r/Coffee • u/SundryPockets • 9d ago

Problems making coffee jelly

Post image

Not sure if anyone’s ever tried to mold coffee jelly, but if so, what did I do wrong? 🥲 I wanted it in cute shapes, but now I know that’s a no go.

216 Upvotes

89% Upvoted

60 comments sorted by

154

u/regulus314 Espresso Shot 9d ago

Do you have the recipe for this? Like maybe we dont know if you are putting in or omitting something? More details.

41

u/SundryPockets 9d ago

Ahh, you’re right. I forgot to add that.

https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZPLNx6a4C/

3 tbsp instant coffee
2.5 tbsp brown sugar
1 packet of gelatin (I used the Knox brand)
300 mL hot water
150 mL cold water

129

u/sylveonstarr 9d ago

The recipe you're using is specifically to keep in a glass, then spoon out like a pudding or pannacotta. Not to mention that coffee jelly's already a pretty soft consistency, so trying to keep its shape in the form of those ice trays will be pretty hard. I would say either cut back on the water or just pour everything into a glass like in the video. Try it with about half to a quarter the amount of cold water, as you only need a couple tablespoons in most coffee jelly recipes.

37

u/Saltycook 9d ago edited 8d ago

Also, acid tends to denature gelatin, so it weakens the viscosity. I'd add more gelatin

54

u/VealStalk 9d ago

Not enough gelatin. If you want it firm double the gelatin.

If they are too snappy after you can add in 5% glucose by weight for a softer chew.

6

u/FunGuy8618 9d ago

Not nearly enough Knox.

9

u/KirbyGlover 8d ago

If you want something firmer for coffee jelly you'll probably need agar agar, pretty sure that's what coffee jelly at boba shops is made from rather than gelatin

3

u/bjchu92 8d ago

I recommend dusting the entire mold in Cocoa powder! It creates a layer separating it from the mold and should help it to release when it sets

4

u/regulus314 Espresso Shot 9d ago

I think you need to add something where the gelatin wont adhere to the silicon mould. Thats whats happening here. Unlike when you mould it in glass or stainless it will release easily. Have you tried adding a very small amount of neutral oil to the moulds before you add the gelatin?

If you have tried the hot water release and you said the gelatin just turned back into liquid I think you need to use less liquid for you to have a firm gelatin. This way it wont melt easily

1

u/LaylaThirtyOne 21h ago

Thanks for this

67

u/DietEdgelord 9d ago

It's hard to tell just from the pictures, but it looks like you need more gelatin. If you want it softer it won't come out of a mold very well.

30

u/MxWldm Espresso Shot 9d ago

I've done this to prank a coworker, jellied some cold coffee in a mug, worked perfectly with gelatine. Then in the morning we poured a thin layer of hot coffee on top and gave it to them, succesfull prank!

12

u/PanzerSoul 9d ago

Prank? That sounds like a treat

26

u/MxWldm Espresso Shot 9d ago

Well, it was a funny face when there wasn't coffee coming out anymore but you still saw the coffee. Very harmless though and indeed a good snack afterwards.

2

u/Xerophile420 8d ago

I make coffee jello and milk jello, and then cube them and mix together. It’s a wonderfully weird way of caffeinating

3

u/SundryPockets 9d ago

That's actually hilarious haha. I need to try that with my coworkers!

23

u/treblesunmoon 9d ago

Could be that your texture is too soft or the ratio is wrong, but did you try a hot water release? Gelatin and things like agar jelly tend to stick and cling to the silicone mold. Try creating a bath of very hot water, like in a shallow pan, and dipping the bottom of the mold into it.

1

u/Playful-Lychee5802 9d ago

hot water bath will just melt the edges of gelatin if the water's actually very hot, agar won't care either way because it sets much firmer and won't melt like that. just grease the silicone with a neutral oil before pouring and it'll pop right out.

1

u/SundryPockets 9d ago

I tried that method, but it softened the jelly to the point of melting.

15

u/Playful-Lychee5802 9d ago

silicone molds are a trap for set gels because the walls flex when you pull, which just shears the corners instead of letting the suction break cleanly. if you want shapes out of gelatin or agar, you need something rigid like hard plastic or metal that you can dip in warm water for two seconds to release the edges.

4

u/SundryPockets 9d ago

That actually makes a lot of sense! I don't know why I hadn't realized it, but thinking back on when my mom used to mold jello, she would use hard plastic...not silicone. Thanks for helping me remember :)

1

u/stoicsticks 8d ago

You could also make it in a sheet pan or shallow glass baking dish and cut out the shapes with small cookie cutters once it's set.

8

u/Brikandbones Espresso Macchiato 9d ago

Not enough agar. But damn, that's really dark for coffee jelly. Usually mine is a bit translucent, like a brown glass beer bottle.

