Easy homemade coffee jelly with two ways of serving. With only basic ingredients, you can make coffee jelly at home. We also included how to turn coffee jelly into a milk tea and serve directly with a creamy topping.
What’s Coffee Jelly
Coffee jelly is a chilled Japanese confection made from coffee, gelatin, sugar and water. It has a soft, wiggly texture and pronounced coffee flavor. Coffee jelly is popular during the warm summer months, served alone or paired with milk or whipped cream. It’s frequently topped with syrups, fruits or condensed milk. This cool, caffeinated treat is easy to make at home.
For many Japanese people, coffee jelly evokes fond childhood memories of hot summer days. Its soft, bouncy texture and mild sweet coffee flavor create nostalgia. The jelly’s smooth, cool and creamy consistency makes it the perfect refreshing treat for warm weather.
Coffee jelly also provides a handy boost of caffeine, nicely paired with sugar’s energy. The myriad topping options let you customize the jelly to suit any taste. While it originated in Japan, creative flavors like mocha and Thai coffee have international appeal.
Homemade coffee jelly impresses guests with its unique wiggly presentation. Kids and adults alike will enjoy demolishing a tray of jiggly jelly cubes. Infuse your own cultural twist into this fun, casual dessert.
Ingredients Coffee Jelly
Coffee jelly requires only a few simple ingredients:
- Coffee: Brewed coffee provides the base flavor. Use a stronger roast for more intense coffee taste.
- Gelatin: gelatin acts as the gelling agent that gives coffee jelly its signature soft, jiggly texture. Either gelatin sheets or powder gelatin can be used in this recipe.
- Sugar: Sugar sweetens the jelly to create a lovely balance.
- Milk or cream (optional): Adding dairy gives a richer, creamier jelly.
- Condensed milk: I add sweetened condensed milk in the creamy topping.
Powdered gelatin VS. Gelatin sheet
If you want to make coffee jelly at home, you may choose powder gelatin or gelatin sheets. They have some differences in terms of amounts and ways of cooperating.
What are the differences?
Gelatin powder is gelatin that has been dried and broken up into individual grains, it can disperse more easily and faster. You can add the powder gelatin into the coffee mixture directly. In terms of soaking time, powdered gelatine requires less time than sheet gelatine
Gelatin sheets are made from gelatin that is dried in a flat sheet. it’s clearer and more transparent. Sheet gelatin should be soaked in cold water until softened before using
How to turn it into vegan
If you want a vegan version of coffee jelly, either agar agar powder or konjac can help.
agar agar powder – a stabilizing and thickening agent, is a vegetarian gelatin substitute made from seaweed.
Konjac powder- is the powdered root of the konjac plant, which is native to parts of Asia. Konjac is naturally carb-free and gluten-free.
How to make coffee jelly milk at home
Soak gelatin sheets
Pour cold water into a big bowl and soak the gelatin sheet in until softened. use the lowest temperature and heat for as little time as possible, as boiling destroys gelatin’s ability to set.
Tip: choose a lager container to soak your gelatin sheets to avoid them squeezing together. You can also use 8 g. gelatin powder instead.
Prepare coffee: in a larger container, add in granulated sugar and instant coffee powder, pour in hot boiling water.
Mix them until thoroughly until coffee powder and sugar dissolved. If you don’t have instant coffee powder, freshly brewed black coffee will do.
Mix gelatin in: put the softened gelatin sheet into the coffee and stir until the gelatin completely dissolved. In this recipe we use 10g gelatin (2 long sheets) to go with 400ml water. It creates a comparatively softer texture, you may need to use 3 sheets for a firmer texture.
Set in fridge: you need to fridge the mixture at least 4 hours until firmed.
Serve it with milk – scoop out the coffee jelly into a cup and add in milk and sweetened condensed milk. Stir well before enjoying.
A more interesting way is to break the coffee jelly with spoon in the resting container, when topped with regular milk tea. It is a funny experience of breaking when enjoying.
Serving method 2 with cream topping
Whip the cream, salt, and condensed milk together. place the topping above the coffee jelly.
