Whipped coffee took the world by storm when it went viral. Although the hype surrounding this indulgent beverage has cooled down, this popular iced brew isn’t going anywhere.
In this guide, you’ll learn how to make whipped coffee and tailor it to your taste…
What is Whipped Coffee?
Whipped coffee — also known as dalgona coffee — is made by whipping coffee, sugar, and a small amount of water into a delicious, frothy syrup. This syrup is combined with chilled milk to create an iced coffee that’s remarkably moreish. This beverage originates from Korea and rose to fame in the West when it went viral on social media.
This brew is visually stunning, mixing the creamy white of fresh milk with swirls of rich coffee syrup. It’s known for being luxuriously smooth in flavor and texture.
What You’ll Need to Make Whipped Coffee
You don’t need much in the way of ingredients or equipment to make whipped coffee. It’s the technique that makes this brew a delight. However, choosing the right coffee is important.
Here’s what you’ll need:
Ingredients and Equipment
When making whipped coffee, it can be easy to be sucked in by the tutorials on social media and feel like you need some super fancy tools. This isn’t the case — you can make the coffee with things you already have in your kitchen.
You’ll need these ingredients and equipment:
- Instant coffee (2 tbsp)
- Granulated sugar (2 tbsp)
- Water (2 tbsp)
- Milk
- Flavoring syrups (optional)
- Large mixing bowl
- Small whisk, electric or manual.
- Tablespoon
Coffee Recommendations
You will need instant coffee to make whipped coffee. Although you can make this brew with almost any type of instant coffee, selecting a high-quality dark blend will produce a richer, more enjoyable experience.
We recommend a dark-roast specialty robusta coffee for whipped coffee. The dark, rich, bitterness of Cafely Vietnamese Instant Espresso pairs wonderfully with sugar and milk.
For a smoother brew with less of a “coffee kick,” opt for a high-quality arabica instant coffee.
Step-by-Step Guide: Making Whipped Coffee
Although this light, frothy beverage seems complex, it’s relatively simple to construct.
Here’s how to make it:
1. Measure the Ingredients
First of all, measure out the ingredients and place them in a mixing bowl. Add two tablespoons of instant coffee, sugar, and water to each. Stir to combine, dissolving the instant coffee and sugar.
2. Whisk to Create a Foam
Vigorously whip the ingredients to create a thick, airy foam. The quickest way to do this is to use an electric whisk.
If you’re using a manual whisk, tilt the bowl to around 45 degrees, and quickly whip it in small circles at the base of the bowl — it will take five to ten minutes to achieve the correct consistency.
3. Add Syrup (Optional)
Once the mixture has formed a creamy, frothy texture, you can add any flavored syrup that you might be using. Mix it in with your whisk and try to maintain the thickness of the foam.
4. Prepare the Glass
In a glass, add ice and a cup of whole milk or a dairy-free alternative.
5. Add the Whipped Coffee
Add two to three tablespoons of the whipped coffee and lightly stir to combine, creating a light, foamy texture and a marbled appearance.
Best Practices for Making Whipped Coffee
Making whipped coffee can be quite an odd experience — it’s very easy to do, but it can be difficult to perfect.
Follow these tips to make the perfect whipped coffee every time:
- Use cold water — While a lot of tutorials will suggest that you use hot water to ensure everything is dissolved as rapidly as possible, we’d suggest using cold water. This reduces bitterness and creates a thicker texture.
- Use an electric whisk — While you can use a manual whisk, using an electric whisk is faster and produces a fluffier texture.
- Use a large enough bowl — When whipping, the aim is to incorporate air into the mixture. Therefore, you need to ensure the bowl is large enough to get plenty of movement with the whisk.
- Only use instant coffee — Only instant coffee will work for this drink. Although ground coffee produces a better brew, it doesn’t dissolve so won’t produce whipped coffee.
- Granulated sugar works best — Only use granulated white sugar — this creates the best foam.
- Serving suggestions — While it’s common to serve the whipped coffee as a float (on top of the milk), you might prefer to dollop it into the base of the glass and top with milk. While this is less visually interesting, the flavors will be well distributed, leading to a more enjoyable iced coffee.
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Making Whipped Coffee
There are lots of mistakes that you can make in the process of creating dalgona coffee. Avoiding these mistakes is key to creating the tastiest whipped coffee possible.
Let’s run through some common mistakes so you can avoid them when making whipped coffee:
1. Avoid Ground Coffee
First of all, it’s vital to use instant coffee and not substitute it for ground coffee. The reason for this is that the instant coffee will dissolve into the syrup you create, leading to a coffee flavor without a gritty texture.
