Photo by Alyssa Strohmann

Originally Posted On: https://www.itsallcoffee.com/2020/03/06/coffee-jelly/

 

Have you ever heard of coffee jelly and wondered what it is? How it tastes like and if it is healthy? Well there are very few beverages in the entire world that come even close to being as popular and highly appreciated as a simple cup of coffee.

People all around the globe concur that coffee provides a complex experience beyond a simple stimulating drink, it is a lifestyle according to many even. The exquisite flavor and aroma coffee offers gives us a great array of sensations that comfort our mental and physical state wonderfully.

Don’t worry, in this article, we will tell you everything you need to know.

Origins

Surprisingly, the first recipes for caffeinated jelly were published in English cookbooks in the early 18th century. In the old 19th-century coffee jelly was launched in the New England states like Rhode Island and Massachusetts.

The very first coffee jelly recipes required calves foot jelly and other old recipes needed a substance called isinglass, which is also used to clarify wine and beer. When packaged gelatin was introduced, these recipes became much easier and simpler to put into action. Then the recipes simply instructed the chef to dissolve the gelatin in very hot coffee and then pour it into a mold of choice. Much easier really…

Unfortunately, the dessert never became very popular in these countries and disappeared soon after, unlike in Japan.

The new western desert was mainly attractive for young modern men and marked the beginning of growing coffee culture in the Asian country. Coffee jelly is still famous in Japan today, where Starbucks launched its jelly frappuccino in 2016. Even though coffee jelly can be found in every coffee shop in Japan, it is still not very popular in our western culture.

What is it?

Coffee has been transformed into many unique designs to heighten the enjoyment of coffee lovers everywhere, and also to attract more people to the coffee culture itself. What better way to try something new, after all…

A few common variations of coffee include the much appreciated latte, mocha, cappuccino and such, but however you may have never even heard of the wacky creation called coffee jelly. It is quite prominent in Japan, due to it’s special and even strange design. It is a marvelous dessert and very fun to eat as well.

Coffee jelly is a unique and popular dessert based on a gelatin base that is called agar, what is infused with coffee and sugar. Coffee jelly can be made from an instant mix, but also completely from scratch if you enjoy that more. A lot of cafe’s or restaurants serve it and sometimes it is even a part of the lunch menu in Japanese public schools. This coffee based dessert has become very widespread in Japan, but it’s true roots point to the United states and England, as mentioned above briefly.

In European countries, jelly is often made with ordinary gelatin. The Japanese people replace gelatin with a substance made out of algae.

The coffee jam will be often cut into cubes and added to various drinks like milkshakes which reminds us of the famous Asian bubble tea. It can also be added to a cup of hot coffee.

As a dessert, the cubes can be served in a bowl with added condensed milk and fruits on top.

What does it taste like?

The unique combination of coffee and gelatin creates an unforgettable texture which is a bit bouncy and chewy. Nevertheless, you can quickly drink it with a straw as well.

It is a rather wacky but still satisfying experience to eat this jelly. The blend of coffee, cream and gelatin really manages to convert simple coffee into an outstanding delicacy. It is lively and chewy, and also gives a bitter but a sweet taste at the same time. Some describe it as creamy, but others say it has a fluffy texture to it. It really just depends on the individual.

The mixture of coffee and sugar creates a tasty combination of milky and sweet but also lovely bitter at the same time.

Coffee jelly creates the perfect balance of being not too sweet but also not too bitter.

Is it healthy?

You will be surprised to hear that even though the jelly contains sugar, it provides some serious health benefits thanks to the coffee and gelatin.

Health benefits of coffee

Various studies have shown that drinking 2-3 cups of organic coffee a day can improve your health enormously. Moderate consumption of coffee can prevent liver diseases as caffeine promotes a healthy metabolism.

Apart from that, coffee can fight the most common forms of skin cancer.

Apart from its short term effects like improving your mood, sharpening you thinking and lifting your energy level, caffeine acts as a brain stimulant. Drinking 2-3 cups of coffee a day can help to slow down the onset of Alzheimer’s.

Health benefits of gelatine

The proteins of Gelatin are vital for healthy skin, bones, hair and tendons and differ from the proteins in meat products.

Gelatin, in combination with coffee, helps you to speed up your metabolism, which fights the surplus of water and helps you to lose weight.

Gelatin can also reduce inflammation in the muscle tissue and helps to recover faster after an injury.

It is also known to aid digestion and can improve the appearance of your skin and joint-related problems.

That does not sound too bad…

What you need

If you can’t wait anymore to try it out, we have good news for you.

You can easily make your coffee jelly at home without much effort, and it is not even expensive.

Caffee infused jelly is such a quick and easy treat to make.

The most important part is to dissolving the gelatin in strong scalding coffee and allowing it to cool and firm up.

Seriously, the hardest part of this recipe is the wait!

You only need five ingredients, the main one of them is water.

For your perfect coffee jelly you need :

• 1-liters water
• 25 grams powdered gelatin
• a cup of instant coffee powder
• 1 cup caster sugar
• 300 milliliters thickened cream

The key to an ideal jam is using high-quality gelatin.

Cheap gelatin can make your jelly cloudy, and the texture won’t be as smooth as you wish.

If you’re looking for a vegan version, you can replace gelatin with agar-agar, which is a perfect alternative made out of seaweed. The benefit of using agar-agar is that your jelly will never be cloudy, and it is easier to gain the desired texture.

How to make it

Step 1

Put the powdered gelatin or your vegan replacement into a small bowl and add one cup of water to it.

Allow it to stand for about 10 minutes. During this time bring the remaining water to a low simmer.

Add the coffee and sugar to it and stir to dissolve the sugar.

Step 2

Now add your gelatin mix to the coffee liquid. Make sure that all gelatin crystals are dissolved. Rinse your gelatin bowl a view times when needed to remove remaining crystals from the container.

Step 3

Pour the liquid mixture into a shallow container to a depth of about 2 cm. Using a cake tin can be very useful.

Place the container into a refrigerator for about 4 hours. Make sure the fridge is not too cold. The jelly should be slowly cooled down. Check every 2 hours if the jam is set.

Step 4

Cut the jelly into the desired cube size.

Leftover coffee jelly should last for up to 2 days when stored in the refrigerator.

Tip: The liquid mixture can be poured into ice cube forms which allows you to create your unique jelly appearance. You can quickly generate jelly unicorns, mermaids or other creative objects to surprise your guests.

When ready to serve, you can use individual clear glass cups and top with the cream when gelatin is set to achieve a cup of coffee effect. You can also add your favorite topics like chocolate sprinkles and your preferred syrup.

Coffee jelly is a nutritious snack or delicious dessert everyone will love. It provides a perfect and healthy alternative to your usual coffee routine.

You can add your favorite syrups, drinks and toppings and its suitable for every occasion. You can create your variations and serve it as for breakfast after lunch or as a dinner dessert.

Now that you know how to make coffee jelly, you may also enjoy reading about Americano coffee!