Whipped Coffee: A Keto Delight Or Disaster?

Whipped coffee, also known as Dalgona coffee, is a frothy coffee drink that has gained popularity on social media platforms such as TikTok and Instagram. The original recipe calls for instant coffee, hot water, and sugar, which are whipped together to create a fluffy coffee mixture that is then served over milk. However, for those on a keto diet, the sugar can be replaced with a keto-friendly sweetener such as monk fruit, erythritol, or allulose. This version of whipped coffee allows those following a keto diet to enjoy a delicious and creamy coffee beverage without compromising their dietary restrictions.

Whipped coffee and its ingredients

Whipped coffee, also known as Dalgona coffee, is a frothy coffee drink that has become a viral trend on TikTok and Instagram. It is made by whipping together instant coffee, hot water, and a sweetener to create a fluffy coffee mixture that is then served over milk, either hot or cold.

To make keto whipped coffee, simply substitute regular sugar with a keto-friendly sweetener such as monk fruit sweetener or erythritol. These alternatives have a similar texture and taste to sugar but without the carbs and calories.

• Instant coffee (this is crucial as regular ground coffee will not work)
• Monk fruit sweetener or erythritol (you can also use other keto-friendly sweeteners such as allulose or stevia)
• Hot water
• Milk of choice (unsweetened almond milk, coconut milk, or any other low-carb milk)
• Optional: Heavy cream to add extra fluffiness

To prepare keto whipped coffee, simply combine the instant coffee, sweetener, and hot water in a glass and stir until dissolved. You can then add the heavy cream if desired. Next, use a hand mixer, immersion blender, or milk frother to beat the mixture until it forms soft peaks and achieves a fluffy, meringue-like texture. This may take a few minutes.

Finally, pour your milk into a glass over ice, if desired, and scoop the whipped coffee mixture on top. Give it a stir to combine, and your keto whipped coffee is ready to enjoy!

How to make whipped coffee keto-friendly

Whipped coffee is a fun, frothy, and creamy coffee drink that has taken the internet by storm. The best part? It can easily be made keto-friendly with just a few simple swaps! Here's how you can make your own delicious keto whipped coffee at home.

Ingredients:

• Instant Coffee: Look for regular instant coffee, such as Folgers or Nescafe. You can also use espresso or strong brewed coffee if you prefer, but the amount of coffee needed may vary.
• Keto-Friendly Sweetener: Sweeteners like Monk Fruit, Erythritol, Allulose, or a blend of these are great keto-friendly options. Avoid sweeteners with dextrose or maltodextrin, as they can impact your blood sugar.
• Milk: Unsweetened almond milk, coconut milk, or any other low-carb milk of your choice. You can also use heavy whipping cream for an extra indulgent touch.
• Hot Water: This is necessary to help dissolve the sweetener and create the fluffy texture.
• Ice Cubes: Optional, but recommended if you prefer your coffee over ice.

Instructions:

• Combine the instant coffee, keto-friendly sweetener, and hot water in a milk frother cup, mug, or small bowl. You can also use a hand mixer with a whisk attachment or an immersion blender for larger batches.
• Whip the mixture until it becomes thick and frothy. This may take around 1-3 minutes with a milk frother, and up to 10-12 minutes with a hand mixer.
• In a separate glass, pour your desired amount of milk and cream (if using). You can heat the milk first if you prefer your coffee hot.
• Scoop the fluffy whipped coffee over the milk. This is when you can snap a photo for social media!
• Stir vigorously to combine the whipped coffee and milk before drinking. The coffee flavor is concentrated, so mixing it with the milk creates a balanced and delicious latte-like drink.

Tips and Variations:

• If you don't have instant coffee, you can create your own by grinding coffee beans into a fine powder using a coffee grinder. However, this may not foam as well as instant coffee.
• For a boozy twist, add a standard shot (1.5 ounces) of Bailey's Irish Cream or Kahlua to the milk.
• Experiment with different flavors like matcha, dirty chai, peppermint mocha, or pumpkin spice.
• If you're short on time, you can also use a blender bottle to mix the coffee, sweetener, and hot water by shaking it vigorously for a few minutes.
• Adjust the amount of sweetener to your taste preferences. Start with the recommended amount and add more if needed.
• If you're making a larger batch, consider doubling the recipe to ensure you have enough fluffy whipped coffee for everyone.

The origin of whipped coffee

Whipped coffee, also known as Dalgona coffee, is a beverage that originated in Macau. It is made by whipping equal parts instant coffee powder, sugar, and hot water until it becomes creamy and then adding it to cold or hot milk. The drink can be topped with coffee powder, cocoa, crumbled biscuits, or honey.

