Dalgona coffee

A whipped coffee beverage

Dalgona Coffee

A glass of homemade Dalgona coffee

Dalgona coffee is a beverage made by whipping equal proportions of instant coffee, sugar, and hot water until it becomes creamy and then adding it to cold or hot milk. Occasionally, it is topped with coffee powder, cocoa, crumbled biscuits, or honey. The drink is named after a type of Korean honeycomb toffee, called "dalgona," due to its resemblance in taste and appearance, although most dalgona coffee does not actually contain dalgona.

History

Dalgona coffee became popular in early 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, when people around the world began making it at home and sharing their creations on social media platforms such as TikTok and Instagram. The drink's popularity surged as it was easy to make with common household ingredients and required no special equipment.

Preparation

The preparation of dalgona coffee involves whisking together instant coffee, sugar, and hot water in a 1:1:1 ratio until the mixture becomes thick and frothy. This can be done by hand with a whisk, but it is often more convenient to use an electric mixer. Once the mixture is whipped to a creamy consistency, it is spooned over a glass of milk, which can be served either hot or cold.

Cultural Significance

Close-up of the whipped coffee topping

The name "dalgona" comes from a traditional Korean street snack that is made by melting sugar and baking soda to create a caramel-like candy. Although the coffee does not contain this candy, the name was adopted due to the visual and textural similarity of the whipped coffee to the candy.

Dalgona coffee became a symbol of the quarantine experience during the pandemic, as it was a simple yet satisfying activity that people could do at home. It also sparked interest in other whipped beverages and creative coffee recipes.

Variations

While the classic dalgona coffee is made with instant coffee, sugar, and water, variations have emerged that use different types of sweeteners, such as honey or maple syrup, and different types of milk, including almond milk, oat milk, and soy milk. Some variations also incorporate flavors like vanilla or cinnamon.

Related pages

• Coffee
• Instant coffee
• Korean cuisine
• COVID-19 pandemic