Whipped Coffee: All About This Trending Brew

What is Whipped Coffee? Facts and Dalgona Recipe Guide

Whipped coffee is also called Dalgona coffee and is popular in South Korea. Basically, it is coffee whipped into a creamy froth and served over milk or water. It can also be used as a topping. Or, you can stir it in with warm milk. Recently, this trending type of coffee got really popular on TikTok. 

Whipped coffee is often made with instant coffee, sugar, milk, and water. However, a slightly better version can also be made using real coffee. When you whip strong coffee with sugar, it forms a distinctive creamy layer that floats above or sits on top of iced milk.

Where to Get Whipped Coffee

Since whipped coffee is all the rage this year, you're probably wondering how to get a taste of this distinctive fluffy phenomena. Unfortunately, if you are in the United States, it can be hard to come by this treat. Unless that is, you make it from home. 

Many at-home whipped coffee recipes call for instant coffee. However, many coffee drinkers will agree, instant coffee isn't the best-tasting stuff. The better option is to make whipped coffee the real way with espresso.

Not only is the flavor better, but the texture is far superior. If you have the ability to pull shots of espresso at home and own a stand mixer, you are all set. If you don't have an espresso maker, you can also use very strong coffee as well. Though, you'll still want a hand or stand mixer. Otherwise, you can't achieve the desired fluffiness. 

The Best Real Dalgona Whipped Coffee Recipe - Whipped Coffee Without Instant Coffee

Ingredients: 

• 2 ounces hot espresso or strong coffee (We like to use fresh Italian Espresso)
• 2 ounces (4 tablespoons) white sugar
• ½ cup cold milk
• Vanilla or extract for flavor is desired
• Cinnamon if desired

Equipment:

• Espresso maker
• Hand or stand mixer
• Bowl
• Tall glass
• Spoon

Step 1: 

Combine the hot espresso and white sugar in a bowl. Stir this mixture until it is all of the way dissolved and combined together.  

Step 2: 

Using a hand mixer or a stand mixer, you will carefully whip together the espresso and sugar. Be patient! This step can take several minutes. If you stop too early, your coffee won't be thick and fluffy. When it's fully mixed, it will be thick and have a meringue-like texture. It will also form soft peaks. Generally, this takes about 5 to 8 minutes. 

Step 3: 

Prepare your milk. If you want, you can add a drop of vanilla extract for extra flavor. Simply pour your cold milk into the glass. Transparent glass is best, as you can see how beautiful the whipped effect is. You can also add ice to your milk if desired to keep your drink extra cold and fresh. Just add the ice to your milk before adding the whipped coffee topping. 

Step 4:

Now, spoon the whipped coffee on top of the milk. You can top it with a sprinkle of cinnamon as well if desired. Be sure to drink immediately, as the whipped meringue will begin to dissolve into the milk. You can stir it in for a tasty, smooth drink as well. 

Whipped Coffee at Home Tips

• Classic whipped coffee recipes do call for instant coffee. However, coffee lovers know that instant coffee is not the same as freshly brewed coffee. For this reason, we recommend trying both the real coffee and instant coffee versions and deciding which one tastes best to you.

• If you desire the instant coffee version of whipped coffee, be sure to use an equal amount of sugar and coffee in your recipe.  

Why Does Dalgona Coffee Come Served on Top of Milk?

Whipped Dalgona coffee is usually served on top of a glass of cold milk. Any type of milk can be used to make your Dalgona. Coconut milk coffee drinks are really popular right now, so you can definitely substitute coconut milk in whipped coffee if you prefer. Oat milk and whipped coffee go well together also. 

If you want to skip the milk, you can fill your glass with iced coffee instead. The one thing you should avoid is using hot coffee or hot milk unless you plant to stir it all together. With warm milk and coffee underneath, whipped coffee will immediately start to dissolve. This ruins the floating, frothy effect, but still creates something tasty and slightly sweet.  

Can You Make Whipped Coffee Without a Stand Mixer or Hand Mixer?

Not really, no. Whipping espresso and sugar into a meringue cannot be done by hand. Even if you whip intensely for 3 entire minutes, you won't get there. You can’ take a break, either. You have to constantly keep whipping, as this is what lets air get into the sugar to form that fluffed-up whipped effect. In order to make whipped coffee, you have to keep the coffee-sugar mixture moving fast for 8 minutes without stopping. 

Can You Make Whipped Coffee with Heavy Cream?

Yes, if you decide to use real espresso instead of instant coffee, you can make a really creamy whipped cream meringue version of this drink. Simply use 1 1/2 oz of espresso and 1/2 oz of heavy whipping cream with 4 tablespoons of white sugar. Whip it all for about 5 minutes.  

Making Whipped Coffee with Strong Coffee by Adjusting Coffee to Water Ratio

If you don't have an espresso maker, you can brew your coffee extra strong. The goal is to use very hot water and make your coffee about 3X stronger than usual. You can read about adjusting your coffee to water ratio here. Also, we recommend checking out these coffees for delicious flavored whipped coffee!