1

u/SundryPockets 9d ago

I used Knox brand gelatin, but if I can't get it right with my remaining packets, I'll switch to agar. It's 3 tbsp of instant coffee haha. It is pretty dark, huh.

1

u/Fr05t_B1t Coffee 9d ago

3 tbsp to how much water?

1

u/SundryPockets 9d ago

300 ml of hot water, and then once all ingredients are mixed thoroughly, finished off with an additional 150 ml of cold water.

3 tbsp instant coffee
2.5 tbsp brown sugar
1 packet of gelatin (I used the Knox brand)
300 mL hot water
150 mL cold water

8

u/HausKino Espresso Shots! Shots! Shots! 9d ago

This is a question for r/AskCulinary

Make sure to add your recipe and method when posting.

4

u/scorpious 9d ago

Omg what am I seeing. This is the first I’ve ever even heard of “coffee jelly!”

I’m sure it’s a quick google, but if any enthusiast with experience (looks theres a few here) wants to enlighten a newbie, please please do!

…Is chocolate a part of this wizardry? I want chocolate to be involved.

8

u/RainbowRosalyn 9d ago

this doesn't look like black coffee.

if it has milk in it you have to find the right ratio of gelatine to coffee, in order for it to firm up right.

also using shaped silicone might affect the removal of the jelly (if you're using less gelatine)

3

u/Blunttack 9d ago

Freeze it for half hour.

7

u/NewbornMuse 9d ago

Just tell the coffee that you've been drinking a lot of tea lately.

2

u/Necessary_Bar 9d ago

Looks like you didn't use enough gelatin or agar. Or maybe you just added it to the hot coffee directly. I would recommend boiling it in a small pot of water and adding it to the coffee(maybe make the coffee a bit stronger to compensate).

2

u/SundryPockets 9d ago

I'll try that on my next attempt, thank you! I rushed through this one, and I know the timing of things is important.

2

u/asrenos Siphon 9d ago

2 cases : If you're using agar or gelatin, use more and make sure it dissolves well into your coffee.
If you're using pectin, don't. Coffee is not acidic enough.

5

u/ThePoetofFall Red Eye 9d ago

The problem is having this idea in the first place!

(Jk, you do you, I’d definitely try but it seems wrong on first glance)

9

u/Necessary_Bar 9d ago

Its a popular snack in Japan and it reached other parts of the world for a bit when an Anime came out where the main character loves to eat it. I made it a couple of times with agar and whipped cream and it is surprisingly good.

3

u/ThePoetofFall Red Eye 9d ago

I’ve never really liked gelatin based products. So, that might be why I had that reaction.

1

u/SundryPockets 9d ago

Yeah, Saiki piqued my interest in trying it out haha. When we visited Japan, I finally got to try it at Hoshino Coffee and I loved it.

3

u/Hell-Yes-Revolution 9d ago

Coffee jelly is just a known thing. It’s popular in Asian countries, but I’ve been buying/consuming it for most of my life, and I’m pushing 60, American, and don’t watch anime (no idea what the other poster is talking about. Perhaps anime is their frame of reference, but it is not mine.)

1

u/WritPositWrit 9d ago

How long did you chill it? Maybe its just not cold enough yet.

Its really dark, did you add something else? Maybe that is reacting w the gelatin and keeping it soft?

1

u/SundryPockets 9d ago

Overnight and then some! I added 2.5 tbsp of brown sugar that the recipe called for.

1

u/ThePunLexicon 9d ago

Did you coat the surface with a neutral oil or cornstarch or something to prevent sticking? gelatin and stuff really likes to stick to silicone.

1

u/Rhystretto 9d ago

As others have said - more gelatin. When I make jelly shots in silicone molds, I do about 3 Knox packets to 2 cups of liquid. And oil the molds lightly first.

1

u/ZoominAlong 8d ago

What are you using it for? I've never thought of coffee jelly! I usually make coffee ice cubes with my leftovers for cold brew. 

1

u/Chesu 8d ago

Coffee jelly is usually just, like... a dessert, molded in the container it's served in, with whipped cream on top. Looks like they wanted to take a "jello jigglers" approach to it

1

u/CelebrationOdd5360 8d ago

usually it comes down to blooming the gelatin or brewing it way too acidic. made a batch last year that turned out like chewing on a tire because gelatin packet instructions lie to you lol. did yours not set at all or did it turn into solid rubber?

1

u/One-Laugh9424 2d ago

For real

1

u/irishcybercolab 1d ago

Way MORE GELATIN! You can do this and it will be awesome when you balance the coffee!

1

u/PrimaryIngenuity5936 1d ago

I've never heard of this... so this is very interesting to me, Sorry I can't help to fix your problem but I'm definitely going to try create them!

1

u/aadesousa 9d ago

The acidity in the coffee makes this impossible

0

u/Global_Welder5723 9d ago

Make him look rich and real