Make Home Made Kahlua

A homemade coffee liquor like Kahlua makes an excellent holiday gift or party beverage.

To make a simple, aged Kahlua, follow these steps.

Ingredients

 * 1 cup (250ml) dry instant coffee (not freeze dried)
 * 3 1/2 cups (.83L) white granulated sugar
 * 2 cups (0.47L) water
 * 2 cups (0.47L) 80-proof (40% alcohol) rum, no particular brand
 * 1 whole vanilla bean (or a splash of vanilla essence)

Steps
Makes 1 quart of Kahlua. Double or halve recipe as necessary.
 * 1) Create a sweetened coffee base. Bring the water to a full boil. Remove from heat, add instant coffee and sugar, and stir until completely dissolved.
 * 2) Use a cooking thermometer to take the temperature of the water. While water boils at 212 degrees F (100 degrees C), alcohol boils at around 172 degrees F (78 degrees C). Wait for your temperature to drop below 172 degrees before adding rum or you will be very disappointed by your Kahlua.
 * 3) Add rum and stir.
 * 4) Pour your Kahlua into a 1-quart, sealable glass container. Add the vanilla bean to the container and store in the fridge for at least 30 days to age the flavor.
 * 5) * If you plan to use your Kahlua immediately, add vanilla extract instead of a vanilla bean. Note that the Kahlua won’t have the same rich, aged flavor.
 * 6) Label your container. Attach a label to the container identifying its contents and the date it was made.

Tips

 * Using a standard-sized wine bottle (0.750 litres) is a great alternative to store your home-made brew. Remove the wine label, then cork with a bottle vacuum sealer (available at most grocery stores).
 * You can add a small amount of glycerin to increase the viscosity and give it some "mouth feel."
 * If you want a batch of homemade, aged Kahlua for Christmas, you should start in early November.

Warnings

 * Do not use freeze-dried coffee.
 * As with any homemade beverage, proper sanitation is absolutely crucial.

Things You'll Need

 * 1-quart sealable glass container
 * Labels
 * Cooking thermometer

Related Tips and Steps

 * How to Infuse Vodka With Coffee
 * How to Make a Tiramisu Martini
 * How to Make Homemade Irish Cream
 * How to Make Homemade Brandy
 * How to Make Irish Coffee
 * How to Infuse Vodka with Flavor
 * How to Make Coconut Cordial