1-Step 1: Gather Your Equipment Before you begin, round up everything you need. You’ll want a medium mixing bowl a wide one works better than a deep mug because it allows more air into the mixture. For whipping, you can use a hand mixer, stand mixer, milk frother, or even a simple whisk if you’re up for some arm exercise. Having everything ready makes the process smooth and enjoyable.

2-Step 2: Combine the Core Ingredients Add 2 tablespoons of instant coffee, 2 tablespoons of granulated sugar, and 2 tablespoons of boiling water to your mixing bowl. If you’re using cinnamon, add a pinch now. The water should be freshly boiled to fully dissolve both the coffee and sugar. Give it a quick stir with a spoon to combine everything before you start whipping.

3-Step 3: Whip to Fluffy Perfection Now for the magic! Using your hand mixer or stand mixer on high speed, begin whipping the mixture. Keep the beaters moving and make sure to scrape down the sides of the bowl occasionally to incorporate everything evenly. As you whip, watch the mixture transform from a dark liquid to a pale, creamy foam. You’re looking for stiff peaks when you lift your beaters, the foam should hold its shape like meringue. The color will lighten significantly as air gets incorporated.

4-Step 4: Taste and Adjust Once your foam is fluffy and holding peaks, give it a tiny taste. Remember, this is concentrated coffee flavor that will dilute when stirred into milk. If you want it sweeter, you can add a bit more sugar and whip again briefly. Just keep in mind that the sweetness will distribute once you add the milk.

5-Step 5: Prepare Your Glass While the foam holds its shape, get your serving glass ready. Pour 1 cup of milk into the glass. For a hot version, warm the milk first either in the microwave or on the stovetop. For an iced Dalgona coffee, fill the glass with ice cubes first, then pour cold milk over them. The contrast of temperatures creates a wonderful experience either way.

6-Step 6: Assemble and Serve Spoon the whipped coffee foam generously on top of the milk. The foam should float beautifully, creating those Instagram-worthy layers. Don’t stir yet part of the fun is seeing the contrast between the dark coffee foam and the white milk below. When you’re ready to drink, stir the foam into the milk to blend all the flavors together. The foam will dissolve into the milk, creating a creamy, coffee-forward drink. Sip and enjoy your homemade coffee creation!