Homemade Kahlua is well worth the time.  5 minutes of work for excellent results

I’ve got a beverage here, man!

My parents loved Kahlua. White Russians and Black Russians were their favorites. Sometimes, just a small Sherry glass snoot full just before bed.

As a teenager, I wasn’t then all that concerned with coffee of any stripe, and certainly not vodka flavored coffee. The coffee part has changed. So to has the vodka part.

Here is the first video showing the making.

The important part of coffee drinks is good coffee. I prefer very strong coffee. But, I also want a coffee which starts and finished with flavor. Such a thing is a challenge to find. I just bought one small harvest bean which was basically fancy named diner coffee. Bold up front and disappears in seconds. Pick the coffee you like best. I use a French Press for control of extraction for my strong coffee.

Dried vanilla beans have next to no flavor to offer. Tahitian, Indonesian or Madagascar vanilla beans have been the best I’ve used over the years.  Buy vanilla beans from a trusted source, not the grocery store.  Read more about vanilla here.

I split them the length and carefully scrape out the seeds. Place the seeds and the pod into the pan with the other ingredients (this method also works for anything vanilla such as Crème Anglaise or pastry cream).

A tip: If you are frugal and think there may be coffee to be made from the coffee beans…there isn’t.  I tried and it was insipid brown water.  Sadly, the beans have given all they had and have nothing left for a Kahlua coffee.

The finished product.  The recipes are below.  The first is this one and the second is for a higher sense of urgency.

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Kahlua

If you've time to plan, say 6 weeks, this is the Kahlua to make.

Course bar component

Keyword Better than the store, Black Russian, Home made, Kahlua

Prep Time 10 minutes

Author Dann Reid

Ingredients

Kahlua

• 750 ml Vodka
• 12 oz Dark rum Meyers, for example
• 12 oz Sugar
• 12 oz Dark roast coffee beans
• 1 each Vanilla bean, whole
• 1 each Cinnamon stick
• 2 each Strips of orange zest

Instructions

Mix the Kahlua

1. Add all the ingredients to a bowl large enough to hold them.

2. Mix well.

3. Place in a resealable container and store for at least 6 weeks.

   Shake the contents to stir the contents every couple of days.

4. Strain Kahlua through a tea strainer of a coffee filter.

   Store in pretty bottles.

5. Pretend you are The Dude making a beverage, man.

Recipe Notes

Coffee loves friends.  Pick those flavors which you think are good chums with coffee and add them to your Kahlua. 

Bay or cardamom or black pepper might be some good choices.  It's your drink, so make it as personalized as you can.

If not that, then this

If you are a bit pressed for time or have a higher sense of urgency, make this one.

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Kahlua

Homemade Kahlua is an excellent gift, or an excellent reason to host a party.  Either way, good imbibing is on the menu.

Course Drinks

Keyword Black Russian, Drinking a beverage, Man, Kahlua, White Russian

Prep Time 10 minutes

Total Time 30 minutes

Author Dann Reid

Ingredients

Kahlua

• 2.5 C Strong, freshly brewed coffee
• 1 lb Granulated sugar
• 2.25 C Stoli or Absolut vodka
• 1 each Split vanilla bean

Instructions

Make the Kahlua

1. Add the strong coffee, sugar and vanilla bean to a pot.

2. Bring the coffee mixture to a boil.  Stir to dissolve the sugar.

3. When the coffee mixture reaches a boil, lower the heat to simmer and cover.

4. Let simmer, covered, for 20 minutes.

5. Remove the pot from the heat and remove the lid.  Allow to cool to 130°F.

6. Add the vodka.  Transfer the liquor to a pitcher or other easily pouring vessel.  With the aid of a clean funnel, fill the cleaned bottles.  Seal and store away from light for at least 4 weeks before drinking or gifting.

7. Enjoy.

Let the bottles age for at least a month before drinking.