You’ve probably seen this fluffy, cloud-like coffee drink on social media. Dalgona coffee is whipped coffee made with instant coffee, milk, and sweetener. To combine two of your favorite drinks, we have added tapioca pearls to this recipe, making dalgona coffee boba.
This sweet treat is not only delicious, but it is also aesthetically pleasing. Light and airy, this trending boba drink is popular with good reason. Our dalgona coffee recipe with boba pearls is Starbucks-worthy but can be made at home.
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Dalgona Coffee Boba
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 1 Serving 1x
Description
Dalgona coffee, commonly known as cloud coffee, is an eye-catching drink with a caffeine kick. Follow this recipe that combines a traditional dalgona recipe with tapioca pearls.
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp maple syrup
- 2 tbsp instant coffee
- 2 tbsp granulated sugar
- 2 tbsp boiling water
- 1 cup milk of your choice
- 1/4 cup boba pearls
Instructions
- Cook the boba pearls according to the package. Drain the pearls and transfer them to a bowl. Stir in the maple syrup. Set them aside to cool while you make the coffee.
- Combine the instant coffee, sugar, and boiling water in a bowl. Use a whisk or hand mixer to whisk the mixture until it is thick and frothy. It should be about the same consistency as whipped cream.
- To assemble the drink, put 1/4 cup of chewy tapioca pearls in the bottom of a tall serving glass. Add some ice and pour your milk into the glass. Spoon the whipped coffee on top so that it is layered.
- Stir it all up and enjoy!
Notes
Some types of milk that would work for this recipe include almond milk, oat milk, cashew milk, coconut milk, soy milk, or whole milk.
The amount of time you whisk the coffee depends on the tool you use. You will only need to whip for a minute or so using an electric whisk or hand mixer. However, if you are whipping by hand, be prepared to spend more time on it (and get a workout in!). Either way, make sure to whisk until it is airy and fluffy.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
What Is Dalgona Coffee?
Dalgona coffee is a whipped coffee drink that has become very popular ok TikTok and across social media platforms. The instant coffee is whipped until it has an airy texture, like whipped cream.
This drink recipe is a take on milk tea, but instead of black tea, the base is instant coffee. It is served over milk, ice cubes, and in this case, boba pearls. It is delicious and pretty to look at. Make sure to follow the recipe to achieve the ideal amount of fluffiness.
What Does Dalgona Coffee Boba Taste Like?
Dalgona coffee boba is sweet and creamy. Some might even describe it as a sweet iced coffee or a Starbucks frappuccino.
It mostly tastes like a milky iced coffee but with a foamy froth reminiscent of a cappuccino or latte. The drink may be a bit strong if you are not much of a coffee drinker, but you can always adjust the amount of instant coffee froth you use.
How Many Calories Are in Dalgona Coffee Boba?
If you use whole milk and follow this recipe, there are approximately 340 calories in this boba drink. However, this number will vary depending on the type of milk and sweetener you use.
Can You Use Fresh Coffee Instead of Instant Coffee?
Instant coffee works best in this drink. With two tablespoons of instant coffee, this drink will have approximately 70 mg of caffeine.
If you don’t have instant, you could use instant espresso powder or even freshly brewed espresso (if you use freshly brewed espresso, don’t add boiling water). Using a liquid instead of a powder will affect the texture of the coffee whip; it will not be as stiff. You don’t want to use fresh ground coffee beans, as they can’t achieve the frothiness desired for this drink.
Who Invented Dalgona Coffee?
Though this drink has gained popularity in recent years after a TikTok video went viral, this drink is far from new. Frothy coffee drinks can be found worldwide, from Greece to India and several other places.
So how did Dalgona coffee get its name? The drink’s name can be credited to a Korean actor named Jung Il-Woo, who ordered the drink on a TV show called Stars’ Top Recipe at Fun-Straunt in Macau, South Korea, in 2004. Since then, the beverage has steadily gained popularity.
Which Other Toppings Are Good in This Recipe?
Even though our recipe uses maple syrup, the traditional topping is brown sugar boba pearls. Mixing and matching toppings and ingredients is half the fun of bubble tea or coffee. Some other options that go well with this recipe include the following:
- Coconut jelly
- Chocolate shavings
- Popping boba
- Chocolate syrup
- Caramel syrup
- Ice cream
Dalgona coffee can also serve as a topping itself. It pairs deliciously with vanilla ice cream and chocolate syrup, though you could use it as a topping on any of your favorite ice cream flavors.