Ground coffee would remain in the mixture, leading to an unpleasant mouthfeel. Furthermore, the oils in ground coffee would prevent air bubbles from forming in the syrup, making it difficult to form a foam.
2. Avoid Under-Whipping the Mixture
It’s possible to under-whip the coffee and sugar mixture. Under-whipping produces a sloppy, noncohesive foam that doesn’t have the same visual appeal as the impressive coffees you see online. Patience is key in the process of making whipped coffee — take your time and wait for stiff peaks to form in the bowl. Once the stiff peaks are present, you’re ready to go.
3. Avoid Small Mixing Bowls
Using a small mixing bowl prevents air from entering the mixture — resulting in a flat, dull foam. It also makes the whipping process much more difficult. Use a larger bowl to make whipping easier and ensure plenty of air gets into the mixture.
Whipped Coffee Serving Suggestions and Variations
Whipped coffee can be customized in a number of ways to make something that really suits you and your tastes.
Here are a few ways to alter your whipped coffee:
1. Choose Different Milk
A great choice is to alter the milk that you’re using in the beverage. For instance, you might opt for a plant-based milk that could offer alternative flavors to dairy milk.
Many people enjoy oat milk for the smooth, nutty flavor, which pairs well with coffee. Coconut milk is another fantastic dairy-free alternative.
2. Add Syrup or Spice
To tailor the drink to your taste, you might want to try to add flavored syrups or spices to the mixture. Vanilla syrup works particularly well. You can fold flavored syrup into the foam or add it to the milk before serving.
While you can’t add spices to the foam, you can top the drink with some spices or mix them into the milk. Cinnamon — specifically cassia cinnamon — is particularly popular. It has a naturally sweet flavor and can enhance the decadence of a creamy drink like whipped coffee.
3. Pair with Food
When you’re actually drinking the coffee, you might want to pair it with something. Having coffee and cake together balances bitterness and sweetness, enhancing the two. You might pair your creamy coffee drink with a sharp, fruity cake or tart.
FAQs — Whipped Coffee
Learn more about whipped coffee in the frequently asked questions below:
1. Can I Use Regular Coffee Instead of Instant Coffee?
No, you can’t. Whipped coffee is created by incorporating air into the sugar and water mixture — regular ground coffee will introduce oils. These oils will prevent air bubbles from forming, so regular coffee cannot be used.
Related: How Long Can Coffee Sit Out Before It Goes Bad?
2. How Long Does Whipped Coffee Last?
Whipped coffee is usually best when you have it straight away — the bubbles will start to burst quite quickly after you finish making the drink. However, the foam can be stored on its own in the fridge for a day or two without ill effects.
3. Is Whipped Coffee Vegan?
Yes, the base ingredients of the coffee foam are entirely vegan. Use plant-based milk to create a vegan whipped coffee.
4. Can I Make Whipped Coffee Without A Mixer?
Yes, you can — any whisk will work to incorporate air into the mixture. However, manually doing so will typically involve much more time and effort, so you may find that a mixer is necessary for you.
5. Can You Make Decaffeinated Whipped Coffee?
Yes, it can. The foam itself is mostly water and sugar, so swapping caffeinated instant coffee for decaf will allow you to make a decaffeinated version.
6. What is the Best Sugar To Use for Whipped Coffee?
Granulated white sugar works best for whipped coffee. However, alternatives like coconut sugar can also be used for a different flavor.
7. How Can I Make My Whipped Coffee More Flavorful?
Adding syrups to the drink can make for a delicious beverage in no time at all, or you could add spices like cinnamon or nutmeg to the top of the foam. This can create a powerful aroma to enhance the drink.
8. Can Whipped Coffee Be Served Warm?
You can use whipped coffee to make a hot, milky coffee. However, the foam is delicate and will dissolve in the hot milk — it won’t have the same frothy texture.
9. What are Some Popular Toppings for Whipped Coffee?
Because coffee and chocolate have long been combined to create mocha beverages, many people particularly enjoy cocoa powder or chocolate shavings on whipped coffee. Topping the coffee with cinnamon is also popular — creating a beverage with flavors similar to Mexican coffee.
10. Can I Make Whipped Coffee in Bulk?
Yes, you can. The best way to do this is to make sure that you keep the ratio of coffee, sugar, and water consistent. Then, once you’ve created the foam, store anything you don’t use immediately in the fridge. You can also freeze the foam for long-term storage.
