Make Dalgona coffee yourself? Check out this recipe!

Fancy something special with your coffee, but don’t want to fuss? Dalgona coffee looks like you’ve hired a barista, but really all you need is a whisk, some instant coffee and a bit of patience. The foam often doesn’t work or collapses too quickly, which can be frustrating. With this recipe, it will work: you’ll learn exactly how to get the creamy coffee topping firm and fluffy, so you can serve a perfect Dalgona coffee yourself.

What is Dalgona coffee?

Dalgona coffee is a creamy, whipped coffee drink made from three simple ingredients: instant coffee, sugar and hot water. Whipping these together creates a firm foam that you serve on top of cold milk. The drink originally comes from South Korea and became popular worldwide via social media. The result is a delicious combination of smooth milk with an intense coffee layer that also looks impressive in your glass.

Recipe information & ingredients

Recipe information

• Preparation time: 5 minutes
• Cooking time: 1 minute
• Serves: 2 glasses
• Category: Coffee recipe

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons instant coffee
• 2 tablespoons caster sugar
• 2 tablespoons hot water
• 200 ml cold milk (whole milk, oat drink or other variant)
• Ice cubes

Preparation instructions

1. Put the instant coffee, sugar and hot water in a bowl. Whisk it with a whisk, milk frother or hand mixer. This takes about 2 to 4 minutes. The mixture is ready when it is firm, fluffy and forms soft peaks.
2. Fill two glasses with milk and optionally add a few ice cubes for a cold version.
3. Carefully spoon the whipped coffee mixture on top of the milk. No need to stir: the layers stay nicely visible.
4. Serve immediately and optionally stir briefly before you start drinking so the flavours mix well.

Serving tips and variations

Want a warm version of Dalgona coffee? Then warm the milk instead of serving it cold. This way you get a creamy coffee drink that tastes delicious even on chilly days.

You can use plant-based milk like oat milk or almond milk. Just make sure the milk contains some fat; that helps the coffee foam hold up well.

Want less sugar? Use a natural sweetener like stevia, or leave out the sugar entirely if you like a bitter coffee flavour. For extra taste, sprinkle a pinch of cocoa powder or cinnamon over the foam.

Use this product to make your Dalgona coffee

To make Dalgona coffee you need instant coffee with a strong flavour. Our Café du Jour Instant Espresso is perfect for this: this instant coffee gives a full, rich flavour and creates a firm foam.

Prefer something milder? Then choose a gentler variant like Nescafé Gold instant coffee. Both are ideal for making barista-quality creations at home.