Dalgona Coffee Recipe | Easy Frothy Whipped Coffee
This easy Dalgona coffee recipe is a creamy, frothy coffee made with just 3 ingredients. A viral TikTok hit with 13M+ views, it’s the perfect iced or warm treat you can make at home in minutes.
I don’t usually share personal stories… But this dalgona coffee recipe has truly changed my life (I talk about it here). This is the most popular recipe on my YouTube channel, with over 13 million views. It went viral and played a huge part in launching my career, helping me reach millions of viewers and fast-track my success. If you’re new here, this coffee is where it all began!
Why You’ll Love This Frothy Coffee Recipe
- Viral success: My Dalgona coffee recipe has over 13M views on YouTube, with 6K+ comments and nearly 190K likes. It’s my most loved video of all time and the post viral and loved dalgona recipe in the world! Don’t believe me? Just read the comments on my video.
- Just 3 ingredients: Instant coffee, sugar, and hot water.
- Cold & refreshing: Perfect as an iced coffee or over warm milk if you prefer.
- Customizable: Works with dairy-free milk, sugar alternatives, or flavored syrups.
- Quick & fun: Whip it up in under 5 minutes with a hand mixer or even by hand.
- Looks impressive: That silky coffee foam on top of cold milk? Instant wow factor.
How to Make Dalgona Coffee (Whipped Coffee)
Watch the full video recipe to learn how to make frothy whipped coffee like a pro:
Prefer the written recipe? Scroll down to the recipe box 👇
What Is Dalgona Coffee Made Of?
Here are the 3 simple ingredients that create this creamy whipped coffee magic:
- Instant coffee – Use a high-quality instant coffee or espresso powder. The better the coffee, the better the foam. You can’t substitute brewed coffee—it won’t whip.
- Sugar – White sugar works best, but brown sugar, coconut sugar, and even raw sugar can also be used. Sugar helps stabilize the foam.
- Hot water – Just-boiled water is ideal to quickly dissolve the coffee and sugar before whipping.
- Milk (for serving) – Any milk works: dairy, almond, oat, soy, or coconut. Serve it cold over ice or warm for a cozy version.
Looking for dairy-free whipped coffee? Just use your favorite plant-based milk and it’s fully vegan!
What Is Dalgona Coffee?
Dalgona coffee, also known as Korean whipped coffee, is a frothy drink made by whipping together equal parts instant coffee, sugar, and hot water. It became wildly popular during the 2020 COVID-19 lockdown thanks to TikTok and Instagram. The name comes from a Korean honeycomb toffee candy called “dalgona,” due to the drink’s similar taste and appearance.
If you’re curious about the candy behind the name, check out my Dalgona Cookies (Squid Game Cookies) recipe — it’s the classic Korean street treat made famous again by the viral Netflix show!
One Coffee – Many Names
This viral sensation goes by many names around the world. Here are just a few:
- Dalgona Coffee – Originating from South Korea, this is the most recognized name.
- Whipped Coffee – Because of its light, whipped texture.
- Frothy Coffee – A term used often on TikTok to describe that airy foam.
- TikTok Coffee – Thanks to the viral #dalgonacoffeechallenge.
- Greek Frappe – Similar concept, made with instant coffee and shaken instead of whipped.
- Quarantine Coffee – It became a global trend during the 2020 lockdowns as everyone experimented at home.
Substitutes and Variations
Want to customize your Dalgona coffee recipe? Here are some ideas:
- Low-sugar or sugar-free: Use monk fruit sweetener, stevia, erythritol, or xylitol (results may vary slightly).
- Dairy-free whipped coffee: Use almond milk, oat milk, coconut milk or any plant-based milk that you like.
- Frozen whipped coffee: Freeze whipped foam in ice cube trays or in a bowl covered tightly with plastic wrap. Drop frozen portions into milk for a creamy cold treat.
- Hand-whisk method or milk frother: No hand mixer? Use a whisk and some patience (8–10 minutes), or a handheld electric milk frother for quicker results.
- Flavored versions: Add cinnamon, vanilla extract, or cocoa powder to the foam.
- No instant coffee? Use instant espresso for a stronger flavor. Ground or brewed coffee won’t work.
How to Make Low-Sugar Dalgona Coffee
Looking to cut back on sugar? Here are a few ways to enjoy a low sugar Dalgona coffee:
- Use erythritol, xylitol, or monk fruit for a sugar-free version. Texture may be slightly different.
- Reduce the sugar to 1 tablespoon, though the foam won’t be as stable.
- Skip sugar entirely: You can whip coffee and water alone, but expect a thinner foam with a bitter taste.
Pro Tips to Make the Best Dalgona Coffee
I’ve made this frothy coffee recipe more times than I can count. Trust me, these tips will make all the difference:
- Stick to the 1:1:1 ratio: Equal parts instant coffee, sugar, and hot water.
- Use hot water – not warm, not cold.
- Go electric: A hand mixer saves time and effort.
- Use quality instant coffee: It really impacts the flavor.
- Serve over ice: The contrast between the cold milk and warm foam is unbeatable.
