Thick, cloud-like whipped coffee spooned over cold milk. Dalgona had its moment, and it never really left. It looks like a café did it. It didn't. You did, in about five minutes, with three ingredients.
The trick is coffee that whips up light and holds its shape. Real freeze-dried coffee does exactly that.
Pick your coffee
- Espresso — stronger and more bitter, for a bold, proper coffee hit up top.
- Americano — lighter and smoother, for a gentler whip.
The recipe
- 1 serving (2g) Ten15 freeze-dried Espresso (or Americano)
- 2g sugar
- A splash of hot water
- Cold milk and ice, to serve
Method:
- Add the coffee and sugar to a bowl in equal amounts, with just a small splash of hot water — enough to help it whip, not so much it goes runny.
- Whisk until it turns thick, pale, and fluffy and holds soft peaks.
- Fill a glass with cold milk and ice.
- Spoon the whipped coffee on top. Stir before you drink, so the two come together.
The easy way to whip it
By hand, this takes a few minutes of steady whisking. The shortcut: use a handheld electric frother or whisk — it gets you to thick, fluffy peaks in under a minute. If you've got one, this is the moment to use it.
Make it your way
- Iced or hot — spoon it over cold milk and ice, or warm milk in winter.
- Less sweet — reduce the sugar slightly, though a little is required for it to whip well.
- Mocha dalgona — whisk in a teaspoon of cocoa.
Why freeze-dried works here
Dalgona needs a coffee that dissolves fully and whips to a stable foam. Freeze-dried coffee — real brewed coffee with the water removed — does both, and brings genuine coffee flavour instead of a flat, dull one. That's what makes the top layer taste as good as it looks.
Frequently asked questions
How do you make dalgona coffee? Whisk equal parts freeze-dried coffee and sugar with a splash of hot water until thick and fluffy, then spoon it over cold milk and ice.
Do I need a machine? No. A whisk works; a handheld electric frother just makes it much faster.
Why won't my dalgona whip? Keep the coffee and sugar equal, use only a small splash of hot water, and whisk long enough. Too much water and it won't hold peaks.
Can I make it hot? Yes — spoon the whipped coffee over warm milk instead of iced for a cold-weather version.
New to Ten15? Try the Starter Pack — every flavour plus the black coffees, half the price.
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More cold coffees: Iced Spanish Latte Recipe and How to Make a Frappe at Home. Or shop all Ten15 coffee.
