How to make coffee jam.

Coffee marmalade: a treat for breakfast or as a gift

Coffee jam is a surprising recipe that transforms the intense aroma of espresso into a sweet, fragrant spread.

It’s not difficult to make: all you need are a few ingredients and a couple of tips to achieve a thick, velvety consistency.Coffee jam is perfect for breakfast, being ideal on toast, brioche, biscuits, and as a filling for cakes and petits fours.

As well as being a treat to start the day, it makes for a welcome and original handmade gourmet gift.

So let’s see how to make coffee jam: a recipe that can be adapted in many ways, even as a lighter version.

Everything you need: essential ingredients and equipment

Before you begin, you’ll need to gather all the necessary ingredients and equipment. It’s essential to pay attention to the quality of the coffee: this is a key factor in achieving a well-balanced result.

The main ingredient is, of course, espresso, which forms the basis of the recipe. For a rich, intense and creamy flavour, you’ll need this espresso, which is incredibly convenient thanks to its handy capsule format. You’ll need 2–3 small cups.

Here are the other ingredients usually used:

●    350 g of sugar. If you prefer brown sugar, use 380 g instead;
●    4–6 medium-sized apples. Golden Delicious are perfect, whilst Granny Smith apples give a fresher flavour;
●    1 lemon with edible peel;
●    350–450 ml water;
●    1 sachet of vanilla extract.

Here are the essential utensils:

●    a heavy-based saucepan;
●    a hotplate (optional);
●    a wooden spoon or spatula;
●    sterilised glass jars for storage.

Once you have all the ingredients and equipment ready, this coffee marmalade is a recipe that even those with little cooking experience can master. 

A step-by-step guide to making the perfect coffee jam

Let’s now look at how to make coffee jam step by step:

1. First, make an espresso;
2. Prepare the apples by removing the core and peel, then dice the flesh;
3. Cook the apples over a low heat with about a third of the water until you have a purée. To prevent the mixture from sticking to the bottom of the pan, you can use a hotplate;
4. Add the rest of the water, the coffee, the sugar, the vanilla extract and the lemon zest;
5. Cook over a low heat until you achieve a creamy consistency;
6. Make the cream even smoother by blending it with a hand blender;
7. Pour the mixture into jars, seal them, and leave them to rest upside down;
8. Once the jars have cooled, your coffee jam is ready to enjoy.

How long does coffee jam keep? If the jars are sealed airtight, it can last up to 6–12 months, provided they are stored in a cool, dry place.

Once opened, however, it is best to keep the jam in the fridge and consume it as soon as possible, within 4 days.

Do you love chocolate? Try this delicious variation

This variation creates a coffee spread with a truly indulgent flavour.

Unlike the previous version, milk is used instead of water. There are no apples, but cocoa: this can be in powder form or as chocolate chips (around 100 g). To thicken the mixture, you’ll need a sachet of cornflour (approx. 20 g).

Here’s how to make it:

1. Make the coffee;
2. Place a small saucepan on the hob with the milk, sugar, coffee and cornflour, stirring constantly. You can use a whisk to help. It’s important to keep the heat low;
3. When the mixture comes to the boil, it’s ready;
4. Pour the mixture into the jars, seal them and turn them upside down. Once they have cooled, your coffee and chocolate spread is ready.

Sugar-free but full of flavour: the low-calorie alternative

This lighter version of coffee jam uses erythritol instead of sugar: a natural, low-calorie sweetener. The method is the same as the basic recipe, but the flavour is lighter.

Erythritol can also be used to make a cold coffee drink by blending ice cubes, coffee and cold water together. It’s the perfect summer drink.