My husband Art and his best friend Luke jointly took up the hobby of brewing beer. Over the past few years, they’ve managed to get pretty good at it, too. Luke has made so many batches that his home has been renamed Killer Keller’s Brewery. Not satisfied with beer brewing alone, Luke decided to create his own recipe for Kahlua. During our last visit, I had the chance to try it and was so impressed that I begged him to share his secret recipe with me. I was amazed at how easy it is to make and how much better it tasted than the bottle I buy from the liquor store. Start saving your empty liquor bottles because you are going to want to try this!
Here’s how Luke showed me to make a huge double batch of Killer Keller’s Kahlua! Start by brewing 24 cups of STRONG coffee – pour it into a large stock pot and bring to a boil. You can also use decaf coffee if you are sensitive to caffeine.
Turn off heat and add the brown sugar. Stir continuously for 5 minutes.
Remove from stove and cool. You can place the coffee into an ice bath or cold water in the sink to speed the process.
Once cool, stir in the homemade vanilla extract.
Add a 1.75 liter bottle of Everclear liquor. We were making a double batch hence the 2 handles.
Funnel your finished Kahlua into sterilized empty liquor bottles. The alcohol tends to rise to the top so make sure to stir frequently during this step.
To serve, pour a shot over ice and add milk for – guaranteed – the most delicious white Russian you have ever tasted. It’s also tasty with our homemade almond milk recipe.
<clink> Cheers!
Homemade Killer Kahlua
Ingredients
- 24 cups of strong brewed coffee
- 4 pounds light brown sugar
- 1.75 L everclear alcohol
- 3/4 c vanilla
Instructions
- brew 24 cups of strong coffee.
- pour coffee into a large stock pot and bring to a boil.
- add brown sugar and stir constantly for 5 minutes.
- remove stock pot from heat and cool.
- once cool stir in 1.75 L everclear.
- use a funnel and pour into bottles.
I’ve tried this myself. DELICIOUS! I absolutely will be making some of this when we get to Utah!
24 coffee pot cups or measuring cup quantity, because the pot measurement is half the size.
This is also very tasty mixed with root beer, regular or sugar free,
I used to make this but in much smaller quantities. Your recipe is just a little different than mine. Have you ever made cherry liqueur? That’s very fun, too. You have to make it during fresh cherry season, which is fast approaching!
I’ve never made cherry liquor but it sounds delicious! I’ll have to look that up to see what I can find. Thank you!
My local store only had the 750ml bottles, so I retooled the recipe based on ratio of the bottles then rounded up to convenient measurements.
750/(1.75L * 1000) = .4285714285714286
10 1/3 cups strong coffee
1 3/4 pounds brown sugar
750ml everclear
1/3 cup vanilla
Thanks Lucas and Toni for pointing me here 🙂
Awesome Daniel, thank you!
When you say strong coffee, what do you consider to be strong?
Can you stand a spoon in it? ?
Thank you for the math help.
The ingredient list states 1.75 L but the directions say 1.5 L. I am sure that extra everclear wouldn’t hurt but I only have 1.5 L at the moment and wouldn’t want to reduce the flavor by putting in less than required.
Nate, A 1.5 will work just fine, it won’t be quite as boozy as the 1.75 but will do the trick. If you are concerned about it just omit a few cups of the coffee. cheers!!
Hello, I was wondering about storage and if you knew how long it would last. Thanks…making a batch for Christmas.
I recently found a bottle someone made for me years ago… like at least 20. It is still amazing…. probably better.. lol
Christina, If it’s sealed and kept away from hot temperatures it should last for years. The alcohol content would kill any chance of bacteria. Cheers!
I didn’t realize how much this recipe made. I’ve made it before but a much smaller batch. This time I had to use my canning jars, and I got 7 quarts and 1 liter and a pint full in oringal Kahula bottle. Tastes great already, I know it will only get better with some age. OH and I make my own vanilla extract, but used fresh vanilla beans instead. OH SO GOOD! Thanks!
I just finished making a single batch and the immediate taste is excellent. I know that it will only get better with age. The single recipe gave me 4 26 oz and 13 oz bottle. Really looking forward to testing if after it has had a change to age for a month.
4x 26oz and 1x 13oz or 4x 26oz and 4x 13 oz? I’m looking to make some for christmas gifts and i’m looking at how much it’ll’ make.
Tiffany,
This recipe will give you about 34 cups. Just over 8 Liters! Let us know how you like it.
Cindee
Paul, We are so happy that you like our recipe! It does just keep getting better and better! Thanks for your feedback, it makes me want to have some tonight.
Cindee
Made it this weekend. It turned out very delicious. Ended up with 8 bottles roughly.
Changed up the recipe a bit: basically added vanilla in the last minute of boiling. Then added brown sugar.
Ended up making two half-batches (only had two 6-quart pots and had to halve the recipe for each one).. which worked out since the sugar came in 2lb bags.
Question I have: Do you have to shelve it and wait 4-6 weeks to enjoy this? I see some recipes tell you to, but I don’t see much more infusing or fermenting going on here, so.. I sampled some right away and it was EXTREMELY GOOD.. amazing..
But wanted to clarify if waiting was a step. Thanks for the recipe! It was awesome!
It gets better as time goes on, but I have always dipped right in!
in the recipe you mention shaking very well because the alcohol separates from the mixture. Does it separate when stored as well?
I haven’t ever had the kahlua separate after it’s bottled. Cheers! Cindee
Can i replace the Everclear with Vodka?
Yes absolutely! Vodka will work just as good.
If you use vodka, what proof should it be?
