Otherwise known as Dalgona Coffee, this whipped drink has become the viral hit of the lockdown, with recipes all over the internet. A brief history, here.

It’s simple to make, frothy, delicious, and it’s been the highlight of my month so far.

I’m on the bandwagon.

Although the original drink comes from India via South Korea, there are two links to Switzerland.

First is the main ingredient, instant coffee.

It’s not just the fact that most Swiss households have stash of the stuff so that they’re ready to make Kafischnaps at any time, but the fact that instant coffee was invented here.

The world’s first soluble powdered coffee was introduced by Nestlé in 1938 as a way to preserve Brazil’s overabundant coffee bean harvests. The product was called Nescafé and it met with immediate success. It has been to the moon and back, as well as the earth’s highest summit and it’s sold in nearly every country in the world.

But any brand of instant coffee works in this recipe (including Denner).

Another Swiss invention that facilitates whipped coffee is the immersion blender. It was invented by Roger Perrinjaquet in 1950, who called it a ‘Bamix’—a combination of the French words battre (to beat) and mixer (to mix). His brand Bamix still exists and its extremely powerful motor makes it an indispensable kitchen tool. With all production based in Switzerland, it maintains top quality while being exported all over the world. (Not an ad, I just really love this machine!)

Here’s my video of how to make it. Written recipe below.

Per person:

2 tbsp instant coffee

2 tbsp sugar

2 tbsp hot (but not too hot!) water

milk of choice

ice

Using an immersion blender, whip the instant coffee, sugar and hot water until foamy and thick (this can take up to a minute or more).

Pour your milk of choice over ice.

Spoon the foamy coffee over top and enjoy.

• Regular coffee does not work! It has to be instant.

• Your water should be hot but not boiling, I let it cool a bit before using.

• I used a Bamix immersion blender with the middle attachment (flat with holes). I have seen recipes where they whip using a handmixer with a whisk attachment, rather than an immersion blender.