Kahlua is one of the most popular coffee liqueurs for cocktails like mudslides and espresso martinis. If you follow a gluten free diet, you probably want to know ‘Is Kahlua Gluten free?’
Kahlua is a distilled form of alcohol and the company confirms that they do not add any known gluten ingredients, therefore Kahlua is considered gluten free.
Keep reading to learn more about Kahlua and other coffee liqueur alternatives. You can also use the table of contents to jump straight to the answer you’re looking for.
No, Kahlúa Original does not contain milk, cream or any milk derived ingredients. Kahlúa Espresso Martini RTD’s and Kahlúa Nitro Cold Brew RTD’s also do not contain milk or cream. Please note, these products are lactose free, but not acceptable for a vegan diet.
St. George NOLA Coffee Liqueur
This gluten free coffee liqueur was inspired by a love for New Orleans–style coffee. It is made with Ethiopian Yirgacheffe coffee beans specifically for their bright berry, chocolate, and round fruity qualities.
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It’s less sweet than many similar liqueurs, and highlights the nutty, sharp complexity of a great cup of coffee.
Is there gluten in Coffee Liqueur?
Gluten is a protein that is most commonly found in wheat, rye and barley. When it comes to gluten free living, typically anything that contains those ingredients is unsafe to consume. However, alcohol is an entirely different subject.
Hard liquors like vodka and rum are made using a process called distillation. Distillation separates the alcohol from the other ingredients used to make the liquor. In fact, this process separates the ingredients so well it actually removes the gluten from the alcohol.
Because of this unique process and how successfully it removes gluten, the TTB made a new ruling around gluten free claims in regards to alcohol.
The policy states that they will “allow the term “gluten-free” on labels and in advertisements for distilled spirits distilled from gluten-containing grains as long as good manufacturing practices are followed that prevent the introduction of any gluten-containing material into the final product.”
Avoiding cross contact is what they are referring to when they say ‘good practices’. Cross contact is what occurs when the equipment that is used for gluten containing ingredients comes into contact with gluten free products.
As you can imagine, cross contact can make a person who has a gluten allergy very sick, which is why the policy mentions it specifically. I’ve put together a super easy to follow guide for understanding and avoiding cross contact that you can read.
Even though distilled alcohol is gluten free, it is only gluten free in its pure form. If something is added back in after the distillation process, like flavorings for example, and those ingredients contain gluten, the alcohol is no longer gluten free.
Coffee liqueur is in fact flavored so the risk of it containing gluten is much higher. Always check the label or follow up with the manufacturer to confirm whether or not it contains gluten. If you’re not familiar with gluten free labeling and certification, check out this helpful post. Want to learn more about gluten and alcohol? Then you need this gluten free guide to alcohol.
Kahlua is a distilled alcohol product, and distilled alcohol in its pure form is gluten free.
Kahlua is a flavored liqueur, so to confirm the gluten free status I checked with the Kahlua manufacturer. According to Kahlua, they “… do not add any known gluten ingredients in Kahlúa Original or the Kahlúa Flavors. Please note however, that we cannot offer specific advice, and recommend that you discuss these matters with your medical or dietetic advisors.”
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FAQ
Is there gluten in Kahlua?
Is Kahlua made from wheat?
Does Kahlua vanilla have dairy?
Are Kahlua spirits gluten-free?
According to Kahlua’s website, there are no gluten-containing ingredients in their product. It is generally accepted as safe for a gluten-free diet. “The processes of distillation should eliminate cereal proteins from distilled spirits drinks and therefore distilled drinks are generally accepted for a gluten-free diet.
Is milk gluten-free?
Yes, milk is naturally gluten-free, however, both milk and its derivatives can contain gluten through cross-contamination. Cross-contamination happens when equipment or utensils that are used to process gluten-containing foods are also used for foods that naturally do not contain gluten.
Is Kahla gluten-free?
Because of this, Celiac.com considers Kahlúa, along with other top brands of coffee liqueur, to be gluten-free and safe for people with celiac disease. As always, read labels, choose carefully, and listen to your gut. You don’t need a long winded article after the question. I simple “yes” is all that was needed.
Is Kahla coffee liqueur gluten-free?
As always, read labels, and avoid anything that you’re not sure about. That said, Kahlúa, and these other top brands of coffee liqueur can be considered gluten-free, and safe for people with celiac disease. A few, like Mr Black Cold Brew Coffee Liqueur, are even labeled gluten-free: