stiff peak status (whisk until your arm goes numb). This whipped coffee is then dolloped onto your choice of cold or warm milk. Done!Valentina Mussi

WHAT MAKES DALGONA COFFEE DIFFERENT?

First off, it’s TikTok famous, unlike all those other boring coffees. But more than that, it’s not just coffee. It’s actually very little like coffee—your flat white has nothing on this foamy, fluffy, Instaworthy cuppa. Dalgona coffee is prepared by whipping equal parts instant coffee, sugar, and hot water into a creamy, caramel meringue, then piling it on top of a glass of icy milk. Popular in South Korea in the 1970s and 80s, it’s recently been revived by a clip of heartthrob actor Jung Il Woo trying it in Macau. Sure, it’s crazy hip but it’s also really, really good.

An Irish coffee glass filled with whipped coffee.

Whipped Coffee

5 / 3 votes
This is the recipe that broke the whole Internet. It’s arguably the most significant coffee drink since the Pumpkin Spice Latte. The best part? It’s made with ingredients you probably already have on hand.
David Leite
CourseDrinks
CuisineAmerican
Servings2 servings
Calories150 kcal
Prep Time15 minutes
Total Time15 minutes

Ingredients 

  • 3 tablespoons instant coffee
  • 3 tablespoons hot water
  • 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
  • Ice
  • 3/4 cup whole milk

Instructions 

  • In a medium bowl, combine coffee, water, and sugar. Using a hand mixer or set to high speed, beat until stiff peaks form, 5 to 10 minutes. Alternatively, you can whisk this by hand, which should take about 15 minutes.
  • Fill two 6-ounce glasses 3/4 full of ice and then divvy the milk between the glasses. Spoon coffee mixture on top.
The Unofficial Tik Tok Cookbook

Adapted From

The Unofficial TikTok Cookbook

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Nutrition

Serving: 1 portionCalories: 150 kcalCarbohydrates: 28 gProtein: 4 gFat: 3 gSaturated Fat: 2 gMonounsaturated Fat: 1 gCholesterol: 9 mgSodium: 42 mgSugar: 22 g

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Tried this recipe?Mention @leitesculinaria or tag #leitesculinaria!
Recipe © 2021 Valentina Mussi. Photo © 2021 Harper Point Photography. All rights reserved.

Recipe Testers’ Reviews

Funny enough I have had a whipped coffee craving for some time, and this recipe satisfied that craving! The directions are easy to follow, and the results are delicious. The mixture came to medium/stiff peaks, which made it slightly easier to mix into the milk.

Whipped coffee in a clear glass, being held in front of an orange wall.

This certainly would be easier with a hand mixer, but I put a hand towel down under the bowl and whisked away, and the final product was well worth it.

What a fun recipe this whipped coffee is! Very simple, exciting, and tasty. This recipe yields a nice glass of cold and creamy coffee. It also gives us the creative freedom to add any other flavors that we enjoy. For example, I like to add a tablespoon of homemade Nutella for a nice hazelnut flavored coffee.

I wanted to make this whipped coffee all summer, but somehow never got around to it. I’ve loved coffee since childhood. My grandmother used to have an omnipresent bowl of coffee candy in the living room. I was an early fan. This creamy strongly flavored iced coffee didn’t disappoint.

This was one of the first trends I jumped on the bandwagon of, and I’m not disappointed. I love, love, love this whipped coffee. This recipe makes the ratios super easy to remember and it results in an amazing drink. Next time, I’m going to take it a step further and turn it into a white Russian!

The magic that occurs from 10 minutes of whipping sugar, coffee, and water is incredible and unbelievable. What’s not to love about whipped coffee? We made it as an after Easter Sunday lunch dessert treat. The results were a thick, fluffy coffee-flavored meringue that stays just as light and fluffy even hours later. Stirred into the icy cold milk it keeps its fluffy texture and creates a silky coffee-style milkshake.

It’s equally as delicious as a warm drink topped on hot milk. The ratio of coffee to sugar is just sweet enough. Optional stir-ins or flavorings, like a coffee liqueur, Kahlua, Amarula, or even whiskey for a take on Irish coffee would also be a great add-on treat for coffee and liqueur lovers.




About David Leite

I count myself lucky to have received three James Beard Awards for my writing as well as for Leite’s Culinaria. My work has also appeared in The New York Times, Martha Stewart Living, Saveur, Bon Appรฉtit, Gourmet, Food & Wine, Yankee, Los Angeles Times, Chicago Tribune, The Washington Post, and more.


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5 Comments

  1. Can someone recommend an instant coffee. It’s been decades since I’ve had any and I didn’t like it then.

    1. I’m not an instant coffee drinker either, Bkhuna, but if any of our readers have a favorite, we’d love to hear from you!

    2. 5 stars
      I like to use regular Nescafe classico. I find the taste is mild not harsh for whipped coffee.