Korean-Style Coffee Recipes: Dalgona, Einspänner, and More Instagram-Worthy Drinks
Key Takeaways
- Dalgona coffee uses a 1:1:1 ratio of instant coffee, sugar, and hot water whipped into stiff foam — electric frother reduces the effort dramatically
- Einspänner (Korean café style) is iced coffee or Americano topped with sweetened whipped cream, meant to be sipped through rather than stirred
- Korean coffee culture emphasizes visual presentation, layered drinks, and flavor customization through syrup additions
Korean coffee culture has produced several drinks that spread globally through social media — most notably dalgona coffee in 2020. Korean cafés are known for visual presentation, heavy customization, and a willingness to borrow and adapt from other coffee traditions. This guide covers the most reproducible formats at home.
Dalgona Coffee (Original Recipe)
Dalgona coffee is instant coffee, sugar, and hot water in a 1:1:1 ratio, whipped into a thick, glossy foam and spooned over cold milk.
Ingredients (1 serving)
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp instant coffee
- 2 tbsp granulated sugar
- 2 tbsp hot water
- 200ml cold milk
- Ice
Method
- Combine instant coffee, sugar, and hot water in a bowl
- Whip with an electric hand mixer or electric milk frother for 1–2 minutes, until the mixture triples in volume and holds stiff peaks (400+ hand strokes manually)
- Fill a glass with ice and cold milk
- Spoon the coffee foam on top — do not stir yet
- Stir with a straw before drinking to combine
Use an electric frother: Manual whipping to stiff peaks requires 400+ strokes and several minutes of effort. A handheld electric milk frother achieves the same result in 60–90 seconds. If you make dalgona more than once, the frother is worth having.
Why instant coffee only
Brewed coffee and espresso do not whip into stable foam because they lack the necessary instant coffee solids. Instant coffee contains certain compounds (including modified starches in some formulations) that stabilize the foam. This is not a workaround — brewed coffee genuinely does not work for dalgona.
Matcha Dalgona Variation
Replace instant coffee with matcha powder at a 1:1 ratio with sugar, using slightly less water (start with 1.5 tbsp water for 2 tbsp matcha). Matcha does not foam as stiffly as instant coffee — the result is a thinner, less stable topping. Adding a small amount of milk powder improves stability.
Einspänner (Iced Coffee with Whipped Cream)
The Korean café version of the Viennese einspänner is iced coffee or Americano topped with loosely whipped sweetened cream.
Ingredients (1 serving)
- 150–180ml iced Americano or strong iced coffee
- 50ml heavy cream
- 1–2 tsp sugar
- Ice
Method
- Whip heavy cream and sugar to soft peaks — not firm, not runny. You want a pourable but structured consistency
- Fill a glass with ice and pour iced coffee
- Spoon or pour whipped cream gently over the surface
- Serve without stirring — sip through a straw, drinking coffee and cream together
The correct way to drink it: The Korean einspänner is not stirred. You drink coffee through the cream layer, letting them combine in your mouth. As the drink progresses, the cream melts into the coffee naturally. Stirring at the start loses the textural experience the drink is designed around.
Coffee Soda (Korean Style)
A simple, refreshing format: instant coffee dissolved in hot water, cooled, then added to sparkling water.
Ingredients: 1 tbsp instant coffee + 2 tbsp hot water + 150ml sparkling water + sugar to taste
Method: Dissolve instant coffee in hot water. Cool completely. Pour sparkling water into a glass with ice, then add the coffee liquid gently.
Key Patterns in Korean Coffee Culture
Korean café culture trends toward:
- Brown sugar and black sugar syrups: Adds sweetness and caramel-like depth
- Layered presentation: Drinks designed to look distinct before stirring
- High customization: Adjusting sweetness level, milk type, and syrup choices at ordering
- Social media documentation: Visual design is considered part of the product
Summary
- Dalgona: 1:1:1 instant coffee/sugar/hot water whipped to stiff peaks; electric frother recommended
- Einspänner: iced coffee + sweetened soft-peak whipped cream; sip through the cream, do not stir
- Coffee soda: dissolved instant coffee added to chilled sparkling water
- Instant coffee is not replaceable in dalgona — brewed coffee does not produce stable foam
About the Author
Coffee Guide Editorial
A team of writers and baristas passionate about coffee. We cover everything from bean selection and brewing methods to café culture.
Team Credentials
- Certified baristas
- Specialty roasting café experience
- Coffee import industry experience