• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Home
  • Recipes
  • Free Bonus
  • About

Boulder Locavore® logo

menu icon
go to homepage
  • Home
  • Recipes
  • Free Bonus
  • About
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
    • Twitter
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Home
    • Recipes
    • Free Bonus
    • About
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
    • Twitter
  • ×

    Home » Infusions & Liqueurs » Homemade Coffee Liqueur: You’ll Never Buy It Again!

    LAST UPDATED: November 7, 2020 • FIRST PUBLISHED: November 29, 2018 By Toni Dash 110 Comments

    Homemade Coffee Liqueur: You’ll Never Buy It Again!

    Jump to Recipe

    This post may include affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Homemade Coffee Liqueur title image

    Coffee Liqueur is an easy, affordable liqueur you can make at home! Perfect for after dinner sipping, cocktails and gifts!

    Homemade Coffee Liqueur title image

    There were two homemade liqueurs I grew up with my mother making: Crème de Menthe and Coffee Liqueur (we knew it as ‘Kahlua’ which is the name brand).

    Large batches would reside in the liquor cabinet for years and be given as gifts.

    Once I was of drinking age, I totally understood why. Homemade Coffee Liqueur is very easy to make, affordable and lasts indefinitely.

    There are many ways to use it and it’s a perfect DIY gift idea!

    Glass of Coffee Liqueur over ice with colorful napkin

    What is Coffee Liqueur?

    If you’ve ever had Kalua this is a homemade Kahlua recipe!

    A liqueur is a strong, sweet liquor usually consumed by itself after a meal or in a sweeter cocktail.

    Coffee liqueur has a sweet coffee flavor and is perfect to drink by itself on the rocks or in many popular cocktails.

    Recipe Ingredients + Notes

    Sugar. Both white granulated sugar and brown sugar are used in this recipe. The combination give great rich flavor to complement the coffee taste.

    Instant Coffee. Regular instant coffee is used; not powdered espresso.

    Vodka. Vodka is the liquor base for the recipe. Notes on the type of vodka are shared below.

    Vanilla Beans. Vanilla beans are used over extract for the flavor infusion. The beans are slit lengthwise exposing the insides to the liquor mixture.

    The warm vanilla flavor from the beans makes a big difference and continues to infuse as the liqueur sits.

    Use Good Quality Instant Coffee

    My original handwritten recipe card has a notation of ‘good coffee’ next to the instant coffee ingredients!

    Since the quality of the coffee determines the ultimate flavor of the coffee liqueur choose a good quality brand for this recipe!

    Use Medium-Grade Vodka

    The note on my original recipe card suggests using ‘cheap vodka’ for making coffee liqueur; I actually don’t recommend that!

    What I’ve learned from talking to distillers is the quality of the ingredients determines the outcome of the liquor.

    My recommendation is not to use the most expensive, high end brand but a medium-grade neutral-flavored (not flavored) vodka to create a delicious homemade coffee liqueur.

    Homemade Coffee Liqueur steps mixing ingredients

    How to Make Coffee Liqueur – Step by Step:

    This recipe could not be eaiser or faster to make!

    • Combine the white sugar, brown sugar and water and bring to a boil on the stove top. Boil up to five minutes, stirring occasionally, to allow the sugar to dissolve.
    • Add the instant coffee and stir to dissolve.Allow the mixture to cool.
    • Pour the mixture into a 1-gallon glass storage container with lid. Add the vodka and split vanilla beans.
    • Allow to sit in a cool, dark place for 2 weeks before drinking so the flavor can fully develop.

    Homemade Coffee Liqueur steps pouring into a gift bottle

    How to Use Coffee Liqueur

    My first experience drinking Kahlua was after a large meal when I had to order something to drink since I was at a club.

    A friend suggested ordering it on the rocks. It was perfect.

    Just the right amount of sweetness and easy to drink.

     Gingerbread Brandy Milk Punch
    Gingerbread Brandy Milk Punch (vegan or with dairy)

    How to Store it

    To store it long terms store in a cool dark area (a pantry is perfect) in a sealed jar or bottle. It will stay good indefinitely.

    Bottle Ideas for Gifting

    Homemade liqueurs are a perfect and affordable gift idea! They are inexpensive for you to make.

    Your recipient also doesn’t have to buy the liqueur at the store.

    For a more decorative option to give the homemade Kahlua for gifts select a bottle that seals securely.

    Also selecting a bottle that is more narrow toward the top is easier to pour from.

    Here are a number of great choices of homemade liqueur bottles on Amazon.com.

    Coffee Liqueur Cocktails

    There are many delicious cocktails using coffee liqueur too.

