As many people are staying at home because of the coronavirus, it’s become less common to go out. But even while practicing social distancing, their love for coffee is not over yet. A new two-layered coffee drink, Dalgona coffee, is the most yum thing you will see across social media with the hashtag #daglonacoffeechallenge.
Everyone seems to be smitten by the Internet’s favorite drink. Due to its rising popularity on social media, Dalgona Coffee is being called as the quarantine coffee.
The drink has been sweeping the globe in recent weeks after videos of people making the creamy drink were widely shared and watched on TikTok. The hashtag #dalgonacoffee has been used more than 150,000 times on Instagram, with tens of thousands of people sharing photos of their perfected creations.
Let’s see what this drink is all about and why it has become a new trend in this difficult situation.
What is Dalgona coffee?
Dalgona coffee has four main ingredients: instant coffee, sugar, hot water, and chilled milk. These ingredients are made into two layers, chilled milk and a dollop of thick, pudding-like coffee mixture that floats on top.
Videos of home cooks and food bloggers spooning frothy, thick coffee onto milk piqued curiosity around the world. It all started after a video of the drink, which is inspired by a South Korean candy, was posted early this year.
People are challenging each other to make and post their version of coffee. Korean YouTuber 자도르J’adore currently has the most popular video of the ‘quarantine coffee challenge’ with over 9 million views at the time of writing.
However, many people claim that it’s just a simple whipped milk coffee. You pour milk on top of the whipped mix rather than spooning the whipped mix on top of the milk.
Image: Jakarta Post
Interest in the drink has grown just because more countries around the world have hunkered down, with people self-isolating and having slightly more time on their hands.
Also read: Your guide to find the best coffee
How to make Dalgona coffee
While many variations of the recipe work, the simplest version requires equal measurements of instant coffee, sugar, and hot water. For one serving, use roughly two tablespoons of each.
Next, the coffee, sugar, and water need to be whipped. Using either a small mixing bowl or a large mug, whip the coffee by hand or with a hand-held mixer. The coffee will gradually become thicker and lighter in color. Continue whipping until the coffee reaches the texture of softly whipped cream or airy pudding.
Take a look at the most viral Dalgona coffee recipe video on YouTube.
Is it any good?
Since March 1, Google search interest for Dalgona coffee has spiked to another level. While Dalgona coffee is taking the Internet by storm, some say with their professional opinion, it’s not the best coffee option.
“Instant coffee is the lowest quality of coffee you can find,” says Julia Peters who owns one of the best coffee shops in the US. She said Dalgona coffee has a lot of sugar. “It really is a treat more so than a coffee beverage.”
Regardless, Peters says she is glad people are taking an interest in experimenting with coffee while at home.
Since people in Pakistan are also facing similar lockdown, you can also try your hand at the simple three-ingredient cold coffee. Many versions of Dalgona coffee can be seen all over the internet, you can also share your version of coffee the Pakistani dalgona coffee. Let us know how it was!
What do you think about the story? Tell us in the comment section below.
