This coffee jelly latte combines spoonable coffee cubes, cold milk and espresso. Make the jelly ahead so it has time to set before assembling two drinks.
What is Coffee Jelly Latte?
A coffee jelly latte is a cold milk-and-espresso drink with cubes of sweetened coffee jelly. This recipe sets brewed coffee with agar-agar powder, then chills and cuts it before assembling two glasses. The jelly adds a spoonable texture rather than dissolving like syrup. Only part of the jelly batch is used in the two servings.
What It Tastes Like
Sweetened coffee cubes give a firmer bite against the cold milk, while espresso adds a stronger coffee finish. This is a drink to enjoy with a spoon as well as a sip.
Jump to recipeQuestions & answers
Ingredients and Why They Matter
- Use agar powder, not flakes. The same spoonful of flakes does not have the same gelling strength.
- The jelly batch and the drink assembly are separate measurements. Only 1 cup of the finished jelly goes into the two drinks.
- Choose coffee you enjoy drinking. Both the cubes and the espresso add coffee flavor, so an overly bitter brew will still taste bitter in the finished glass.
Coffee Jelly Latte recipe
Prep: 10 minCook: 5 minCool/chill: about 60 minTotal: about 75 min
Yield: 2 drinks, plus about 1 cup extra jelly
Coffee jelly — about 2 cups
- 2 cups brewed coffee
- 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 1 1/2 teaspoons agar-agar powder (not flakes); check package strength
For 2 drinks
- 1 cup prepared coffee jelly, divided
- 1 1/2 cups cold milk, divided
- 2 shots espresso (about 2 fluid ounces total), cooled
- Ice as desired
- Up to 2 tablespoons simple syrup, optional
How to Make It
- Activate the agar. Whisk coffee, sugar, and agar powder in a saucepan. Bring to a gentle boil and cook while whisking for the activation time specified on the agar package; allow about 5 minutes for heating and cooking.
- Set. Pour into a shallow heatproof dish. Let the steam subside, then chill for about 1 hour or until fully set. Cut into small cubes.
- Divide between glasses. Put 1/2 cup jelly in each of two glasses. Add ice and 3/4 cup milk to each.
- Finish. Add one espresso shot to each glass. Sweeten to taste with up to 1 tablespoon syrup per drink. Serve with spoons.
Equipment
Small saucepan, whisk, shallow heatproof dish, knife and two serving glasses.
Pro Tips
Agar powder and flakes are not interchangeable by volume. Adjust to the manufacturer’s ratio if your powder has a different strength.
Read the full ingredient list before measuring. Batch ingredients and the amount used to assemble a drink are listed separately where needed; do not add an entire syrup batch to a single glass. All measurements use US cups and spoons.
Coffee Jelly Latte troubleshooting
If the jelly fails to set, check both agar quantity and activation time. If it is too firm, reduce the powder slightly in the next batch after testing.
Variations
Use decaf for both the brewed coffee in the jelly and the espresso at assembly. Swap the milk for an unsweetened plant-based drink if desired. Do not substitute agar flakes or gelatin spoon-for-spoon for the agar powder.
Storage
Keep prepared coffee jelly covered in the refrigerator and separate from the milk until serving. Chill the coffee components ahead if needed. Cut only the jelly you plan to use, and assemble the glasses just before drinking. The recipe does not establish a tested multi-day shelf life for the homemade jelly.
Common Questions
What is coffee jelly made of?
Coffee jelly is made by setting sweetened brewed coffee with a gelling agent. This recipe uses agar-agar powder rather than gelatin. The powder must be heated according to its package directions before the coffee is chilled and cut into cubes.
What is the recipe for coffee jelly drink?
Make and chill the coffee jelly first. For two drinks, divide 1 cup jelly between two glasses, add 3/4 cup cold milk to each, and finish each with one espresso shot. Add ice and optional syrup to taste.
Can I prepare it ahead?
Keep the components separate until serving. Chill the coffee or juices ahead, but add fresh ice, froth cream, or pour sparkling water at the last moment for the best texture.
Can I use decaf?
Yes. Replace the coffee or espresso with the same measured amount of decaf. It may still contain a small amount of caffeine. The milk, sweetness and preparation steps stay the same.
More home café ideas
Browse all 10 home café drinks and mocktails.
Recipe testing confirmed by the site owner. Serving illustration is AI-generated, not a test photograph.