    The most popular cocktails are probably a White Russian cocktail and a Black Russian cocktail.

    White Russian Cocktail Recipe

    • In an Old Fashioned glass with ice,
    • add 2-ounces vodka, and
    • 1-ounce coffee liqueur
    • Finish with a splash of heavy cream and stir.

    Black Russian Cocktail Recipe

    A Black Russian is a White Russian without the cream!

    • Combine 2-ounces Vodka, with
    • 1-ounce Coffee Liqueur
    • Strain into an Old Fashioned glass with ice.

    Colorado Bulldog cocktail with copper cocktail shaker

    More Coffee Liqueur Cocktail Ideas

    Colorado Bulldog (a version of a White Russian with a fizzy twist!)

    Gingerbread Brandy Milk Punch (cold weather spices make this cocktail delicious for the winter)

    Eggnog and Coffee Liqueur: Combine prepared Eggnog and coffee liqueur in a 50/50 ratio. Pop in a cinnamon stick for good measure.

    Glass of Coffee Liqueur over ice

    More Homemade Liqueurs and Infusions You’ll Love!

    • Lemon-Infused Vodka
    • Homemade Spiced Pear Vodka
    • DIY Pomegranate Lime Vodka
    • Candy Cane Infused Vodka

    If you’ve made this Coffee Liqueur recipe please RATE THE RECIPE below!

    Please SUBSCRIBE and FOLLOW ME on FACEBOOK , TWITTER , INSTAGRAM and PINTEREST !

    Glass of Coffee Liqueur over ice with colorful napkin

    Homemade Coffee Liqueur

    Homemade coffee liqueur is a fun DIY project for personal use or gifts! Tastes just like you bought it.
    5 from 31 votes
    Print Save Recipe Recipe Saved! Pin Rate
    Course: Cocktails, Cocktail Syrup
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 5 minutes
    Cook Time: 7 minutes
    Total Time: 14 days 10 minutes
    Servings: 40 2-ounce servings aproximately. Makes 1/2- 3/4 gallon (8-12 cups)
    Calories: 127kcal
    Author: Toni Dash
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Ingredients

    • 3 ½ cups white sugar
    • 1/2 cup light brown sugar
    • 4 cups water
    • 2 ounces powdered instant coffee ‘good coffee’
    • 750 ml vodka
    • 2 vanilla beans split lengthwise

    Instructions

    • Combine white sugar, brown sugar and water in a large saucepan over medium-high heat.  Bring to a boil and boil for 5 minutes.  Stir occasionally and do not allow to boil over (reduce heat if needed).
    • Add instant coffee to sugar syrup while syrup is still hot.  Stir to dissolve.  Let cool.
    • Pour liquid into glass storage jug or container.  Add vodka and vanilla beans.  Let stand in a cool, dark location for 2 weeks before drinking.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 127kcal | Carbohydrates: 21g | Protein: 0g | Fat: 0g | Saturated Fat: 0g | Cholesterol: 0mg | Sodium: 2mg | Potassium: 53mg | Sugar: 20g | Calcium: 5mg | Iron: 0.1mg
    Did you make this recipe?Mention @boulderlocavore or tag #boulderlocavore!

    Originally published: November 7, 2011

    « Creamy Hot Artichoke Dip with Garlic Toast Rounds
    Easy Whole Roast Duck with Chinese Five Spice »

    ABOUT THE AUTHOR

    TONI DASH
    Toni Dash head shot

    Toni Dash, is a Certified Nutrition Coach and the writer/blogger, photographer, recipe developer and creator of Boulder Locavore®. She has been developing easy to make, well-tested recipes since 2010. Her seasonal recipes bring excitement to the dining table for both gluten-free and gluten diners. Toni has been featured in numerous publications and on culinary websites for her creative, delicious recipes and travel features. For more details, check out her About page.

    Free Email Course

    5 FAST & EASY 15-MINUTE RECIPES
    Spending too much time in the kitchen?
    These recipes are fast, easy, and perfect for every occasion.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Lin Cline says

      May 14, 2022 at 12:20 pm

      5 stars
      Just finished making this and it smells wonderful. My only question is, you said to store in a dark location. My garage is not temperature controlled, would that be too hot? It is dark more or less. The only other place that is more or less dark is the refrigerator. Not really sure where would be best. Any suggestions? Thanks for an easy, smells good recipe.

      Reply
      • Toni Dash says

        May 16, 2022 at 8:29 am

        Hi Lin! It really should be a dark cool location ideally; cool being more important than dark. I would not store it in your garage! If you have a location indoors where it’s temperature controlled that is out of direct sunlight and temperature controlled that will work. I keep mine in my pantry. Hope that helps!

