Chill 1 ½ cups whipping cream in refrigerator. Chill a stainless mixing bowl and mixer beaters in freezer.

In top of a double boiler, combine chocolate chips, coffee, rum (or vanilla) and butter. Melt over barely simmering water, stirring constantly. Remove from heat while a couple of chunks are still visible. Cool, stirring occasionally to about room temp, 30 minutes.

Pour remaining ¼ cup whipping cream into a metal measuring cup and sprinkle in the gelatin. Allow gelatin to "bloom" for 10 minutes. Then carefully heat by swirling the measuring cup over a low gas flame. Do not boil or gelatin will be damaged. Stir mixture into the cooled chocolate and set aside.

In the chilled mixing bowl, beat cream to medium peaks. Stir ¼ of the whipped cream into the chocolate mixture to lighten it. Fold in the remaining whipped cream in two rounds. There may be streaks of whipped cream in the chocolate and that is fine. Do not over work the mousse.