Whipped coffee, often called dalgona coffee, needs just three ingredients and no coffee machine at all, only equal parts instant coffee, sugar, and hot water, whisked until it turns pale and fluffy.
What you need
- 2 tablespoons instant coffee
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 2 tablespoons hot water
- Milk of your choice, for serving
- Ice, if serving cold
The method
- Combine the instant coffee, sugar, and hot water in a bowl.
- Whisk vigorously, either by hand or with an electric whisk, for 3 to 5 minutes by hand or about 2 minutes with an electric whisk, until the mixture turns pale brown and holds soft peaks, similar to whipped cream.
- Fill a glass with milk over ice, or warm milk if serving hot.
- Spoon the whipped coffee mixture on top and stir before drinking, or leave it layered for the visual effect.
Why the ratio matters
The 1:1:1 ratio of coffee, sugar, and hot water is what allows the mixture to whip up and hold air. Instant coffee dissolves and traps air bubbles as it is beaten, and the sugar helps stabilise that foam, similar to how sugar stabilises whipped egg whites. Reducing the sugar too much will give a thinner, less stable foam that collapses faster.
Using flavoured sugar instead of plain
Swapping plain sugar for a flavoured sugar like Dirty Vanilla adds a layer of flavour to the foam itself, so it comes through in every sip rather than settling at the bottom of the glass. The whipping process still works the same way, since it is the sugar's ability to trap air, not its flavour, that creates the foam.
Tips for a better whip
- Use hot water, not lukewarm, since it dissolves the instant coffee more fully
- An electric whisk or milk frother speeds things up considerably over whisking by hand
- Instant coffee is essential here, ground coffee will not whip in the same way