        Reply
    2. Anna says

      November 21, 2021 at 7:58 pm

      I’d love to try making this, but “good coffee” is hard to find in an instant variety. Do you (and did your Mother) use a specific brand when making this? Thanks in advance.

      Reply
      • Toni Dash says

        November 22, 2021 at 4:26 pm

        We’ve used a number of different brands as this recipe is decades old! I’m sure whichever you use will be delicious. Starbucks makes instant coffee packets too!

        Reply
    3. Kate says

      November 08, 2021 at 10:46 pm

      Would it be fairly simple to halve this recipe? Or should I leave it as written?

      Reply
      • Toni Dash says

        November 08, 2021 at 11:26 pm

        I think you can halve it!

        Reply
    4. Marina says

      February 12, 2021 at 4:15 pm

      5 stars
      5 stars for the ease of understanding the recipe, and how amazing it sounds! I’ve not yet made it, but am really eager to try. The reason I was looking the recipe up was because I was watching Uncharted and this episode was in the “spice hub” of India and one of his hosts made a coffee liqueur – but she did it with a decoction that she made from roughly ground coffee beans. I’ve got some specific beans that I’m a huge fan of – I love the Ethiopian Yrgacheffe and the Pinon beans which have a smooth, nutty flavor – both of which I believe would have a really nice flavor in the liqueur. Do you have any idea of how to make a decoction that fits this recipe? If I just make coffee to 4 cups and make it pretty strong and follow the recipe in all other ways, do you think that’ll work?
      Thanks so much for any advice you’d care to share.

      Reply
      • Toni Dash says

        February 13, 2021 at 7:45 am

        Unfortunately Marina I’ve only made the recipe as written. It’s been a family recipe I’ve never deviated from.

        Having said that you can certainly experiment. The coffee powder adds the strong coffee flavor without diluting the liqueur with more liquid as prepared coffee would. I suppose you could make a strong batch of coffee and increase the liquor to try to get a liqueur flavor. I think you’d just need to experiment.

        Reply
        • Marina says

          February 13, 2021 at 9:58 am

          thank you so much for replying. I enjoy experimenting, especially when it’s only one piece of an acknowledged successful recipe. Thank you so much for your reply!

      • Paloma says

        December 10, 2021 at 11:54 am

        5 stars
        I’d love to hear how your experiment with brewed coffee as opposed to the instant turns out! I also have some coffee beans I love on hand, but the instant starbucks I used in this recipe also worked really well. Maybe used brewed coffee and infuse roughly ground beans to the vodka?

        Reply
    « Older Comments

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    About Toni Dash

    Toni Dash BoulderLocavore.com Head Shot

    Welcome! I’m Toni. I’m a Certified Nutrition Coach and my goal is to MAKE YOUR LIFE EASIER with delicious, well-tested recipes and travel tips! More About Me …

    AS FEATURED ON….

    BoulderLocavore.com Featured By Press

    Easy Dinners

    • Instant Pot Jambalaya Instant Pot Jambalaya Recipe: Quick & Easy Comfort Food
    • Instant Pot Smoked Paprika & Garlic Chicken Legs with lime wedges on a pewter platter Instant Pot Smoked Paprika & Garlic Chicken Legs
    • Korean BBQ Chicken title image Easy Korean BBQ Chicken recipe
    • Instant Pot Corned Beef Brisket title image Instant Pot Corned Beef Brisket: an Easy One Pot Meal
    • Shrimp Salad title image Shrimp Salad Recipe
    • Green Chile Stew title image Hearty New Mexican Green Chile Pork Stew

    TRENDING RIGHT NOW

    • Hummingbird Cake title image The Best Hummingbird Cake recipe
    • Instant Pot Jambalaya Instant Pot Jambalaya Recipe: Quick & Easy Comfort Food
    • LIMEADE IN A GLASS WITH ICE Fresh Homemade Limeade recipe
    • How to Make Moist Homemade Shredded Chicken Breast title How to Make Moist Homemade Shredded Chicken Breast Recipe
    • cilantro lime rice title image Easy Instant Pot Cilantro Lime Rice Recipe
    • Easter Rice Krispie Treats title image Easter Rice Krispie Treats: Fast & Festive with a Surprise Ingredient!

    Footer

    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Pinterest
    • Instagram

    Contact | About | Privacy Policy | Disclosure Policy | Accessibility Statement | Cookie Policy


    SIGN ME UP to get FREE recipes directly to my inbox!

    Don't miss our TRAVEL SECTION!


    Copyright © 2010-2023 All Rights Reserved

    Boulder Locavore is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC associates program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.