Lindi
Vodka is typically 80 proof (compared to everclear which is about 190) – I’ve made this with vodka and it’s better in my opinion
Trying this today. I love the spigot on your stock pan. What a genius idea!
Hi, i was wondering when you say 24 cups, are you talking 8oz measured cups? Or referring to the smaller 6oz cups typically shown on the coffee pots?
I actually measure out the 8 oz. cups
Hi, we buy a local store brand of coffee. I was wondering what are the best choices of coffee brand or does it matter? Thanks
Hi Steve, Cindee used Organic Peruvian coffee but I’m sure any coffee that you love would be great! Enjoy!
I want to make this for Christmas…. my friends are getting me some 190 proof Everclear from OR…..I’m making some Limoncello….For this Kahlua recipe, did you use 190 proof?
Hi Christi, yes, 190 proof! Enjoy that Limoncello!
Your recipe looks so good! What size pot did you use?
I believe it was about 7 gallons. I made a double or triple batch.
Hi . I’ve made this before. It’s been awhile. Your double batch is 24 cups of coffee to one 1.75l bottle of ever clear, or two? In the past I’ve altered my recipe to try to make it more potent, yet tasty, and I do not want to overdo it. But I can’t remember. Just want to make sure, as the picture shows two bottles being poured in. Thanks so much! Kat
I use 1 1.75 bottle of liquor to 24 cups of coffee. So if you are doubling it would be 2 bottle with 48 cups of coffee. I am sure you could get away making it a bit stronger. Good luck!
I absolutely love this recipe!! It has been the best Kahlua I have ever tasted. I did change it up this time and went with mocha coffee(Starbucks brand). Omg…I can’t describe the yumminess that overwhelms me with every sip. Its almost orgasmic!! I did use a 1/4 cup of vanilla extract and 3 vanilla beans sliced open and dropped in to soak. The more vanilla used bring out the chocolate flavor more. My next batch I am going to experiment with a sugar free(using truvia or splendas brown sugar)version for my auntie who is diabetic. Thank you so much for your wonderful recipe!!
We are so glad that you enjoyed the recipe! Nice call on the vanilla beans, I bet that was delicious. I’ll have to try that next batch. Keep us updated when you try out the sugar free sweetener, I’d love to hear how it turns out!
How long did you leave the vanilla bean in to soak? I was thinking about adding a little 4-6″ bean into each bottle. I’ve made this in the past. Let sit for a year before I got around to drinking. Made about half this recipe a little different way. Now I want more and everyone I shared is asking. So I am going to make 16 bottles this weekend. Probably not going to sit as long this time. But I am going to put 4 bottles into long term storage! 🙂
Mine seems to be separating.any idea why?
Is it separating in the bottle or the pot? The alcohol does tend to rise to the top before bottling, just keep stirring before you fill each bottle. I haven’t had this issue, but I have a pot that has a spout like a kettle so it’s a little easier to keep stirring while filling. Good luck!
Can i use Bacardi rum instead of vodka?
24 measured cups, the standard 8 oz cups, not the 6 oz coffee cup size.
I haven’t ever used rum, I would think it would be really sweet. I’m sure if the alcohol content would preserve it the same way, but not having done it, I would make a small batch and see how it goes. Share the results with us if you end up trying it out!
for my Kahlua, I use vodka, Rum, Everclear, and creme de cacao. All in the same batch. Makes the best flavor. Chocolaty coffee adult Yoohoo!! 🙂
That sounds amazing, Rana! <3
I realize this may be a stupid question, but it goes… are we talking 24 coffee cups or 24 measuring cups?
It is the standard 8 oz measured cups, not the cups listed on the coffee pot.
Hi will this recipe make a thick syrup when finished I’ve tried others that are like water
Mine was not watery, but not syrup either. This recipe should produce the perfect kahlua consistency .
Could you use homemade moonshine instead of everclear?
I haven’t ever tried that,, as long as the alcohol content is high enough, I’m sure it would work. Maybe try a small experimental batch and let us know how it turns out !
Do you seal the bottles after filling them? If yes, how?
No I just twisted them on, The alcohol content should be high enough to keep the liquor from spoiling .
What’s the meassurement of a cup??
The couple that I am referring to is 8 liquid ounces.
I am only able to get Everclear 151 proof. Would you suggest I decrease the amount/cups of coffee in order for my batch to turn out like yours ?
I would keep the ratio the same, the flavor should turn out the same! Cheers.
When do you add the vanilla?
The longer you boil the sugar for the thicker, more syrupy the liquor will be…
Ok, I can’t wait to make this. Just want some clarification, the recipe you shared is for a single or double batch? And then somewhere I read that you get roughly 34 cups of finished product. Again is that for a single batch? Appreciate the help with this. I started to get confused as I read along
Oh my goodness! This is so stinking good, I can’t EVEN discuss it!!! I made some now to put in baskets at Christmas for my family and they are going to LOVE this. Now, whatever else I put in the basket is going to pale in compairson. It even have enough left over to give as gifts to my co-workers. Wait, do I like them that much? Maybe I should just keep it…for entertaining, yeah that’s it, entertaining. Decisions, decisions. Having myslef a White Russian right now. Can’t wait to taste it in a month.
This is so good! My husband and I are wanting to experiment with additions to Everclear. We were thinking some caramel vodka. We’re just not sure what measurement to use of the vodka and should we use the same amount of vanilla if we add caramel vodka. Thoughts on that?
Excellent on the first day. I used the half recipe given by Daniel Kloeckner. I used a real vanilla bean, great coffee, light brown sugar, and Everclear.
After mixing it, we tried and it was so delicious. I will be making this for Christmas gifts.
Thank you.