- Make a double batch: Multiply the quantities and freeze the whipped coffee in portions (ice cube trays or container). Next time you want Dalgona coffee, just drop a frozen portion into milk—no mixing or whipping required!
This is the method I’ve refined after testing with millions of viewers and thousands of comments. It’s foolproof.
How to Store Whipped Coffee
- Fridge: Store the whipped coffee in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Stir gently before serving.
- Freezer: Freeze portions in an ice cube tray, a bowl, or a sealed container. When ready to use, just scoop and stir into your milk—no re-whipping needed.
- Leftover tip: Blend into a smoothie, mix into milkshakes, or use as a topping for brownies or ice cream!
Dalgona Coffee Recipe (Easy Frothy Whipped Coffee)
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons Instant coffee
- 2 tablespoons Sugar read notes
- 2 tablespoons Hot water
- ½ cup (120 ml) Milk any milk of your choice (dairy or plant-based)
- Ice cubes for serving
Instructions
- Prepare the whipped coffee: In a medium mixing bowl, add the instant coffee, sugar, and hot water. The magic ratio is 1:1:1—this creates that signature frothy texture.
- Whip it: Using an electric hand mixer (or a whisk if you have the arm strength!), whip the mixture for 2–4 minutes until it becomes light, thick, and creamy. It should hold stiff peaks similar to whipped cream.
- Assemble the drink: Fill a serving glass about ¾ of the way with cold milk and ice cubes.
- Top and enjoy: Spoon the whipped coffee mixture over the milk. Stir before drinking for the best taste and texture—or enjoy the layers as-is for the full Dalgona experience!
Video
Notes
- Make ahead: You can make whipped coffee in advance! Store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2–3 days. It may lose a bit of its volume, but a quick re-whip or stir will bring it back. You can also freeze whipped coffee up to two months.
- Sugar substitutes: Sugar plays an important role in stabilizing the foam. While you can use granulated sugar, brown sugar, or coconut sugar, sugar-free alternatives like erythritol may produce a less stable foam.
- Golden ratio (1:1:1): Stick to equal parts instant coffee, sugar, and hot water for perfect results every time. Multiply as needed.
- Type of coffee: Only instant coffee or instant espresso powder will work for whipping. Ground coffee or brewed coffee won’t foam properly.
- Serve hot or cold: Traditionally, dalgona coffee served over cold milk with ice, but it’s also delicious over warm milk for a cozy drink.
- Whisking by hand: It’s possible, but be prepared to whisk vigorously for 8–10 minutes. A hand mixer, frother, or stand mixer makes the job much easier.
- Read the FAQs:Â For troubleshooting, substitutions, and topping ideas, check out the FAQ section on the blog.
- Watch the Video:Â For best results, watch the step-by-step video tutorial included in the post.
Nutrition
Frequently Asked Questions
Use high-quality instant coffee or espresso powder. Avoid brewed coffee or ground beans as they won’t whip.
Yes, but the foam will be less stable. You can use sugar alternatives like erythritol or monk fruit.
Both use instant coffee, but a Greek frappe is shaken with water and ice, while Dalgona is whipped to create foam.
Yes! Decaf instant coffee works the same way if you want a caffeine-free version.
We used an immersion blender with this, and it came out more as syrup than the beautiful foam. Did we not do it long enough, or is it recommended to use a mixer instead?
It needs the whisk not the flat blade of the blender. You can use a hand mixer, the kitchen aid mixer.
Can u substitute brown sugar?
Yes, you can use brown sugar.
Can I use a frother? like one we use for milk!
Yes, I used a frother. Worked perfectly!
I did and it worked out amazing!
r u sure
What brand of instant coffee did you use?
I don’t remember what I used but mine was like extra-strong bold and that was a mistake it is now really strong and I don’t really enjoy it
I used maple sugar and an immersion blender and it came out foamy and delicious. I just had to tilt the immersion blender a little not flat
If you’re thinking of using this as a mousse or dessert-y element like I was, know that it tastes *really strongly of coffee and needs to be mixed with the milk.
how long does it take to whip the coffee mixture….i know it works from experience of other videos im just wondering how long it takes to turn fluffy
Can you substitute the sugar for sweetener I.e erythritol or stevia?
Yes!!
Use a emersion blender do it in a coffee mug takes seconds to blend
So nice I love it so so so so so so so so so much, our frothy coffee mix thingy did not turn out that light brown but it still tasted splendid !!! So good; Me: gosh I need more. GAMER FUEL FOR THOSE GAMER! Do recommend doing NOT good for hands though if don’t have an electric mixer thingy but it’s still very much worth it.
Was it a bad idea to use bold coffee because I don’t like mine it is to strong for my liking
Can you froth it by hand?
No
It says in the beginning that you can and another person commented, that they did it by hand too. So Johnny here is wrong.
I used brown sugar and instant coffee crystals with my milk frother and it worked perfectly, totally delicious and so easy!
I just checked the instant coffee recommended serving, though, and it said to use 2 tsp for 12 oz. water, so I’ll see if I’m vibrating from a 3x dose in my cup!
Love this coffee!