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

The best alcohol for an Irish coffee is, of course, 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.

Tips for Making the Best Irish Coffee

• For the best Irish coffee, get a good Irish whiskey. The three I recommend are McConnells Irish Whisky, Green Spot Irish Whiskey, and Natterjack Irish Whiskey.
• Also use a really good coffee when making an Irish coffee. You can use whatever method you normally use when making your morning cup of coffee, but I always love a strong french press coffee or coffee from a Moka Pot. And if you’re choosing between different beans, I’d go for a South American medium or dark roast bean with notes of caramel and chocolate as opposed to the more fruity beans of East Africa.
• The secret to an incredible Irish coffee is adding a pinch of sea salt. As with cooking, adding salt to a cocktail like this brings out all the nuance of the whiskey and coffee to give it an even richer depth of flavor.
• Warm your mug or glass with hot water before adding the Irish coffee ingredients.
• You don’t have to lightly whip your heavy dream, but it just makes it feel more silky and luxurious than if you just poured some cold cream into your cup.

Irish Coffee Variations

• If you want to add a little more booze, you can make a Dirty Irishman. Just add 1.5 oz. Irish cream (like Bailey’s) along with all the other ingredients.
• Make your Irish coffee even more Irish by adding Guinness. My Guinness Iced Irish Coffee really hits the spot at a hangover cure or to get St. Patrick’s Day started early.
• If the weather is warm but you’re still craving an Irish coffee, add vanilla ice cream and blend everything together for a boozy Irish Coffee Milkshake.
• For an iced version that’s a little less strong (no Irish whiskey), try this Irish Cream Iced Coffee with cold brew, Irish cream, and coffee liqueur.