Kahlúa
The Mexican coffee liqueur behind the Espresso Martini and the White Russian. Everything about its flavor, alcohol percentage, how it differs from Tia Maria, and the glass to serve it in.
Rum and Arabica coffee from Veracruz
Kahlúa is a coffee liqueur from Mexico, made with rum, sugarcane and 100% Arabica coffee from the state of Veracruz. The brand has been around since 1936, and the name comes from the Nahuatl language and means something like “house of the Acolhua people.” The process takes about seven years, from coffee plant to bottle: the coffee beans grow slowly in the shade, are roasted and brewed, and only then blended with rum and vanilla.
Kahlúa is the most widely used coffee liqueur in cocktails worldwide and the base for classics like the White Russian, Black Russian and Espresso Martini. In the Netherlands, the bottle is 16% alcohol. The brand is part of Pernod Ricard.
At a glance
Kahlúa and other coffee liqueurs
In the Netherlands, there is only one Kahlúa: the original. These are the coffee liqueurs it is most often compared with.
Kahlúa Original
The black bottle with the yellow label. Sweet, full of coffee flavor, with a hint of vanilla and rum: the standard in every cocktail bar.
Tia Maria
Jamaican coffee liqueur made with rum and Arabica coffee, stronger and slightly drier than Kahlúa, with more bitter coffee notes.
Baileys Espresso Crème
Not a coffee liqueur, but a cream liqueur with coffee. Creamy and sweet; for anyone who wants Kahlúa with milk in one bottle.
Sheridan's
The Irish double bottle: coffee-chocolate liqueur on one side, vanilla cream on the other. Pour both at once for a layered shot.
Boomsma coffee liqueur
Frisian coffee liqueur made from cold brew Arabica: smooth and sweet, with toffee and a hint of orange. Delicious neat or in coffee.
Kahlúa is the classic choice for an Espresso Martini or White Russian.
Sweet coffee, vanilla, and a hint of rum
Freshly roasted coffee
Roasted coffee beans, vanilla, and a hint of caramel, with the rum in the background.
Sweet and syrupy
Full-bodied and sweet, like strong coffee with lots of sugar. You can barely taste the 16% alcohol.
Long and coffee-like
The coffee lingers, with a soft, slightly bitter finish that calls for cream or ice.
Flavor profile of Kahlúa Original. Tia Maria is drier and stronger, while Baileys Espresso Crème is creamier.
Three ways to drink Kahlúa
Kahlúa is rarely drunk neat. With milk, in an Espresso Martini, or over ice, its coffee flavor shines best.
Espresso Martini
50 ml vodka, 30 ml Kahlúa, and 30 ml fresh espresso, shaken hard with ice and strained into a coupe. Garnish with three coffee beans.
Go to the recipe →White Russian
50 ml vodka and 25 ml Kahlúa in a tumbler with ice, topped with a layer of whipped cream or whole milk. Without milk, it's a Black Russian.
Go to the recipe →Kahlúa with milk or on the rocks
50 ml Kahlúa with 100 ml cold milk in a tumbler full of ice: coffee ice cream in a glass. Or neat over ice, optionally with a splash of espresso.
Glass: tumbler →The best cocktails with Kahlúa
Espresso Martini
Vodka, espresso, and Kahlúa, shaken hard until a creamy layer of foam forms. The most popular cocktail right now.
White Russian
Vodka, Kahlúa, and cream over ice. The cocktail from The Big Lebowski.
Black Russian
Vodka and Kahlúa over ice, nothing else. Sweet, strong, and ready in ten seconds.
Mudslide
Vodka, Kahlúa, and Baileys, shaken or blended with ice. Dessert in a glass.The right glass for Kahlúa
A coupe for the Espresso Martini, a tumbler for the White Russian, and a shot glass for the B52. These are the glasses we recommend ourselves.
Everything else you wanted to know about Kahlúa
Can't find your question here? Check out our cocktail recipes or get in touch.
To the cocktail recipes →What percentage of alcohol does Kahlúa contain?
What is Kahlúa made from?
What is the difference between Kahlúa and Tia Maria?
Which coffee liqueur should you use for an Espresso Martini?
How do you drink Kahlúa?
How long does an opened bottle of Kahlúa keep?
Buy Kahlua
Want the bottle delivered straight to your door? Order Kahlua online from Gall & Gall.
Prices as of November 3, 2026, as reported by Gall & Gall. You can check the current price and stock at Gall & Gall. Glazen.nl receives a small commission if you buy something through these links; you pay nothing extra. No 18, no alcohol.
