Take weeks off your brew time with this homemade sous vide Kahlua recipe. It's filled with strong coffee, sugar, rum and a vanilla bean, you'll love it for mixing drinks, baking, and gift-giving!
The case is starting to look like a dog-eared book. Well worn, well-loved, and well used. I didn't know that you could crack the spine on a DVD case but here we are.
My favourite DVD has seen better days. I don't know how, or when, or even why, but for years my favourite movie has been The Big Lebowski.
Bad day? The Dude's got your back.
Good Day? Walter Sobchak's antics can only make it better.
Saturday night and nothing to watch? You're out of your element Donny.
This sous vide kahlua recipe is dedicated to my inner dudeness.

Jump to:
Homemade Coffee Liqueur Tips & Tricks
No. 1 --> New to sous vide? Check out my comprehensive Sous Vide 101 guide!
No. 2 --> Don't have a sous vide? You should get one! But you can make this recipe without it, I've included directions for both methods.
No. 3 --> Sous vide takes a 3-week project and turns it into a 3-hour one. Infusions are one of the best uses for sous vide!
No. 4 --> use the vanilla bean. This recipe is not the same without it - that said, vanilla bean paste would also work!
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Key ingredients:
The ingredient list is short and sweet:
- strong coffee: When I know I'm running low on Kahlua and decided to make another batch, I'll just make a little larger pot of coffee in the morning!
- sugar: In this recipe, white sugar is used as it's perfect for lending sweetness without adding flavor.
- white rum: My mom likes Bacardi so I like to keep a bottle on hand for when she's visiting, but any decent white rum will work!
- vanilla bean: I love using whole vanilla beans when I'm cooking or baking. Whole beans are incredible when steeped, like in my sous vide vanilla extract!
And damn delicious!

How to make sous vide kahlua
- If your coffee is cold, heat it up in the microwave until hot. Mix the sugar into the hot coffee - set aside to cool. The sugar may not completely dissolve, that's ok. Set the coffee aside to cool.
- Meanwhile, prepare your sous vide water bath. I used a large pot, and fill with hot tap water. Set circulator to 135f.
- Slice the vanilla bean in half lengthwise, and cut into enough sections for the number of jars you're using. (I used 3 500ml jars). Place one section of the vanilla bean into each jar.
- Once the coffee has cooled, add the rum and mix well to combine. Divide the coffee, sugar, rum mixture between your jars. Leaving 1 inch of headspace in each jar.
- Place lids on jars and spin the lids on finger-tight. Air needs to escape the jars while in the sous vide bath so not too tight!
- Place jars into sous vide bath and cook at 135f for 3 hours.
- Remove jars from the water bath and place them on a cooling rack to cool to room temperature before straining out the vanilla bean.

Storage information
A long time. Like pretty much indefinitely - if it lasts that long! To be on the safe side, I'd say around a year.
There's no need to keep this homemade Kahlua in the fridge. This easy-going recipe can be stored in a cool, dark liquor cabinet. That said, you can keep it in the fridge, like I do - for those moments that a Dudette just needs a Caucasian, man.

Substitutions
RUM: You can certainly swap out the rum, but I have only tested it with white rum. Dark or amber rum would be a quick and easy substitution.
SUGAR: This recipe could also be made with brown sugar, it would add more caramel flavor to the Kahlua.

What does homemade Kaluha taste like?
This easy to make coffee liqueur tastes like strong coffee with a sweet alcohol punch. It can be drunk straight, mixed into drinks, or even whipped up into other recipes!
How to Make Homemade Kahlua Without A Sous Vide
This recipe can definitely be made at home without a sous vide, but be warned, it takes MUCH longer. The beauty of the sous vide method is that it takes a formerly 3-week process down to 3 hours.
If you are making it at home, you'll follow all the same steps until you hit the sous vide part. Once it's bottled up, place your jar(s) into a cool, dark cabinet. Once a week, give it a shake. And after 3 weeks, you'll need to strain out the vanilla bean - save it for another baking project or add to your vanilla extract brew!

