I’m somewhere in the middle, as I only enjoy them if they are made with good quality coffee – none of that artificial flavouring most mass-produced products tend to include.

So, I decided to try putting my own spin on one of my favourite online viral recipes, the famous dalgona coffee, which had everyone fervently beating instant coffee, sugar and water back in the 2020 coronavirus lockdown.

Originally, this concoction, which eventually produces a smooth cream, was meant to be topped up with more hot water and drunk like a regular coffee.

But in my pondering, I reckoned the addition of some really good, specialty espresso and whipped cream would turn this from a tasty drink to a full dessert.

However, the problem was that I didn’t want to use too much caffeine, so I got some decaffeinated instant coffee to counteract the espresso, although it could work the other way around too.

The result was similar in taste to the delicious, iced crema caffè you can find in traditional Italian cafés.

The presentation looks lovely with added chocolate shavings or three coffee beans on top – but it also tastes delicious with some hot chocolate powder like I did it.

Here’s how to make it:

Ingredients

Decaf instant coffee

Your preferred coffee machine espresso shot (to substitute the hot water)

Sugar

Double cream

Instructions

This recipe was a bit of an experiment for me, so I mostly eyeballed the quantities. But as per the dalgona recipe, you simply mix equal parts of instant coffee, sugar, and water, or in this case, espresso.

You then beat these ingredients until they produce a thick cream, as well as the double cream.

Mix the cream into the Dalgona mix and you should have a delicious (strongly-flavoured) coffee treat.

For this experiment I used the Philips 5500 LatteGo Bean to Cup Coffee Machine, an absolute delight of an appliance to have, whether you’re a coffee lover or not.

With options ranging from Ristretto, to Iced Latte Macchiato and the option to use your own travel mug, this sleek gadget makes any busy person’s life easier.

This sophisticated machine is equipped with the Aroma Extract system, which keeps the water temperature between 90°C and 98°C for “the perfect balance of taste and aroma”.

The Philips 5500 LatteGo Bean to Cup Coffee Machine is available in-store and online at Currys and Amazon for £649.99.

If this fancy gadget is not for you, other more affordable options include the Delonghi Magnifica Evo ECAM290.61.SB Bean to Cup for £399, or the Nespresso by Magimix CitiZ Coffee Machine, which retails for £159.