KEMA Column ｜ Time at Home

Dalgona coffee brewed at home, hair groomed at home.

Advanced · Quality · Oriented

In the spring of 2020, the whole world retreated into their homes simultaneously. For some reason, social media timelines were filled with the same drink: the Korean-born "Dalgona coffee." You stir it hundreds of times with just a spoon, and then float the fluffy coffee foam onto milk. The whole world became obsessed with that simple act. I don't think that enthusiasm was just a passing trend. In this article, while looking back on how Dalgona coffee taught us "how to enjoy time at home," we will share tips on how to comfortably organize your time at home, connecting the conversation all the way to hair care.

What exactly is Dalgona coffee?

Dalgona coffee is a drink made by mixing equal parts instant coffee, sugar, and hot water, and whipping it thoroughly. Once the coffee foam—which becomes caramel-colored and thick from the air incorporated into it—is floated onto cold milk, it is complete. As you sip it while breaking it down with a spoon, the bitterness and sweetness blend together. Its visual beauty and the sense of specialness that comes from putting in a little extra effort captivated many people.

"Dalgona" (달고나), which gave the coffee its name, is a traditional Korean snack made by melting sugar, adding baking soda, and letting it fluff up. It is very similar to Japanese karume-yaki. At street stalls, it has also been enjoyed as a "cutting game" where people try to neatly cut out star or heart shapes from the flattened melted sugar. Many people will likely recognize it as that sweet that appeared in the global hit series "Squid Game."

It was in 2020 that this sweet's name was attached to the coffee. It began when actor Jung Il-woo described the whipped coffee he drank at a tea shop in Macau as being "like Dalgona" on the Korean TV show "Fun-Staurant" (편스토랑). The caramel color of the foam and its somewhat nostalgic sweetness reminded him of that snack. Thanks to the show, the name and recipe spread all at once.

You don't need any special tools. All you need is coffee, sugar, hot water, and a little bit of patience. While you can make it with just a spoon without a whisk, it was said that the secret was to "stir 400 times" until it stood in stiff peaks. Because there were people who arranged it with matcha or cocoa, the freedom to tailor it to your own tastes was one of the reasons it spread throughout the world.

Why did it become a global trend?

The explosive spread of Dalgona coffee was triggered by the 2020 lockdowns. We couldn't go to cafes or meet our friends. In those daily lives, this drink, which allowed us to easily enjoy a "cafe vibe" at home, was perfectly in tune with the mood of the times. Furthermore, the "sense of accomplishment" of having the foam finally form after hundreds of stirs was also a reason for its popularity. Your arms get tired, but the satisfaction when it’s finished is exceptional. People recorded the process and shared it on social media and TikTok—the "joy of making" and the "joy of showing" became one.

With its beautiful layers of caramel-colored foam, it was incredibly photogenic. It provided a touch of color and a topic of conversation to our time at home, which tended to get boring. Even if we couldn't meet in person, by making and sharing the same drink, we could feel a sense of loose connection—Dalgona coffee was a symbol of that era.

What "time at home" taught us

Having passed through that period, small changes have remained in our lives. We create, with our own hands, the joys that we used to hurriedly seek outside. Brewing a cup of coffee with care, playing your favorite music, relaxing by the window—many people must have realized that such casual moments satisfy the heart more than expected. In Korea, the term "home cafe" (홈카페) has taken root, and a culture of organizing and enjoying a comfortable home has spread.

The essence of "time at home" may have been "time to care for oneself." It’s not for someone else, or to show off, but putting in effort to keep yourself comfortable. That perspective applies not just to drinks, but to skin and hair—in other words, the care you give yourself every day.

A salon vibe at home, just like a home cafe

You can make a delicious cup at home without going to a cafe. Similarly, you can groom your hair with care at home even on days you can't go to a salon. In fact, for the hair you touch every day, the accumulation of daily at-home care makes a big difference. Caring for your scalp with shampoo, repairing damage with treatment, and finishing with oil or balm—if you make that series of moments just a little more careful, just like brewing a Dalgona, your hair will respond.

KEMA is a premium hair care brand born in Korea. By delivering repair ingredients deep into the hair using advanced liposome technology and based on the concept of "damp heat" that values the balance of moisture and heat, we aim to achieve salon-grade care at home. No difficult procedures are required. Like a home cafe, you can enjoy it as a small ritual for yourself.

KEMA items to make your hair beautiful at home

Here are the staples from KEMA that you can incorporate right into your hair care routine at home. It becomes easier to choose when you think in three steps: wash, repair, and finish.

KEMA Crema Shampoo｜Wash

With a highly concentrated protein formula, it builds a foundation for hair weakened by heat and daily damage. Silicone-free and gentle on the scalp, it's the first step in your home care routine.

¥9,020 (tax incl.)

KEMA Miracle Bond Balm｜Repair

A high-repair leave-in treatment that restores hair damaged by coloring or perms from the inside out. For hair that stays manageable until the evening.

¥4,290 (tax incl.)

KEMA Penta S Oil｜Finish

A heat-responsive oil that can be used before and after heat styling. It smooths the surface for a silky touch and elegant shine. Light texture that doesn't feel sticky.

¥5,940 (tax incl.)

For time to care for yourself

What Dalgona coffee taught us is that even without going to a special place, you can enrich your life with your own hands. Just like that cup you stirred hundreds of times, your daily hair care will surely respond if you face it with a little bit of care. The philosophy of order, balance, and harmony that KEMA values overlaps with that attitude of organizing yourself even amidst the bustle. Today, enjoy a small cup of care for your hair as part of your time at home. It will make tomorrow's you feel a little more comfortable.

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