What is Dalgona Coffee?

There is a lot of confusion over how this craze started and where Dolgona coffee was first made. Most people accept that it stems from both South Korean and Indian influences. The name “dalgona” itself references a Korean toffee candy.

The whipped portion of the drink is made with instant coffee, hot water, and sugar and then is served over milk or cream. Outside of Western culture, this drink has been popular for years so tracing it back to a single origin isn’t really possible.

A similar coffee in India is known as phenti hui coffee. Many people believe this to be the “original” Dalgona coffee. The drink has become popular in the United States and Europe mainly due to a viral TikTok video. Since the video was posted, many celebrities have tried making their own which boosted the drink’s rise in popularity.
 

To make Dalgona coffee the traditional way, you’re going to need a whisk and some strong arm muscles. You’ll need to whisk the instant coffee, sugar, and water together until they form a thick cream with stiff peaks. Technically, you could do this with an electric mixer and your coffee should turn out fine, but many people insist the best results come from hand whipping your coffee.

Remember, Dalgona coffee cannot be made with typical coffee grounds. You must use instant coffee or the pillow-y magic won’t happen!
 

Since the beginning of this trend, many people have started to come up with interesting spins on the traditional dalgona coffee. There are now ways to make it healthier and to fit your lifestyle better. There are also ways to add in extra flavors like chocolate, strawberry, vanilla, and even matcha. Check out these six recipes for the dalgona style topping.