Japanese Style Coffee Jelly Recipe

A favorite summertime treat is Japanese Style Coffee Jelly. It’s called jelly in Japan, but would be considered coffee-flavored jell-o in the US. You can eat it as a dessert, but I prefer it served in iced coffee drinks. It is like bubble-tea, but made with coffee.

I first had coffee jelly at Disney Sea (a Disneyland park outside of Tokyo). It was served in a latte with crushed ice and a dollop of soft serve ice cream. It was love at first sip. I even took a picture it was so delicious (and pretty, like most Japanese food.) We have lived in Japan twice (once from 2003-2005 and again from 2012-2014) and loved experiencing the people and the culture! When we live in the United States I miss many of the foods and drinks available in Japan. Some I get at Asian markets in the U.S. and others I have tried my best to recreate. You can even get coffee jelly at Starbucks in Japan. It is served as a Frappuccino drink. I’ve included my copycat recipe at the end of the post. If you love coffee, I hope you try Japanese style coffee jelly!

Coffee Jelly Ingredients

1 1/2 cups cold brewed coffee concentrate (get my recipe here)
3 Tbsp water
1 Tbsp plain gelatin (I use Knox)
2 Tbsp sugar

Directions

1. Heat 1.5 cups of coffee concentrate and 3 Tbsp water in a microwave safe bowl or dish. 2. Dissolve 1 Tbsp. plain gelatin in the hot coffee. Stir in sugar to taste, about 2 Tbsp. 3. Pour into a 9×13 dish. Refrigerate until set, about 4 hours. Cut into 1/4-1/8 inch squares. 4. To serve add to cold coffee drinks or serve as a dessert with whipped cream.

Coffee Jelly Recipes

Cafe Latte with Coffee Jelly

Combine coffee concentrate with cold milk to taste. I use 1/2 cup of concentrate to 1/2 cup milk. Pour over small cubes of ice (or crushed ice) and top with 1/8 cup coffee jelly.

Frappuccino-Style Drink with Coffee Jelly

Freeze coffee concentrate into ice cubes. Combine coffee concentrate cubes with cold milk and blend (I use a Mason Jar topped with my blender bottom). Top with 1/8 cup coffee jelly.