What is Dalgona Coffee?
Dalgona Coffee (also known as Whipped Coffee or Desi Cappuccino) is a coffee preparation made from whipped, sweetened instant coffee beat into a thick foam. The drink was the subject of a viral internet challenge in early 2020. The name “Dalgona”, under which it is most popularly known, comes from the Korean “달구나”, which translates roughly to “it’s sweet”, and is also the name used for a honeycomb toffee snack sold by street vendors in Korea, which the sweet foam of the drink is said to recall.
Who invented Dalgona Coffee?
While the sweet street-snack Dalgona originated in Busan in the 1960s, the spike in the coffee drink’s popularity is often credited to Korean actor Jung Il-woo, who consumed the drink during a mukbang in Macau on a television program called “Stars’ Top Recipe at Fun-Staurant.”
The viral instant coffee phenomenon named Dalgona Coffee hit in 2020 just as the coronavirus pandemic began to spread worldwide. TikTok user @imhannahcho was one of the first—if not the first—to famously film her attempt at recreating the drink Jung consumed on the show. Her original post has been liked more than 2,000,000 times, and the #dalgonacoffeechallenge hashag on TikTok has more than 17,000,000 views. The fad was perfect fodder for millions of people trapped at home during early COVID lockdowns.
Food bloggers have pointed out that what’s become called Dalgona Coffee (at least in the USA) since Jung’s TV escapade is similar to a drink called Beaten Coffee, or Desi Cappuccino, which was invented in India. This drink is made from instant coffee, sugar, and water whipped into a frenzy, and served with milk—though unlike Dalgona, Desi Cappuccino is not typically layered, but instead heated milk may be poured onto the coffee mixture. Meanwhile, one United States company found themselves in hot water amid accusations of cultural appropriation for claiming to have inventeda drink very, very similar to Dalgona.
How do you make Dalgona Coffee?
As they say—it’s all in the wrist. Dalgona Coffee is made by mixing instant coffee (that’s right, instant) with equal parts sugar and water—2 Tbsp is a good quantity of each. Whip the water, coffee, and sugar together using a whisk or hand mixer for 5-10 minutes until the mixture forms a thick, foamy froth, then serve in a layer over ice and milk. The drink will have a nice creamy head, and mix with the milk as you drink it.
How many calories are in a Dalgona Coffee?
Sources measure Dalgona Coffee as having around 300 calories per serving. For perspective, that’s about three cappuccinos worth of calories!
Is Dalgona Coffee tasty?
Taste is subjective. Some folks believe the strong, bitter coffee base of the instant coffee used for Dalgona provides the perfect canvas for sugar and milk. Who could dislike something they put so much hard work into? But be warned: this drink is not for the faint of heart.
Liz Clayton is the associate editor at Sprudge Media Network. Read moreLiz Clayton on Sprudge.
FAQs
Dalgona Coffee (also known as Whipped Coffee or Desi Cappuccino) is a coffee preparation made from whipped, sweetened instant coffee beat into a thick foam.
What is dalgona coffee made of? ›
COMBINE espresso, hot water and sugar in a medium bowl. FROTH coffee mixture with a frother or whisk vigorously until mixture is light and fluffy. FILL 2 glasses with ice cubes. Top with milk.
What is the difference between normal coffee and dalgona coffee? ›
The only difference is that the coffee is in the froth part on the Dalgona coffee and the milk is underneath :) Normal coffee is all mixed together with less froth.
What does dalgona coffee taste like? ›
Dalgona coffee is definitely sweet, but that caffeine flavor is still present in a nicely subtle way. The drink tasted a bit like coffee ice cream, while the texture was very soft and light — like whipped cream that's just begun to melt into a mug of hot chocolate.
What makes dalgona coffee fluffy? ›
The combination of sugar, instant coffee, and boiling water makes the dalgona coffee fluffy. If you take out one of these ingredients, the coffee won't be fluffy and frothy.
Is dalgona coffee good or bad for you? ›
May help with acidity: Drinking dalgona coffee may also help relieve acidity as the beverage uses milk, which can help ease digestion issues. There's some evidence suggesting that calcium and protein content in milk may help relieve heartburn.
Why is everyone making dalgona coffee? ›
Occasionally, it is topped with coffee powder, cocoa, crumbled biscuits, or honey. It was popularized on social media during the COVID-19 pandemic, when people refraining from going out started making videos of whipping the coffee at home, by hand without using electrical mixers.
Why did dalgona coffee fail? ›
One of the most common problems encountered when making Dalgona Coffee is using the wrong ratio of ingredients. If the proportion of instant coffee, sugar, and hot water is not balanced, it can result in the mixture failing to whip to the desired fluffy consistency.
Is dalgona coffee stronger? ›
Both the instant and fresh coffees that I made tasted very sweet, but because they aren't diluted much, they're also very strong. If you don't normally drink espressos, I'd recommend playing with the recipe to achieve a palatable brew.
Why does dalgona coffee taste bitter? ›
Because you make it with a larger percentage ratio of instant coffee to liquid than you would to make regular hot coffee. Bitterness is always part of the coffee flavor profile.
Dalgona comes from the Korean word meaning “sweet.” It's the same word used for a popular sweet toffee snack sold in Korea. The street candy is sold in almost all Korean cities and has been around since the 1960s. If you have never tried Dalgona, it almost tastes like butterscotch.
What coffee is the healthiest? ›
Overall, lighter roasts generally have less caffeine and more antioxidants than darker roasts. The type of bean can affect the caffeine content, but both Arabica and Robusta beans can give you the full health benefits of coffee.
How do you eat dalgona coffee? ›
Dalgona coffee is whipped coffee made by whipping instant coffee with sugar and hot water and served over cold milk.
How long does it take to whip dalgona coffee? ›
MANUAL WHISK: takes a good 8-15 minutes, depending on how thick you want it. Whip with a zig-zag motion. Take a short break when you need to. HAND BEATER: only takes about 3-5 minutes.
Can you keep dalgona coffee in the fridge? ›
No matter which method you choose to make your dalgona coffee, it's important to note that the foam can be kept in the refrigerator . That's right — whether you make too much froth or you just want to prep for your next inevitable caffeine hankering, you can cut time by saving your foam in the refrigerator.
Which instant coffee is best for dalgona? ›
What are best instant coffee for Dalgona?
- NESCAFÉ Rich Instant Coffee.
- Korean Instant Coffee Sample Packets (Rose Bud & Maxim Mocha)
- Folgers Classic Roast Instant Coffee.
- Starbucks Instant Pike Place Medium Roast Coffee.
- Highground Organic Instant Decaf Coffee.
- Maxwell House International Hazelnut Instant Coffee.
Dalgona (달고나) is a Korean candy made with melted sugar and baking soda originating from South Korea. It is a popular street snack from the 1960s, and is still eaten as a retro food.
Why is it called Dalgona? ›
Dalgona comes from the Korean word meaning “sweet.” It's the same word used for a popular sweet toffee snack sold in Korea. The street candy is sold in almost all Korean cities and has been around since the 1960s. If you have never tried Dalgona, it almost tastes like butterscotch.
Does dalgona coffee have caffeine? ›
But it does, and Dalgona coffee is simple to make, lovely to behold, and provides a happy jolt of sophisticated caffeine in either hot or cold form.
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