Updated on December 10, 2022
If you aren’t familiar with Kahlua, it is one of the most popular coffee liqueurs in the world and a key ingredient in many popular coffee-themed drinks. It was created in Mexico, where it has a long and rich history, and it makes use of regional ingredients.
What is Kahlua?
Rum, sugar, and arabica coffee beans are used to create the coffee liqueur known as Kahlua. It is produced in Veracruz, Mexico, using coffee beans that are farmed nearby. Kahlua Especial has a 36% alcohol level, compared to 20% for the ordinary kind, which is sold at liquor stores all around the world.
In 1936, a native of Veracruz named Pedro Domecq began manufacturing kahlua. In the local tongue, the name translates to “House of the Acolhua people.” Kahlua back then had 36% alcohol by volume. Years later, in 2005, when the biggest spirits distributor inquired about a stake in the business, it made its global debut.
Kahlua was created in 1936 in Veracruz, Mexico, where it is still produced today. The Alvarez brothers, who originated the idea of coffee alcohol, produced it. The brothers used elements from Veracruz to turn their goal into a reality. This Mexican coffee liqueur, which has been expertly made and prepared, is a favorite beverage around the world for many coffee drinkers. The item coming out of Veracruz now is the same one that swept the globe in the decades that followed its development.
The flavor of the Original Kahlua is reminiscent of roasted chestnuts, rich black coffee, and delectable sweet butter. Its straightforward and unforgettable constituents are Arabica coffee and rum. Other flavors and concoctions are available and provide different experiences.
100% Arabica beans that have been produced and distilled over a seven-year period are used to make Kahlua. Yes, seven years for Kahlua liqueur—you read it right. Before it can be purchased at home, the coffee used in Kahlua needs to grow and be prepared for six years. This meticulous method guarantees that Kahlua tastes amazing and consistently the same in every bottle, no matter where it is sold.
Does Kahlua have caffeine?
It does include caffeine, yes. There is no flavoring or diluting the natural caffeine from the coffee because it is prepared from only rum and Arabica coffee. Kahlua keeps things straightforward and real. To be fair, you won’t experience much of a caffeine boost from it. A 1.5 ounce serving of Kahlua typically has 5 mg of caffeine in it. It would take quite a few glasses for you to feel anything from that quantity (it’s unlikely that by that time you would be experiencing the rum more strongly than the caffeine).
The caffeine in Kahlua is a welcome addition if you’re using it as a pick-me-up in your morning cup of coffee. Up to 200 milligrams of caffeine are found in an 8-ounce cup of coffee. The kind, roast, and brewing technique all affect how much caffeine is present. Kahlua isn’t a reliable source of caffeine on its own. You won’t get sleepy if you mix it with a cocktail or cup of coffee, though.
How Much Caffeine Is In Kahlua?
Let’s figure out how much caffeine there is in Kahlua now that we know it does contain it. The amount of caffeine in per liter is disclosed by the manufacturer to be 100 ppm or 100 mg. So there are roughly 5 mg of caffeine in a standard 1.5 oz drink of Kahlua.
Given that each espresso shot contains roughly 65 mg of caffeine, this may not seem like much. But the amount of caffeine increases when Kahlua is added to coffee.