It’s easy to make coffee jelly with coffee, sugar, gelatin, and whipped cream. Sounds delicious, right? But is coffee jelly healthy? Read on to find out.
To the 62% of American coffee lovers constantly looking for another way to enjoy their favorite cup of Joe, have you ever tried to take it as a dessert? Coffee jelly is a Japanese delicacy introduced as “coffee you can eat” by a café in the country in 1963. It’s a healthy dessert craved by many.
Is Coffee Jelly A Drink Or Food?
Unlike your regular cup of Joe, coffee jelly is coffee served in a jelly form cut in cubes or any shape. The coffee-flavored jellies made from gelatin or agar powder are served with cream. It’s most commonly served as a dessert but can also be added to different cold beverages.
The first caffeinated jelly recipe book was published in the 18th century. It was launched in Rhode Island and Massachusetts in the 19th century. In the past, making coffee jelly needed many ingredients like calves or foot jelly and isinglass until manufacturers introduced the packed gelatin.
However, it didn’t become popular in these countries, unlike in Japan, where they replaced gelatin with agar, a substance made from algae. Starbucks Jelly Frappuccino’s launch in 2016 introduced coffee jelly to young people as a drink. Today, Asian countries are fond of coffee jelly, but it’s still not as widespread in Western culture.
Is Coffee Jelly Healthy?
The caffeinated jelly is bouncy and chewy, perfectly combining sweet and bitter flavors. Its unique texture, taste, and health benefits are why many people love coffee jelly.
You might also be interested in our guide on the best coffee syrups on Amazon.
Health Benefits Of Caffeine
Caffeine serves as a nervous system stimulant and has many other health benefits. Two to three cups of coffee a day can lower the risk of stroke, heart disease, and other illnesses. Caffeine can also boost weight loss, improve physical endurance, and aids processes in the liver and colon.
It’s also believed that 160mg to 600mg of caffeine revamps brain functionality like mental alertness and reasoning skills, improves memory, and slows down cognitive decline caused by aging. Higher caffeine consumption may also lower the risk of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease.
Caffeine can even protect against eye disorders, cataracts, and many cancers. However, while caffeine has many health benefits, remember that there are still risks in consuming too much coffee.
Health Benefits Of Gelatin
Gelatin has protein and amino acids that help build more collagen needed to maintain healthy skin. They also create a protective mucus lining for the walls of the intestines.
The glycine in gelatin helps manage blood sugar levels, especially in people with Type 2 diabetes. It also improves attention and memory, treating schizophrenia and reducing inflammation.
Gelatin is also good for your joints and bones. It strengthens the connective tissues, reduces pain from osteoarthritis, and encourages fast recovery from any injury.
Health Benefits Of Agar
Agar-agar is not only a native way an adequate substitute for gelatin. It’s also rich in nutrients.
The fiber in agar is a natural laxative that helps treat gastrointestinal illness. Agar-agar will also make you feel full, aiding those on their journey to weight loss to eat less. Calcium and manganese are also present in agar, which helps strengthen bones and teeth.
How To Make Coffee Jelly Healthier
Coffee jelly is healthy when taken in moderation. But because of its versatility, there are many ways to make it healthier:
- Avoid Robusta coffee and use Arabica coffee for lower caffeine content.
- Use decaffeinated coffee if you don’t want caffeine.
- Use low-fat cream, almond milk, or serve coffee jelly with less cream to reduce calories.
- Use stevia as a sweetener or reduce the amount of sugar.
How To Make Coffee Jelly Drink
Coffee jelly can be combined with various ingredients such as alcohol, lemon, mocha, lattes, and coconut milk.
Here’s one of the famous recipes for coffee jelly: “Frozen Iced Coffee Jelly,” a drink similar to Starbucks Jelly Frappuccino.
Ingredients:
- Two cups of freshly brewed coffee
- Three tablespoons of gelatin powder (unflavored)
- Three tablespoons of water
- Three tablespoons of sugar
For Frozen Iced Coffee: (You can prepare this in advance)
- One and a half cups of cold coffee
- A quarter cup of heavy cream
- A quarter cup of chocolate syrup
- Three tablespoons of sugar
- One tablespoon of vanilla extract
Whipped Cream: (You can skip this by buying readymade creams like Trade Joe’s whipping cream)
- A three-quarter cup of heavy cream
- One tablespoon of vanilla extract
- One tablespoon of sugar
Method:
- Blend all the ingredients for the frozen iced coffee and put it in the freezer for at least two to four hours until it thickens.
- Dissolve the gelatin powder in cold water and leave it for two minutes or until it blooms. At the same time, brew all the coffee that you need.
- Add sugar to the hot coffee and pour the mixture into a loaf pan.
- Add the bloomed gelatin into the loaf pan and stir gently.
- After ensuring they’re blended, chill the coffee jelly for two hours or until it’s firm.
- Prepare the whipped cream by slowly adding vanilla extract and sugar until medium peaks form.
- Cut the chilled coffee jelly into small cubes, depending on your preferred size.
- Create a layer of coffee jelly, whipped cream, and frozen iced coffee in a tall clear glass.
- Add more whipped cream on top and finish the presentation with a boba straw.
Do you want to know more about coffee jellies? Check out our is coffee jelly healthy.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Many Calories Is In Coffee Jelly?
Coffee jelly is a dessert made from sweetened coffee and gelatin or agar powder. Usually, there are 33 calories per 50 grams of serving. However, the total calories will depend on the recipe or cream.
Does Coffee Jelly Have A Lot Of Caffeine?
The amount of caffeine depends on how much you eat. There’s approximately 9.5mg of caffeine in every 50g serving of coffee jelly.
Can You Eat Coffee Jelly For Breakfast?
Like coffee, you can have it anytime. Coffee jelly is another way to enjoy your cup of Joe..
Is Coffee Jelly A Food Or Drink?
Coffee jelly is not food or a drink. It’s a dessert made with gelatin and sweetened coffee, cut into cubes, and served in various sweet dishes and drinks.