How to make Coffee jelly
Ingredients
coffee jelly
- 1.5 tbsp. instant coffee powder
- 400 ml. hot boiling water
- 50 g granulated sugar
- 10 g gelatin sheet , or 8g gelatin powder
coffee jelly milk
- 1 tbsp. sweetened condensed milk
- ½ cup milk
coffee jelly with topping cream
- 3 tbsp. whipping cream
- ¼ tsp. salt
- ½ tbsp. sweetened condensed milk
Instructions
- Soften gelatin sheet:pour water into a bowl and soak the gelatin sheet in until softened
- Dissolve the coffee powder: pour in boiling water, granulated sugar and instant coffee powder into another container and mix them until thoroughly dissolved
- Add in gelatin: put the softened gelatin sheet into the coffee and stir until the gelatin completely dissolved. if you use gelatin powder, add the powder into the liquid and stir.
- Refrigerate the mixture: remove the coffee-gelatin mixture into the refrigerator for 3 to 4 hours to let it fully set.
- Serve with milk and condensed milk:break the coffee jelly with a scoop, then add milk and sweetened condensed milk. Stir well before serving.
- Serve with whipping cream topping: Whip the cream, salt, and sweetened condensed milk together. Place the topping above the coffee jelly.
Video
Notes
- Vegetarians can use agar-agar, which results in similar texture to gelatin but is plant-based
Nutrition
Coffee Jelly Milk Tea
One of the most popular way of using coffee jelly now is to combine it with milk tea.
Either partner with boba pearls or as a substitute, it adds a unique taste of coffee to your milk tea. You can make a coffee jelly milk tea simply by cutting it into small cubes and then pour in strongly brewed black tea and milk.
How to cooperate Coffee Jelly as desserts
Coffee Jelly Dessert is a delightful treat enjoyed in various forms around the world. You can either choose to serve it after cutting or just in the container. There are several ways to serve coffee jelly dessert, including:
- Topping it with whipped cream or ice cream: A scoop of ice cream or dollop of whipped cream atop the coffee jelly adds a contrast in texture and temperature, making for a delectable delight. Dust some coca power for a better looking.
- Combining with fruit: It can be paired with fruits like banana, strawberry, or kiwi, which provide a natural sweetness and vibrant color to the dish.
- Mixing with yogurt or custard: Blending with yogurt or custard creates a creamy and luscious dessert, adding an extra layer of satisfaction.
No matter the serving style, coffee jelly dessert offers a unique and satisfying experience for coffee lovers and dessert enthusiasts alike.
The History of Coffee Jelly
Coffee Jelly, a popular dessert in Japan, has a rich history that dates back to the early 20th century. It is believed that coffee jelly was first created in England, where it was referred to as “coffee jellies” or “coffee creams.” These early versions were relatively simple, consisting of coffee-flavored gelatin served with cream.
The dessert eventually made its way to Japan in the 1960s, where it quickly gained popularity. During this time, an instant coffee product called “Maxim” was introduced in Japan by the Ajinomoto General Foods company. Maxim’s marketing campaign sparked a craze for the beverage, and coffee-flavored products started to emerge. Coffee Jelly was one of these products, and it quickly became a hit for its unique texture and flavor profile.
In Japan, coffee jelly is often served with whipped cream, milk, or ice cream. It can also be found in various forms, such as cubes or a layer at the bottom of a cup of coffee or tea. The versatility of coffee jelly has contributed to its widespread popularity, as it is used in parfaits, iced drinks, and even pastries.
To this day, coffee jelly remains a beloved dessert in Japan and has gained international recognition. It continues to evolve and adapt to various cultures and preferences, proving its timeless charm in the world of desserts.
FAQ
Coffee jelly has a pronounced coffee flavor and aroma, but it isn’t extremely bitter or strong. The sugar balances and smooths out the coffee’s acidity. The jelly itself is soft and gently bouncy in texture. Overall it provides a nice hit of caffeine along with sweetness.
Coffee jelly just contains coffee, unflavored gelatin, sugar and water as its basic ingredients. The gelatin sets the liquid into a soft, wiggly solid. Versions with milk, cream, fruit or other mix-ins contain additional ingredients.
Properly stored coffee jelly will last 4-5 days refrigerated. Keep it covered to prevent it from absorbing other flavors. Over time the jelly may lose some jiggle as the gelatin starts to break down. For best texture, consume coffee jelly within 2-3 days.
After thoughts
In conclusion, coffee jelly is a delightful fusion of coffee and jelly that has found its way into the hearts of dessert lovers around the world. Its versatility and simple recipe make it a go-to choice for many, offering a unique way to enjoy the rich taste of coffee.
You can make it at home with a few simple steps and it can be a great add on to your desserts, milk teas or ice creams.