Dalgona Coffee Recipe and How to Make it

Visiting your favourite local Coffee shop might have to wait for a while. However, you can still make do and mend by creating your choice brew at home. It doesn’t have to be as much work as you might think, especially when it comes to having a Dalgona Coffee.

This variety has become increasingly popular over the last year, which is why we’ve written an article about it.

Please keep reading to discover, “What is Dalgona Coffee?”, “What does it taste like?” and “How can I make it?”

We will talk you through everything you’ll need to enjoy one from the comfort of your home. It’ll come as no surprise, perhaps, that we also stock Coffee Beans here at our Kent-based factory. This we pack fresh to order, ensuring not only quality but also consistency.

What is Dalgona Coffee?

Dalgona Coffee (달고나 커피) is a Korean creation involving Coffee, milk, sugar and hot water that has been whipped into a delicious froth. It is an unmistakably modern infusion, one that gained prominence in South Korea in January 2020.

Actor Jung Il-woo tried Dalgona Coffee on the country’s television show, Stars’ Top Recipe at Fun-Staurant. Since then, it has become a social media phenomenon.

With millions at home during the COVID-19 pandemic, people from TikTok to Instagram have been trying their hand at a Dalgona Coffee.

Reactions to its taste and characteristics have often been broadcast to viewers around the world - with most responses overwhelmingly positive.

But is it worth all the fuss? And what does Dalgona Coffee taste like, anyway?

What Does Dalgona Coffee Taste Like?

“Dalgona” in Dalgona Coffee derives from a Korean honeycomb toffee sweet of the same name. This is due to the similarities it shares with the candy, including the flavour and appearance.

When done right, it should, initially, have a slightly bitter note from the Coffee beans, followed by a sweet aftertaste. It is the soft and velvety texture of Dalgona Coffee, though, that seems to most appeal.

Indeed, the smoothness of this beverage is unparalleled, going above and beyond to impress casual drinkers and connoisseurs alike. The foam it produces, meanwhile, boasts a butterscotch hue that entices the palate even before you’ve taken your first sip.

It sounds great, doesn’t it? So what will you need to make it? Will you require any utensils or simply the ingredients?

Dalgona Making Kit

On the surface, making Dalgona Coffee looks complicated and challenging. It is, after all, essentially a cappuccino turned on its head, which usually requires fancy machinery.

Few of us have these kinds of Coffee makers, nor do those outside the barrister world have adequate training. However, with Dalgona Coffee, you have little to worry about.

If you’re looking to make a cuppa, all you’ll need are three ingredients plus some hot water and ice. These are Coffee (of course), sugar and milk. Some people might consider topping it off with Coffee powder, cocoa, crumbled biscuits or honey, too, although this is down to personal preference.

In terms of utensils, have a medium mixing bowl and an electric hand-held mixer close to hand.

Dalgona Coffee Recipe

Now for the fun part: actually making Dalgona Coffee. We have made a step-by-step guide below, explaining in-depth the stages required to create a brew of unique, indeed extraordinary, character and charm.

Patience is key here because it might take a couple of attempts to get it right. Still, before you know it, you’ll be indulging in its sweet, invigorating flavours.

1, Start with Coffee, Sugar and Water.

Grab your medium bowl and add ½ tbsp of sugar, 2 tbsp of granulated Coffee and 2 tbsp of hot water. If you want a sweeter drink, you might want to add up to 2 tbsp of sugar.

2, Whisk Vigorously.

Your best bet is to use an electric hand-held mixer. However, if you have a particularly powerful arm, or you fancy a challenge, then a regular one would suffice.

Whisk the ingredients until the mixture becomes silky-smooth and shiny, then continue until it thickens and holds as foam. If you are, indeed, whisking by hand, it’ll take around 8-12 minutes.

3, Get the Milk Ready.

Fill a glass most of the way with milk or milk alternative for coffee and ice.

4, Combine the Ingredients.

The time has come to dollop and swirl the Coffee mixture on top of the milk. It is probably best to mix it further at this point to ensure you get the best taste from start to finish.

In theory, your beverage is ready to drink, although you might want to consider topping it off with additions such as Coffee powder, cocoa, crumbled biscuits or honey.

All that’s left, then, is to sit back, relax and enjoy your creamy cup of Dalgona Coffee. Why not impress your friends next time they can come round to visit? Alternatively, just treat yourself!

An Alternative is Fresh Coffee

Sometimes, simple is best. If you’d prefer to go down a more traditional route, you can count on The Kent and Sussex Tea and Coffee Company.

We take pride in packing every Coffee Beans we stock, every type of Tea we stock, and every type of Tisane we stock fresh to order.

Why not make your own trend with us today? You won’t be disappointed by all we have to offer.

Author: Richard Smith

Partner at The Kent and Sussex Tea and Coffee Company

Richard Smith is a Tea expert, entrepreneur, and owner of The Kent and Sussex Tea and Coffee Company. Part of a family of renowned Tea planters dating back four generations, he was born in Calcutta (Kolkata), India, where he spent his childhood between Tea Estates in Assam and Darjeeling.

In the late 1970s, having accumulated years of knowledge in the industry, Mr Smith and his mother, Janet Smith, moved to Kent, South East England, to establish a Tea business in the village of Pluckley. Their early days of packing Tea Bags by hand from chests of 10,000 prompted the creation of the company’s flagship infusion known as Pluckley Tea. It remains our most popular product today.

Mr Smith, who studied economics at London Polytechnic, has since specialised in over 1,000 types of Loose Leaf Tea - in addition to around 70 varieties of Roast Coffee - from around the world. These are now available at The Kent and Sussex Tea and Coffee Company, where everything is still packed by hand and fresh to order, not only to honour tradition but to ensure the utmost quality and consistency.