"Dalgona" drinks
Dalgona coffee has existed for a while under different names (e.g. frappe in Greece), but it really exploded in popularity during the COVID19 quarantines. The trend hitting off in South Korea, people were posting their aesthetic cafe-like beverages online, and everyone wanted to try.
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You're supposed to whisk the coffee 400 times by hand, but a lot of people (such as myself) are lazy and use a mixer, frother, etc. The whole point of this trend during quarantine is to kill time! However, is this drink really worth the 5-20 minute arm workout? Maybe not, but it's a fun and easy "science" experiment at home.
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The name Dalgona Coffee comes from the drink's bittersweet taste and aerated texture, similar to Korean dalgona candy. Dalgona candy has no coffee in it; it's essentially honeycomb candy. You just melt/caramelize sugar, add baking soda to instigate a very bubbly rise, and pour!
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You must use plain black instant coffee for the original dalgona coffee. Creamers and other ingredients will interfere with the aeration and stabilization of the foam.
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Once people started getting bored of dalgona coffee posts, people took to inventing their own "dalgona- ____" flavors. But in reality, it's just flavored meringue or whipped cream. The texture and taste isn't comparable to the original or to dalgona candy, and it's not as interesting or shocking the idea of instant coffee + sugar + water = foam. Meringues and creams whip due to the coagulation of proteins holding the air being whipped into it. Dalgona coffee topping doesn't have protein. Some people say there are xantham gum stabilizers in instant coffee, but I read somewhere else that the processing of instant coffee contributes to its ability to create and hold air.
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I made some other "Dalgona- " flavors for you to try out anyway, because it still looks good! Just remember deep in your heart: it's just flavored whipped cream.
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Dalgona Coffee
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2 Tablespoons instant coffee granules
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2 Tablespoons granulated sugar
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2 Tablespoons hot water
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1-2 cups milk (with ice)
This recipe makes a lot of topping, so you can split it among two people if you want.
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In a medium bowl, whisk together the instant coffee, granulated sugar, and hot water until foamy and thickened. It can take as little as 3-5 minutes for soft peaks, and as high as 20 minutes for stiff peaks. It all depends on your whisking technique and the size of your whisk. I can get stiff peaks by hand in 5 minutes ;)
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Serve over a cup of milk.
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Dalgona Affogato
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Make one recipe of Dalgona Coffee Topping, but serve it over 2 portions of ice cream.
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"Dalgona" Matcha
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1/4 cup heavy whipping cream
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1 teaspoon matcha powder (or more depending on your brand/color/flavor preference)
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1 Tablespoon confectioners' sugar
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Strawberry syrup or puree sweetened with sugar (optional)
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1 cup milk (with ice)
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Whisk the matcha powder and confectioners sugar together. Slowly whisk in heavy cream to avoid creating lumps with the matcha. Whisk thoroughly until sugar and matcha have dissolved. Whip until soft to medium peaks.
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Unlike dalgona coffee, which can't be over-whipped, overwhipping cream can result in a grainy texture, and eventually butter.
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Pour some strawberry syrup or puree in the bottom of the cup before adding the milk and ice.
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Serve the whipped cream over a cup of milk
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"Dalgona" Brown Sugar Boba
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1/4 cup heavy whipping cream
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1 Tablespoon brown sugar + extra for tapioca pearls
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1 Tablespoon black tea concentrate (or just very strongly brewed), cooled
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Boba pearls, cooked to package instructions
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1 cup milk (with ice)
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Whisk the heavy cream and brown sugar together. Whip until soft to medium peaks. Carefully mix in the black tea.
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Sprinkle some brown sugar over the cooked tapioca pearls, and stir to dissolve and create a syrup. Put tapioca pearls in the bottom of the cup, then add the milk and ice.
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Serve the whipped cream over the cup of milk
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"Dalgona" Strawberry
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1/4 cup heavy whipping cream
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2 Tablespoons strawberry Nesquik powder or other strawberry syrup
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Bubble tea pearls, cooked to package instructions
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1 cup milk (with ice)
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Whisk the heavy cream and Nesquik together. Whip until soft to medium peaks.
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Put tapioca pearls in the bottom of the cup, then add the milk and ice.
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Serve the whipped cream over the cup of milk
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Dalgona Banana Milk
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1 Tablespoon instant coffee granules
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1 Tablespoon granulated sugar
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1 Tablespoon hot water
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1 1/4 cups milk
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1 slightly overripe banana
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Instructions
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Blend together the banana and milk. Pour into a cup with ice (optional)
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In a medium bowl, whisk together the instant coffee, granulated sugar, and hot water until foamy and thickened. It can take as little as 3-5 minutes for soft peaks, and as high as 20 minutes for stiff peaks. It all depends on your whisking technique and the size of your whisk. I can get stiff peaks by hand in 5 minutes ;)
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Serve over the cup of milk.