Dalgona gets its name from the colloquial expression dalgoona meaning ¡°sweet tasting.¡± After the price of sugar plummeted in the 1960s due to a production glut, do-it-yourself dalgona emerged as a mainstream snack.

Through the early 2000s, students went to stationery stores by their school entrances to eat dalgona made on the spot. For under USD 1, they got a fingernail-size blob of sugar or packaged sugar in powder form, baking soda, wooden chopsticks and a ladle. Kids then gathered around a fire to melt the sugar, debate when to add the baking soda and invariably lapse into silence when their creations were ready for munching. Plain ingredients and methods let anyone make dalgona. Those who grew up during such times are now middle-aged, and still have fond memories of being scolded for burning their families¡¯ ladles. That type of dalgona is seeing a revival.

Simple to Make

Top off the coffee with dalgona bits for an even sweeter taste.

Making dalgona coffee is simple. Start by assembling instant coffee, sugar and hot water in a simple ratio of 1:1:1. If only presweetened instant coffee is available, simply leave out the sugary bits. Ground coffee from roasted beans produce no froth, and too much water will also disable froth formation. The amount of sugar can be adjusted according to personal preference.

The process of making dalgona coffee might seem simple, but is certainly not easy. The crucial process of frothing has two options: manual or electric. Needless to say, an electric frothing device makes the process immensely more efficient. Yet the handmade quality of this drink is what gives this drink its appeal, not quick and easy production. Many celebrities and YouTubers abroad have made videos showing them laboriously whisking dalgona, so give it a try. Even the mega K-pop group BTS has jumped on the dalgona coffee bandwagon, with its video of members making the drink seeing an insanely high number of views.

The thick, dark brown liquid of dissolved coffee and sugar lighten up in color after coming into contact with air. Though a firm and foamy appearance is the ideal outcome (for Instagram-friendly images), this makes no difference in taste. Simply scoop and lay the dalgona froth atop the surface of the milk, and consider sprinkling dalgona crumbs as a topping.

Gently stir the cream to let it mix with the milk. See the soothing color gradation of brown hues that swirl in creamy whiteness. But more importantly, feel the post-labor exuberance of having made the drink.

Worldwide Hype

Amid government-mandated quarantine that has led many people stuck at home to seek indoor leisure, the number of dalgona coffee-making videos on YouTube has skyrocketed overseas. While some created froth after 400 or so whisks, others needed 4,000. Those on either end of the stirring spectrum shared their experiences of never giving up, as the beverage evoked the competitive instincts of many.

The global popularity of the beverage has inevitably spawned numerous variations. For example, some makers have replaced instant coffee with cocoa or matcha powder.

Foreign media including The New York Times and the BBC have covered the drink, while a Google Korea source spoke of ¡°the spread of dalgona coffee as a ¡®magical recipe¡¯ and medium for expressing solidarity in times of commonly shared boredom and woes.¡± Given the negative effects of the pandemic, many around the world have found solace through the trendy beverage.