In need of a frappe fix but can’t get out of the house? In just 5 minutes and 4 basic ingredients, your problem is solved. Dalgona coffee has gone viral on social media in 2020, and it’s here to stay. This extra-fluffy whipped coffee has everything you can ask for in a frappe, but at the fraction of the cost. And, believe it or not, the recipe requires no cream at all! Attention coffee lovers: Dalgona coffee is guaranteed to be your new fave. Let’s get whisking!
Dalgona Coffee
Dalgona coffee is a frothy coffee drink made from four simple ingredients: instant coffee, sugar, water, and milk. It has two components – milk at the bottom and a fluffy coffee foam on top. It looks just as stunning (maybe even more) as a frappe! What makes it so special is that it’s so easy to make, it doesn’t require special equipment or barista skills at all. As long as you have a bowl and a mixer, you’re all set. The idea is to whisk together coffee, sugar, and water, and you’ll get this ridiculously fluffy coffee foam. Can you imagine making your very own frappe at home? I didn’t think it would work, but with millions of people sharing pictures and videos on social media, I just had to try. And yes, I was mind-blown! The recipe works whether you like your coffee hot or cold. That means you can enjoy it any time, any season.
Ingredients
Part of the magic of Dalgona coffee is that the foam only calls for three ingredients, and it doesn’t include whipping cream! Here’s what you need:
Boiling Water. Keyword: boiling. The hotter the water, the quicker it dissolves the sugar and coffee, and the faster the mixture becomes foamy.Instant Coffee. Keyword: instant, not ground! It’s the emulsifier in instant coffee that makes the mixture super fluffy and frothy. Sorry, coffee snobs! You’ll have to be open to instant coffee for this recipe.
The best coffee brands for this recipe are Nescafe, Maxwell, and Starbucks. You can also use decaf, but 3-in-1 coffee won’t work.
Granulated Sugar. Keyword: granulated. Granulated sugar crystals help the foam achieve its foamiest, fluffiest state. Without it, the foam won’t be as stable.
White, brown, raw, and even coconut sugar all work. You can also skip the sugar, but it won’t stay foamy for long.
Milk. Any kind works! For an extra creamy drink, use whole milk. If you’re vegan, use almond, cashew, and soy milk.
If you like it hot, go ahead. If you like it cold, by all means!
Tips for the Best Coffee
You can use instant espresso, too, but, note that it will make a much stronger, concentrated blend.Start whisking as soon as you place the ingredients in a bowl for extra fluffy foam. Just keep whisking. The technique won’t seem to work in the beginning, but give it time. It will thicken eventually.After taking pics for Instagram, give that drink a good stirring. Unlike Starbucks frappes, the foam in Dalgona coffee is very intense. Use the coffee foam as a topping for brownies, pavlova, and banana bread.The coffee foam stays thick and fluffy even after a while. In fact, you can store it in an airtight container and refrigerate it for up to 3 days! Or, make a large batch and freeze to make ice cream.
How Did This Drink Become Popular?
Dalgona coffee became a trend in South Korea at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Being stuck at home prevented people from getting their usual coffee from coffee shops, and prompted them to make their own version at home for some semblance of normalcy. In February 2020, the hashtags #dalgonacoffee and #달고나커피 started trending on TikTok and Instagram, with countless people sharing pictures and video tutorials of how to make the popular drink. In just a month, the Korean trend reached worldwide fame. In fact, one of the very first Dalgona tutorials has earned a whopping 4 million views on YouTube! But where does it get its name from? Dalgona is actually the name of a South Korean coffee candy. It has a spongy, foam-like texture with a nice crunch, akin to honeycomb. According to Wikipedia, it was South Korean actor, Jung II-Woo, who came up with the name. In interviews, he described a coffee drink he had in Macau that reminded him of Dalgona candy. Because of its consistency, others have also dubbed it the “fluffy coffee,” “frothy coffee,” and “whipped coffee.” While South Korea is responsible for making the drink famous, other countries and cultures have been using the same or a similar technique before it became a thing. In India and Pakistan, it’s called “beaten coffee” or “Indian-style cappuccino,” while in Greece, it’s called “frappe coffee.”
How to Make Whipped Coffee Without a Hand Mixer
I’m not gonna lie, making Dalgona without a stand or handheld mixer is a challenge… BUT! It’s totally possible. Just get ready for a good muscle workout, though! To make, combine boiling water, instant coffee, and sugar in a large bowl. Whisk by hand for 8 to 20 minutes with a whisk. Yes, it’s a long process, but it’s worth it. Pro-tip: whisk in a zigzag motion – back and forth and side to side, instead of rotating in circles. Click on a star to rate it!
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