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Coffee Liqueur Recipe

5 from 5 votes

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Have you ever considered making your coffee liqueur at home? If so, I’ve got the perfect recipe for you! You can easily make a delicious homemade coffee liqueur with vodka, whiskey, or rum as a tasty alternative to Kahlua, like a cheap version of Kahlua if you wanna say so.

All it takes is a few simple ingredients, and in just two days, you’ll have your very own batch ready to sip and savor.

I’m a big fan of making these treats at home because sometimes you just don’t feel like running to the store. So, let’s jump right in and whip up this amazing homemade coffee liqueur!

Ingredients you need

Brown Sugar – adds a rich, caramel note to your liqueur, giving it that deep, complex sweetness that sets it apart. You can also use white granulated sugar if that’s what you have on hand, but keep in mind that it won’t provide that same caramel flavor.

Brewed Coffee – I recommend using a French press with coarse ground, medium-roasted coffee beans for this recipe. The French press method really brings out the robust, full-bodied flavors of the coffee, making the liqueur extra flavorful.

Vodka or Rum – Here’s your chance to personalize your liqueur to your liking! Vodka provides a smooth, neutral base that lets the coffee and caramel notes shine, while rum adds a deeper, more robust flavor. Choose whichever suits your taste best! And if you’re feeling adventurous, try using a spiced rum like The Kraken to add an extra layer of flavor complexity.

Vanilla Extract – This adds a lovely, smooth vanilla undertone that complements the coffee and caramel flavors beautifully.

Coffee Beans – You’ll want to use medium-roasted coffee beans here as well. They bring a balanced flavor to the liqueur, not too light and not too dark, enhancing the overall taste of your homemade concoction.

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How To Make Coffee Liqueur at Home

Step 1: Grind your coffee beans to a medium to coarse texture. Combine the grounds with your choice of alcohol—whether it’s vodka, whiskey, or rum—in a clean mason jar or other airtight container.

Add the ground coffee to the preserving bottle.
Ground coffee
Add vodka, rum, or whiskey to the ground coffee.
Vodka

Step 2: Allow the coffee to infuse in the alcohol for at least overnight, but for best results, leave it for 48 hours. Shake the jar occasionally to help speed up the infusion.

Shake the vodka ground coffee mixture occasionally to speed up the infusion.
Shake occasionally

Step 3: Once the infusion is complete, strain out the coffee grounds and set the coffee-infused alcohol aside.

Strain the infused vodka into a measuring cup.

Step 4: Brew 250 ml of your favorite coffee to serve as the base.

Step 5: Pour the brewed coffee into a saucepan and add brown sugar. Bring it to a boil over high heat, then lower the temperature to medium. Whisk until the sugar has completely dissolved.

Pour the brewed coffee into the saucepan.
Brewed (French press) coffee
Add brown sugar to the saucepan filled with brewed coffee.
Brown sugar

Step 6: Remove the saucepan from the heat, stir in the vanilla extract, and let the mixture cool to room temperature.

Step 7: Once cooled, add the coffee-infused alcohol to the mixture. This ratio will result in a liqueur with an alcohol content of about 20-22%.

Pour the infused vodka to the cooled down coffee brown sugar mixture.
Coffee infused vodka
Pour the finished coffee liqueur into a clean preserving bottle.
Store in a clean container
Gorgeous glass filled with homemade coffee liqueur, placed next to preserving jar and jigger.
Enjoy!

Barista Tips

Use filtered water to protect your equipment from build-up, producing a better coffee flavor!

Products

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Frequently Asked Questions About Homemade Coffee Liqueur

How long does homemade coffee liqueur last?

You can store your homemade coffee liqueur in a clean mason jar or bottle for up to one year. If you want to extend its shelf life, keeping it refrigerated is a great option.

What is Kahlua made of?

Kahlúa is made from Arabica coffee beans, rum, sugar, and vanilla.

How to sterilize mason jars and bottles?

To sterilize mason jars and bottles before adding homemade liqueur, wash them with hot, soapy water, rinse thoroughly, and then either boil them in water for 10 minutes or place them in a preheated oven at 275°F (135°C) for 20 minutes.

Gorgeous glass filled with homemade coffee liqueur, placed next to preserving jar and jigger.

More Recipes and Tips You Might Enjoy:

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Gorgeous glass filled with homemade coffee liqueur, placed next to preserving jar and jigger.

Homemade Coffee Liqueur Recipe

Create a delicious alternative to Kahlúa with this easy homemade coffee liqueur recipe! Using just a few ingredients, you’ll craft a rich and flavorful liqueur perfect for sipping, mixing, or adding to desserts.
5 from 5 votes
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Course: alcoholic beverage, Coffee Additive
Cuisine: Global cuisine
Keyword: cheap version of kahlua, coffee liqueur, homemade coffee liqueur
Prep Time: 1 day
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 1 day 10 minutes
Servings: 1 bottle
Calories: 1259kcal

Equipment

  • 2 Mason jar / bottle
  • Saucepan
  • Measuring tools
  • Funnel
  • Spoons
  • French Press or your preferred coffee brewer.
  • Fine meshed sieve
  • Whisk

Ingredients
 

  • ½ cup Coffee beans
  • ¾ cup Vodka Whiskey or Rum
  • 1 cup Brown sugar
  • ½ cup Brewed coffee fresh
  • ½ tsp Vanilla extract

Instructions

  • Grind ½ cup Coffee beans to a medium to coarse setting. Mix with ¾ cup Vodka, whiskey, or rum in a clean mason jar or airtight container.
  • Infuse the coffee in alcohol for at least 24 hours, preferably 48 hours. Occasionally shake the jar to enhance the infusion.
  • Strain the mixture to remove coffee grounds and set the coffee-infused alcohol aside.
  • Brew ½ cup Brewed coffee50 ml of coffee using your preferred method.
  • Combine ½ cup Brewed coffee and 1 cup Brown sugar in a saucepan. Bring to a boil, then reduce to medium heat. Whisk until the sugar dissolves.
  • Add ½ tsp Vanilla extract after removing the pan from heat. Stir well and let it cool to room temperature.
  • Mix in the coffee-infused alcohol. The final liqueur will have an alcohol content of approximately 20-22%.

Nutrition

Serving: 1Bottle | Calories: 1259kcal | Carbohydrates: 216g | Protein: 0.4g | Fat: 0.02g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.02g | Sodium: 66mg | Potassium: 355mg | Sugar: 214g | Calcium: 185mg | Iron: 2mg
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Food Safety

  • Don’t leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
  • Never leave cooking food and beverages unattended
  • Always have good ventilation when using a gas stove

See more guidelines at USDA.gov.

By on September 3rd, 2024
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About Nora

Nora is a full-blown coffee addict, who loves to make and write about everything that is coffee related. She is currently training to be a barista and loves sharing her knowledge.

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10 Comments on “Coffee Liqueur Recipe”

  1. 5 stars
    I tried this recipe, and itโ€™s fantastic! The coffee liqueur is rich and flavorfulโ€”way better than store-bought. Thanks for the great recipe!

    Reply
  2. 5 stars
    I didn’t know that you could make Coffee Liqueur at home. It tastes so much better than store-bought! Never going back to the store stuff. Great recipe!

    Reply
  3. 5 stars
    This is my first time trying to do my own Coffee Liqueur at home! And it was awesome! Love the kick of the coffee and the added flavor of the vodka, will definitely do this again!

    Reply
5 from 5 votes

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