What is dalgona coffee?
Originally a Macanese street drink, dalgona exploded globally in 2020 when South Korean lockdown TikToks showed instant coffee, sugar, and hot water whipped into a thick, golden cloud spooned over cold milk. Named after dalgona, a Korean honeycomb candy, for the toffee color. Three pantry ingredients, ten minutes of arm work, viral aesthetic.
You'll need
- Bowl
- Electric hand mixer or whisk
- Tall glass
- Cold milk (or hot)
- 2 tbsp instant coffee
- 2 tbsp granulated sugar
- 2 tbsp hot water — Get instant coffee
Step by step
Combine in a bowl
In a bowl: 2 tbsp instant coffee, 2 tbsp sugar, 2 tbsp boiling hot water. Equal parts of all three is the magic ratio.
Whip until thick and glossy
Use an electric mixer on medium-high. Whip for 2 to 5 minutes (longer if by hand — expect 10+ minutes). The mixture transforms from dark liquid → paste → caramel cloud.
Test stiff peaks
Lift the beater. If foam holds a peak like meringue and doesn't immediately collapse, you're done. Should look like fluffy whipped cream.
Fill glass with cold milk + ice
Ice cubes, then 200 ml cold milk to about three-quarters full. (For hot dalgona, use warm milk and skip ice.)
Spoon foam on top
Spoon the whipped coffee onto the milk. It will float as a thick golden cloud. Photograph for the gram, then stir before drinking.
Pro tips
- Instant coffee is required — it has the surfactants needed to whip. Brewed espresso won't.
- Sugar is also required — sugar-free instant won't whip. Use a sugar substitute that whips like real sugar (erythritol works).
- Top with cocoa powder, cinnamon, or honeycomb candy crumbs for that authentic dalgona look.
Best coffee for dalgona:
Shop instant coffeeالخلاصة بالعربي
الدالجونا قهوة سريعة وسكر وماء ساخن بنسب متساوية، مخفوقة حتى تصبح سحابة ذهبية، ثم توضع فوق حليب بارد. انتشرت في 2020 عبر تيك توك.
