Irish Coffee

Day or night, winter or summer, I looooove a classic Irish coffee. It cures a hangover like nothing else, gives me a little boost as a mid-day pick-me-up, and warms me up on cold and stormy nights. Whenever I take that first sip, I’m immediately transported to a cozy pub in Ireland, listening to folk tunes and drinking my problems away. That’s healthy, right?

Watch me Mix an Irish Coffee

How to Make an Irish Coffee

1. Warm the glass (optional but recommended): Fill a heatproof coffee mug with hot water and let sit for 1 minute. Discard the water before building the drink.
2. Sweeten the coffee: Add the brown sugar and a pinch of sea salt to the mug. Pour in the hot coffee and stir until the sugar is fully dissolved.
3. Add the whiskey: Stir in the Irish whiskey until fully incorporated.
4. Top with cream: Gently float the lightly whipped heavy cream over the back of a spoon so it rests on top of the coffee.
5. Garnish and serve: Finish with a light dusting of chocolate shavings or cocoa powder. Serve immediately.

Tip: The cream should be softly whipped, thickened but still pourable, so it floats beautifully while remaining silky and smooth.

What is an Irish Coffee?

The Origin Story: Foynes, Ireland (1940s)

The Irish Coffee was originally created in the early 1940s at the Foynes Flying Boat Terminal in County Limerick, Ireland (now Shannon Airport.)

At the time, Foynes was a major transatlantic hub for flying boats traveling between Europe and North America. One stormy night, a flight bound for Newfoundland had to turn back due to bad weather. The cold, exhausted passengers returned to the terminal to wait for it to pass.

The airport’s chef, Joe Sheridan, decided to warm everyone up with strong coffee fortified with Irish whiskey, sweetened with sugar, and topped with cream.

When asked if the drink was Brazilian coffee, Sheridan famously replied: “No, that’s Irish coffee.” And just like that, a classic was born. We are all very, very grateful.

Irish Coffee Ingredients

Irish Whiskey

Many unique methods go into making Irish whiskey special. For one, it’s made in Ireland. It’s also triple-distilled and must be aged in wooden barrels for 3 years to call itself true Irish whiskey. Compared to Scotch and bourbon, Irish whiskey is typically smoother and lighter without any smoky notes.

Coffee

We all have our own particular ways of making coffee, so make it how you like it for this classic cocktail. I like making pour over with French or dark roast for a coffee cocktail because it’s deep and strong and you can control the amount. French press, moka pot, aeropress, and drip machine are all valid ways to make coffee.

Brown sugar

The molasses that makes brown sugar brown adds the right level of sweetness, maltiness, and caramel-y flavors to complement the oaky smokiness of a good Irish whiskey and the rich bitterness of coffee. It also dissolves pretty easily whole adding a viscosity that the heavy cream can mingle with.

Heavy cream

Sometimes I drink my coffee black, but an Irish Coffee always has cream, and for good reason. Frothed heavy cream adds a luxuriousness and richness while also bringing a creaminess that melds and mellows all the other bold flavors you have going on.