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4.75 from 4 votes
Slightly bitter coffee jelly and sweetened cream are a perfect match of flavour combination as well as visual effects. I have never seen coffee jelly served in Australian cafés, but in Japan it is one of the most popular dessert menu items at cafés and restaurants.
Coffee Jelly (Jello)
Prep Time
3 hrs 15 mins
Total Time
3 hrs 15 mins
 

Slightly bitter coffee jelly (jello) and sweetened cream are a perfect match of flavour combinations as well as visual effects. It is one of the most popular dessert menu items at cafés and restaurants in Japan. 

Prep Time includes minimum time to chill jelly to set (3 hours).

Note: I did not realise jelly is called jello in America. So for those who are familiar with jello, please read the recipe by replacing 'jelly' with 'jello'.

Recipe Type: Dessert
Cuisine: Japanese
Serves: 2 - 3 servings
Author: Yumiko
Ingredients (tbsp=15ml, cup=250ml)
Coffee Jelly - makes about 360ml (12.2oz)
  • 6g (0.2oz) gelatine powder
  • 60ml (2oz) cold water
  • 250ml (8.5oz) strong black coffee (hot, note 1)
Sweet Thickened Cream
  • 150ml (5.1oz) cream
  • 10g (0.6oz) sugar (note 2)
Decoration (optional)
  • Chopped strawberries and mint leaves
  • Shaved chocolate and mint leaves
Instructions
  1. Add the cold water to a small container and sprinkle the gelatine and soak in it for about 5 minutes until the gelatine becomes soft and spongy.

  2. Add the gelatine to the hot coffee and mix well ensuring that gelatine is dissolved and there are no gelatine lumps.
Setting Jelly in Each Glass
  1. Pour the coffee mixture into 2 or 3 short glasses and chill them in the fridge for minimum 3 hours.
  2. When the coffee jelly is set, pour sweet thickened cream over the jelly, decorate with your choice of decoration if using.

    Slightly bitter coffee jelly and sweetened cream are a perfect match of flavour combination as well as visual effects. I have never seen coffee jelly served in Australian cafés, but in Japan it is one of the most popular dessert menu items at cafés and restaurants.
Making Cubed Coffee Jelly and Serve
  1. You will need about 9cm x 15cm (3 1/2" x 6") or similar surface size container with minimum depth of 3cm (1 3/16").

  2. Pour the coffee mixture into the container. It should make the thickness of the jelly to about 2.5cm (1"). Chill it in the fridge for minimum 3 hours.

  3. Using a knife, score the jelly at 2.0 - 2.5cm (3/4 - 1") interval to make grid lines (see the photos in the blog).

  4. Using a soft spatula that can bend easily, scrape off the jelly cubes gently, starting from one edge of the container. (note 3)

  5. Transfer them into serving glasses, pour sweet thickened cream, topped with decoration of your choice if using.

    Slightly bitter coffee jelly and sweetened cream are a perfect match of flavour combination as well as visual effects. I have never seen coffee jelly served in Australian cafés, but in Japan it is one of the most popular dessert menu items at cafés and restaurants.
Sweet Thickened Cream
  1. While waiting the jelly is in the fridge to set, add cream and sugar in a bowl.

  2. Whip the cream until it thickens only slightly to a consistency a bit thinner than cream soup.

Recipe Notes

1. I have an espresso coffee maker so I used the coffee from it. But you can use any type of coffee and instant coffee is OK, too.

2. If you have a sweet tooth, you may want to increase the amount of sugar to 15g.

3. Even if the cubes crumble a bit, don’t worry. They will still look pretty.