The exact origin of whipped coffee can be traced back to Leong Kam Hon, a former Macanese shipwright who owned a cafe called 'Hon Kee' in Coloane. In 1997, Leong recalls concocting the drink as requested by a tourist couple. However, it was not until 2004 that the drink gained international attention when Chow Yun-fat and his entourage visited the cafe and praised the drink. This led to a wave of new visitors asking for the 'Chow Yun-fat coffee'.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, people around the world were refraining from going out and began making videos of whipping the coffee at home by hand without using electrical mixers. The drink spread to South Korea, where it was renamed "dalgona coffee" derived from "dalgona", a Korean sugar candy. The new name is credited to South Korean actor Jung Il-woo, who ordered the drink on a TV show and compared its taste to dalgona.

Following the broadcast, dalgona coffee became a popular trend in South Korea and globally, especially on social media platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube. People attempted to recreate the drink at home, and it became known as the "quarantine drink" or "quarantine coffee".

The best sweeteners for keto whipped coffee

Whipped coffee, or Dalgona coffee, is a frothy coffee drink made by whipping instant coffee, hot water, and a sweetener together until it turns into a fluffy coffee mixture. This coffee mixture is then served over milk, either hot or cold.

Regular Dalgona coffee is not keto-friendly because it uses sugar, but you can make a keto-friendly version by swapping the sugar for a keto-approved sweetener. Here are some of the best sweeteners for keto whipped coffee:

Monk Fruit Sweetener

Monk fruit sweetener is extracted from the monk fruit, a plant native to southern China. It is a natural sweetener that contains no calories or carbs, making it perfect for a ketogenic diet. Monk fruit sweetener is also suitable for diets that aim to balance blood sugar levels. It is about 100-250 times sweeter than regular sugar, so only a tiny amount is needed to achieve the desired sweetness.

Stevia

Stevia is a natural sweetener derived from the Stevia rebaudiana plant, which is native to South America. It is a nonnutritive sweetener, meaning it contains little to no calories or carbs. Stevia is 300 times sweeter than table sugar and is often combined with other sweeteners like erythritol to reduce its bitter aftertaste and give it bulk. It is one of the most commonly used keto-friendly sweeteners and is beneficial for oral health and blood sugar management.

Erythritol

Erythritol is a type of sugar alcohol that is widely used as a sweetener. It is up to 80% as sweet as regular sugar but contains only 5% of the calories. Erythritol has been shown to help lower blood sugar levels and, due to its smaller molecular weight, it typically doesn't cause the digestive issues associated with other sugar alcohols. It is a suitable substitute for sugar in baking and cooking and can be used to sweeten coffee and tea.

Xylitol

Xylitol is another type of sugar alcohol that is as sweet as sugar but contains only 3 calories and 4 grams of carbs per gram. The carbs in xylitol don't count as net carbs on a keto diet because they don't raise blood sugar or insulin levels to the same extent as sugar. Xylitol can be easily added to tea, coffee, shakes, or smoothies and is also suitable for baking. However, it may cause digestive problems when used in high doses.

Yacon Syrup

Yacon syrup is derived from the roots of the yacon plant, a tuber native to South America. It is rich in fructooligosaccharides (FOS), a type of soluble fiber that the body cannot digest, and it also contains some simple sugars. Yacon syrup has about half the calories of regular sugar and studies suggest that it may help lower blood sugar and insulin levels. It is best used as a sweetener in coffee, tea, cereal, or salad dressings, but not for baking, as FOS can break down when exposed to high temperatures.

Allulose

Allulose is a rare sugar that occurs naturally in some fruits like figs and raisins. It has 90% fewer calories than sugar and is a suitable substitute for managing diabetes or weight loss. Allulose can be added to coffee or tea and used in keto-friendly baked recipes, but it may cause digestive problems when consumed in large quantities, so it should be limited.

Besti Monk Fruit Allulose Blend

This sweetener blend is a combination of monk fruit and allulose, and it works perfectly for keto whipped coffee. It dissolves well and has no aftertaste, making it an ideal substitute for sugar.

Sucralose (Splenda)

Sucralose is an artificial sweetener that is calorie-free and not metabolized by the body. It is marketed as Splenda, which is a popular sucralose-based sweetener. While sucralose itself doesn't contain calories or carbs, Splenda does contain some carbs and calories from other ingredients. Sucralose may not be suitable for baking and can lose its taste and texture when exposed to high temperatures. It is also important to note that artificial sweeteners like sucralose can increase sugar cravings and may cause digestive problems with long-term use.

When making keto whipped coffee, it is important to use a sweetener that dissolves well and doesn't leave a gritty texture. The sweeteners mentioned above are all suitable options that can help you create a delicious and keto-friendly whipped coffee treat.

Flavour variations for keto whipped coffee

Matcha

Add 1 teaspoon of matcha powder to the milk before adding the whipped coffee on top.

Dirty Chai

Seep a chai tea bag in the milk for 10 minutes to infuse the flavours.

Peppermint Mocha

Replace the milk with a peppermint mocha.

Pumpkin Spice

Add 1 teaspoon of pumpkin spice mix into the milk and, for a more intense flavour, add 1/4 teaspoon to the whipped topping.

Boozy

Add 1 standard shot (1.5 ounces) of Bailey's Irish Cream or Kahlua to the milk.

Frequently asked questions