Japanese Coffee Jelly (コ-ヒ- ゼリ-)

Name: Japanese Coffee Jelly
Prep time: 2 min
Cook time: 3 min
Total time: 5 min
Cuisine: Japanese
Ingredients: 10 grams gelatin powder; 2-4 tablespoons instant coffee mixed with 2 cups boiling hot water, or 2 cups medium to strong coffee; 4 tablespoons granulated sugar; Milk, heavy cream, or whipped cream, for topping (optional)

Coffee jelly is such a simple dessert, yet so good and satisfying! The sweetness and kick of caffeine make it the perfect wake me up afternoon snack to enjoy at home or at the office. Drizzle a little heavy cream or milk on top to make it taste like a latte!

Coffee jelly reminds me so much of my time living in Tokyo.

Every trip to the grocery store would include a pack of coffee jelly thrown in my basket because they were so cheap and delicious. I loved the strong taste of coffee and its mild sweetness.

While I gobbled down cups after cups of jiggly purin (crème caramel) as a kid, coffee jelly became one of my favorite jelly desserts as an adult.

If you are new to this popular Japanese jelly dessert, get ready to fall in love!

What is Coffee Jelly?
Best Type of Coffee for Coffee Jelly
Ingredients for Coffee Jelly
How to Make Coffee Jelly
Tips and Tricks
Storage
Frequently Asked Questions

What is Coffee Jelly?

Coffee jelly (コ-ヒ- ゼリ-) is a popular Japanese dessert of coffee and sugar flavored jelly that’s been chilled and served in small cups, or sometimes cut into cubes and served in a cup with heavy cream. Coffee jelly can be found in supermarkets, convenience stores, coffee shops, bakeries and dessert shops, all across Japan.

It’s basically really good coffee jello but with a texture that’s silkier and softer.

Best Type of Coffee for Coffee Jelly

It’s best to pick a coffee that isn’t bitter. For example, I love drinking Vietnamese coffee but it doesn’t taste good as a jelly. It was simply too bitter.

Get a Japanese brand like Blendy if you can find it. It’s superior in taste to the American instant coffee brands I’ve tried, and isn’t bitter at all.
If you are making a pot of coffee, choose coffee beans that are medium to strong.

Ingredients for Coffee Jelly

Gelatin powder: One packet is about 8 grams so you will need a little more than that. I find that 10 grams is the perfect amount for a silky smooth texture that’s solid, but less firm than jell-0.
Water: Regular tap water will do. Make sure it’s boiling hot so it melts the sugar and gelatin.
Instant coffee: Read the instructions on the package and use accordingly. I find that anywhere between two and four tablespoons is good. If you don’t have instant coffee, make a pot of coffee and use that instead.
Sugar: Four tablespoons of granulated sugar makes the jelly slightly sweet, with the taste of coffee still at the forefront.
Heavy cream: Or milk, or whipped cream. It’s optional but I always top my coffee jelly with a little dairy, or unsweetened oat milk, which is just as good.

How to Make Coffee Jelly

Scroll all the way down to the recipe card for the full recipe.

Gather all of your kitchen tools and ingredients.
Mix the gelatin with 2 tablespoons of water in a bowl and set aside.
Boil 2 cups of water and turn the heat off. Add the boiling water, instant coffee, and sugar, in a bowl and stir.
Add the gelatin and stir until it has fully dissolved.
Divide the coffee mixture into 4 small cups and cover with a lid of plastic wrap.
Refrigerate for 3 to 4 hours, until the jelly has set.
Serve with heavy cream, milk, or a dollop of whipped cream.

Tips and Tricks

Use condensed milk instead of regular milk to make the coffee jelly sweeter.
Steep the coffee with a mint tea bag for about 15 to 20 minutes. This will infuse the coffee with a cool and refreshing mint taste.
 Add 1 to 2 teaspoons of coconut powder to give the jelly a chocolate taste.

Storage

Cover each individual coffee jelly with a lid or plastic wrap. Refrigerate for up to 5 days.

Unfortunately it cannot be frozen as the texture will deteriorate once it thaws.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where can I buy coffee jelly?

You can buy packs of coffee jelly at a Japanese supermarket such as Nijiya, Mitsuwa, or smaller grocery chains such as Sunrise Mart in New York City. You may also be able to find it in some Asian supermarkets and specialized Korean grocery stores.
One of the most famous brands of coffee jelly is Okazaki, which is easy to find in Japanese grocery stores. The coffee jelly is sold in small plastic cups and in packs of three, which is standard for Japanese gelatin desserts.

Is coffee jelly good for you?

Since coffee jelly is relatively low in calories, it is perfectly safe to enjoy in moderation. However, because it’s high sugar and caffeine, it’s best enjoyed as an afternoon snack so it won’t affect your sleep.

Can I make this recipe vegan?

Yes you can. All you need to do is the swap gelatin for agar agar, and use a non dairy coffee creamer instead of heavy milk.

Did you like this coffee jelly recipe? Are there changes you made that you would like to share? Share your tips and recommendations in the comments section below!