A homemade Kahlua coffee liqueur is perfect as a Christmas gift or as a drink for a party. The best thing is that the liqueur will most likely taste much better than an industrial product. After all, professional barmen prefer to follow their personal recipes, why not follow their example? To prepare the real Kahlua it will take a couple of weeks of infusion, but there is also a "quick" version with instant coffee. Keep reading!
Ingrediants
Recipe with Instant Coffee
- 200 g of granules for instant coffee (not frozen).
- 350 g of white granulated sugar.
- 480 ml of water.
- 480 ml of rum with 40% alcohol (no particular brand).
- 1 vanilla pod.
Recipe with Extracted Coffee
- 600 ml of freshly brewed strong coffee.
- 400 g of white granulated sugar.
- 600ml of good quality vodka.
- 1 vanilla bean cut into three parts.
Quick Recipe
- 480 ml of water.
- 150 g of granules for instant coffee.
- 600ml of good quality vodka.
- 400 g of white granulated sugar.
- 12 ml of vanilla extract.
Each recipe allows you to prepare about a liter of Kahlua. Double or halve the doses according to your needs.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Instant Coffee Recipe
Step 1. Make a sweetened coffee base
To start, boil 480ml of water. Remove the pan from the heat and add the instant coffee granules, white sugar and stir until all solid ingredients have dissolved.
If your diet does not include the use of white sugar, replace it with cane sugar or with the sweetener of your choice; There are many recipes for making Kahlua and many also include sugar substitutes
Step 2. Use a kitchen thermometer to check the water temperature
Even if this boils at 100 ° C, know that alcohol boils at 78 ° C. So wait for the temperature to drop below this level before adding the rum, to avoid surprises.
If you don't have a cooking thermometer, wait 15-20 minutes. In this case, it is better to err on the side of things than to go wrong and use a colder mixture
Step 3. Add the rum and mix
The type of rum is just your personal choice, but it is advisable to take a medium aged and good quality one. You certainly don't want to "waste" a vintage rum just to prepare a homemade Kahlua, but at the same time you don't want to get a liqueur that tastes like "mouthwash".
You may have noticed from the ingredient lists that the next recipe calls for vodka. If you are a lover of this hard alcohol, you can use it instead of rum. And if you have time and tools, why not prepare a Kahlua for every type of alcohol? This way you can choose the one you like best
Step 4. Pour the Kahlua into a sealable, one-liter glass bottle
Add the vanilla bean and place everything in the refrigerator for at least 30 days, so as to "age" the aroma. In order for your preparation to taste similar to commercial Kahlua, you have to wait for the ingredients to blend together. However, at the end of this article, you will also find a recipe for an "instant" liqueur. It won't taste the same, but it will be ready right away.
The vanilla bean needs time to release its flavor to the infusion and is a key ingredient. You can also use an extract, but you will get a less rich and fragrant Kahlua
Step 5. Put the label
By doing this you will always know what it contains and when the liqueur has been prepared, avoiding anyone confusing it with a drink! Also, if you can't remember the date it was prepared, the label will help you.
Method 2 of 3: Recipe with Extracted Coffee
Step 1. Make strong, good quality coffee
For a rich and intense flavor Kahlua, you need a high quality base. Furthermore, the coffee must be strong, because the watered one is not able to transmit its aroma to the final product. Once the coffee is extracted, use it immediately.
If you're not very good at making decent coffee (it's not as easy as it sounds) ask a coffee enthusiast to make it for you. This detail will make a big difference in the finished product
Step 2. Add the sugar to the hot coffee and stir to dissolve it
When all the coffee is ready, pour it into a large bowl before adding the sugar. Stir until the solution becomes uniform.
Again, you can use brown sugar, raw sugar, or a sweetener. However, be aware that the final flavor will be slightly altered
Step 3. Pour the vodka once the coffee has reached room temperature
Stir to combine the ingredients.
Some bartenders believe that the combination of vodka and rum is a better solution and that depending on the brand of rum or vodka you use, the result can be noticeably different. If you have enough empty bottles available, you can try experimenting
Step 4. Add the vanilla and pour the liqueur into the bottles
You can use 330ml or one liter bottle. Cut the vanilla bean into three equal parts and place one in each container. Close the cap, your Kahlua is done.
If you wish, at this point, you can add a cinnamon stick, cocoa beans or the zest of an orange to create a more personal and complex flavor
Step 5. Store the bottle in a cool, dry place for 2-3 weeks
Vanilla needs this time to flavor the liqueur and release its flavor. After this period, filter the liquid and bottle it again.
The cellar or the basement are excellent places to store liquor, but a closed box inside a cabinet or under the bed is also fine. Remember to stick a label so you don't find yourself, six months later, wondering what that mysterious dark bottle contains
Method 3 of 3: Quick Recipe
Step 1. Pour the water, instant coffee granules and sugar into a large pot
Heat over medium heat while stirring until any solid ingredients have dissolved and the mixture takes on a smooth, even consistency.
If you fear that your quick Kahlua is a bit dull (usually those prepared with more elaborate recipes are even tastier), then add a few pieces of cocoa to give it a chocolate aftertaste and a more intense flavor
Step 2. Wait for the mixture to cool
Let it sit at room temperature for 15-20 minutes. If you have a kitchen thermometer you can monitor the temperature instead of guessing!
Step 3. Add the vanilla and vodka while mixing carefully
When the blend reaches room temperature, pour in the last few ingredients, your coffee liqueur is ready to be enjoyed!
If your guests aren't crazy about drinking the liqueur contained in a pot, pour it into 330 ml bottles and keep them for later consumption. However, remember that this recipe is designed to drink Kahlua immediately, because you don't have to wait two weeks for the infusion
Advice
- If you want homemade aged Kahlua for Christmas, you should make it around early November.
- You can add a small amount of glycerin to make it thicker and creamier.
- A good container for your homemade liquor can be a full-sized wine bottle. Remove the wine label and close the bottle with a cork (you can find this in most grocery stores).
Warnings
- Do not use frozen dry coffee.
- As with any home-made drink, hygiene is essential.
