Jump on the Dalgona Trend with Our Guide to Making Whipped Coffee

By now, you've heard the word on dalgona coffee, the whipped coffee drink that's gone from the cafés of South Korea to every corner of the world, thanks to the internet. It's a simple but magical technique that requires only four ingredients: instant coffee, sugar, water and milk.

And you can customize the flavor of your whipped coffee to your liking with just a pinch or a dash of ingredients from your pantry. Here's how to make whipped coffee in minutes.

Pictured Recipe: Whipped Coffee Mochaccino

To make whipped coffee, you'll need a large bowl and a whisk or mixer. You can use a hand whisk, an electric hand mixer or a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. (We like this hand mixer from Bed Bath & Beyond, $30).

It's easier to whip up two servings of whipped coffee at once, because the larger quantities are less prone to splattering in a bowl, but it can still be done one serving at a time if that's all you need. Whipped coffee is best served immediately after whipping—it does not keep well in the refrigerator overnight.

To make 2 servings of whipped coffee, mix 4 tablespoons (1/4 cup) of instant coffee with 2-4 tablespoons granulated sugar in a bowl. Adjust the level of sugar to your taste—the original ratio is equal parts instant coffee and sugar, but if you feel it's too sweet, you can reduce it by half.

Add 1/4 cup boiling water to the bowl and begin to whip on medium speed if using an electric mixer or stand mixer, or as fast as you can if mixing by hand.

Continue to whip until the liquid goes from loose to frothy to thick and pale, 2 to 3 minutes.

Pour about 1/2 cup milk into a glass and spoon the whipped coffee on top. (We love these highball glasses from Cost Plus World Market, $12). You can also pour your milk over ice for an extra-cold and refreshing coffee beverage.

Stir before serving, then drink up. You can even add a cute straw for an Instagram-worthy drink like these fun, reusable rainbow ones (Bed Bath & Beyond, $10).

We tried it, and unfortunately, no. You won't get the same thick, whipped texture if you substitute regular coffee here.

Even very finely ground coffee beans won't dissolve fully into the hot water the way that instant coffee is designed to do, so the whipped coffee will have a slightly gritty texture. And using strong brewed coffee in place of hot water will give you a "whipped" coffee that froths, but doesn't fully whip.

Pictured Recipe: Vegan Whipped Coffee

Yes! Use your favorite dairy-style beverage, whether it's cow's milk, almond milk, oat milk or… you get the picture. If you are completely vegan, use coconut sugar or another organic vegan sugar in place of granulated sugar. (Some sugar is processed with bone char, which is used in the refining process and helps whiten sugar. Read more about surprising foods that aren't vegan.)

The sky's the limit! Add 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon of a favorite extract or spice blend to the ingredients before you begin to whisk, and play barista at home. Here are a few suggestions:

• vanilla extract
• almond extract
• maple syrup or extract
• ground cinnamon
• pumpkin spice blend
• cocoa powder
• chai spice blend