Looking for more great sous-vide recipes?
Instant Pot With Sous Vide Function
Follow all the same directions, BUT place your jar(s) on the trivet inside your Instant Pot. This keeps them off the hot base and allows water to circulate more freely around the jars during the infusion process.
📖 Printable Recipe

Sous Vide Kahlua Copycat
Got coffee? Got Rum? Try this homemade Kahlua recipe today! It's got a strong coffee flavour and sweet alcohol heat, you'll love it mixed in drinks, on the rocks, or as part of your baking.
Ingredients
- 2 1/2 cups strong brewed coffee
- 4 cups sugar
- 2 cups white rum
- 1 vanilla bean
Instructions
- If your coffee is cold, heat it up in the microwave until hot. Mix the sugar into the hot coffee - set aside to cool. The sugar may not completely dissolve, that's ok. Set the coffee aside to cool.
- Meanwhile, prepare your sous vide water bath. I used a large pot, and fill with hot tap water. Set circulator to 135f.
- Slice the vanilla bean in half lengthwise, and cut into enough sections for the number of jars you're using. (I used 3 500ml jars). Place one section of the vanilla bean into each jar.
- Once the coffee has cooled, add the rum and mix well to combine. Divide the coffee, sugar, rum mixture between your jars. Leaving 1 inch of headspace in each jar.
- Place lids on jars and spin the lids on finger-tight. Air needs to escape the jars while in the sous vide bath so not too tight!
- Place jars into sous vide bath and cook at 135f for 3 hours.
- Remove jars from the water bath and place them on a cooling rack to cool to room temperature before straining out the vanilla bean.
Notes
Substitutions
RUM: You can certainly swap out the rum, but I have only tested it with white rum. Dark or amber rum would be a quick and easy substitution.
SUGAR: This recipe could also be made with brown sugar, it would add more caramel flavor to the Kahlua.
storage information
A long time. Like pretty much indefinitely - if it lasts that long! To be on the safe side, I'd say around a year
There's no need to keep this homemade Kahlua in the fridge. This easy-going recipe can be stored in a cool, dark liquor cabinet.
instant pot with sous vide function
Follow all the same directions, BUT place your jar(s) on the trivet inside your Instant Pot. This keeps them off the hot base and allows water to circulate more freely around the jars during the infusion process.
Recommended Products
As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn a commission from qualifying purchases.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
26Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 150Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 1mgCarbohydrates: 31gFiber: 0gSugar: 31gProtein: 0g
Pin this copycat Kahlua recipe for later!

Lauren
Monday 16th of November 2020
This sounds delicious! I am enjoying trying tons of different types of recipes with my Sous Vide. Could this be made in a big ziplog bag and then poured into small bottles afterwards, or do you recommend only using the canning jars?
Ally
Monday 16th of November 2020
I like canning jars because I've got tons of them here! They're great for cooking in and storage. That said, you can totally use a ziplock bag! I'd make sure it's a thick freezer style one, and maybe double bag it just in case.
To get the air out, leave a small opening at the top of the bag and when you lower it into the water bath all the air will be pushed out. :)
SaRah
Wednesday 11th of November 2020
I am in the proc of making righ Now and the SUGAR is not MIXING all the way there is aloT of sugar in the BOTTOM of the Jar.
Ally
Wednesday 11th of November 2020
Is your coffee warm or hot? it helps dissolve the sugar faster. It does take a little bit of whisking. If you find it’s not all the way mixed in, allow the coffee to cool then add the rum and whisk some more! If there is some sugar grit at the end, it’s ok, once heated in the SV it will dissolve
Beth T
Thursday 21st of November 2019
Are the jars completely covered and under water? Or does the water come to just below the lids?
Ally
Thursday 21st of November 2019
I covered mine completely! The mason jar is designed to allow for expansion as long as the lid is not screwed on too tight :)
Teresa Mayberry
Thursday 14th of November 2019
A close friend has to avoid sugar. Could sweeteners like erythritol be used?
Heather
Saturday 1st of January 2022
@Ally, I just came here to ask the same question. I'm gonna try it. I can't have the sugar but this recipe and a sous vide lemon jello recipe I found leaves me curious and wanting to try. 😊
Ally
Thursday 14th of November 2019
I am sure it could! I did a brief google and it looks like erythritol can be subbed in cooking! You're a great friend <3