Classic Irish Coffee Recipe - Simply Happy Foodie (2024)

by Sandy 4 Comments

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Enjoy this delicious Classic Irish Coffee Recipe for St. Patrick's Day or on a cool evening, or at a special gathering. We like to drink Irish Coffees during the Holidays, and when we are inside on a snowy day. This is the original Irish Coffee recipe.

Classic Irish Coffee Recipe - Simply Happy Foodie (1)

Classic Irish Coffee Recipe

Adding a "wee dram" of whiskey to a mug of coffee is not a new thing, by any stretch. I remember my Grandpa having some at Christmas. The Classic Irish Coffee is by far the most popular coffee "hot co*cktail" that I know about.

What is Irish Coffee?

Irish Coffee is sweetened hot coffee with Irish Whiskey added and served with cream poured over the top, making a thick creamy layer on top.

The Best Whiskey to Make a Classic Irish Coffee with:

It's Irish Coffee, so an Irish Whiskey is best!
• Tullamore D.E.W.
• Jameson Irish Whiskey
You can use what you like or what you happen to have on hand.

I couldn't share the recipe without the history, so here's the story (the long version)...

This tasty hot coffee co*cktail was made famous in America by a man named Stanton Delaplane, who was a travel writer.

It all started on the night of November 10th, 1952. Jack Koeppler, who was the owner of the Buena Vista Cafe in San Francisco, California, challenged Delaplane to help him recreate a much loved "Irish Coffee" that was served at Shannon Airport in Ireland.

Delaplane agreed to help, and he and Koeppler started to experiment.

Classic Irish Coffee Recipe - Simply Happy Foodie (2)

Things were going well, except that they had trouble getting the cream to float on top of the coffee (called a "collar"). They went to see the Mayor of SF, who happened to be a dairy owner.

He figured out that if he aged the cream for two days, and only lightly whipped it, the consistency was perfect and floated on the coffee and made the perfect collar ('collar' is the top layer of cream)!

As with other layered co*cktails, it helps the layer stay on top if you use a spoon to break the stream of the cream as you pour it. Just hold the spoon over the glass (upside down, or domed side up) and pour the lightly whipped cream over the spoon.

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Classic Irish Coffee Recipe

Prep Time

5 mins

Cook Time

1 min

Total Time

6 mins

Enjoy this delicious Classic Irish Coffee Recipe on a cool evening, or a special gathering. We like to drink Irish Coffees during the Holidays, and when we are inside on a snowy day. This is the original Irish Coffee recipe from the Buena Vista Cafe.

Course:co*cktails

Cuisine:Irish

Keyword:original Irish coffee recipe

Servings: 1

Calories: 192 kcal

Author: Sandy Clifton

Ingredients

  • Hot Water
  • 6ozBrewed Hot Coffee
  • 1 ½ozIrish Whiskey(Tullamore D.E.W. or Jameson)
  • 2cubesCane Sugar*(or 3 tsp brown sugar)
  • Soft Whipped Cream
  • dashCinnamon(optional)
  • dashNutmeg(optional)

Instructions

Warm Up the Mug

  1. Fill an Irish Coffee glass mug with hot water, and let it sit for a couple of minutes. Then dump out the water.

Make the Irish Coffee

  1. Add the hot coffee and sugar cubes, and stir until sugar is dissolved.

  2. Add the whiskey and stir.

  3. Top with about an inch of lightly whipped cream. (pour it over the back of a spoon that is over the glass to get a nice collar/layer).

  4. Sprinkle a dash of cinnamon and/or nutmeg on top for a little extra spiciness (optional).

Recipe Notes

*I also enjoy making Irish Coffee with brown sugar, as it has a warm flavor.

Adapted from The Buena Vista Cafe

RESOURCES TO MAKE Classic Irish Coffee Recipe and more

This post contains Affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

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Classic Irish Coffee Recipe - Simply Happy Foodie (11)

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  1. Bobbie Carter

    I didn't rate this recipe because I haven't made it yet, but I've been to the Buena Vista Cafe many times and i love their Irish Whiskey drink! I'm sure this recipe is great. Sandy, what is aged cream and how is it made? Thank you.

    Reply

    • Sandy

      The only information I could find is that it is close to whipped cream, but not as thick or as sweet.

      Reply

  2. Trey

    This recipe is perfect. We didn't have the whiskeys you mentioned but it was still really good. Our friends loved them.

    Reply

    • Sandy

      That's great, Trey! Thank you for your review!

      Reply

Classic Irish Coffee Recipe - Simply Happy Foodie (2024)

FAQs

What was original Irish coffee made of? ›

The official, original Irish coffee recipe from Sheridan is a five step process with only four ingredients: hot coffee, sugar, cream, and whiskey. The first step is to preheat your glass with hot water.

What is the difference between Irish coffee and Gaelic coffee? ›

In Southeast Asia, you may see a co*cktail of iced coffee and whiskey, sometimes without cream, under the name "Irish coffee" served. Gaelic coffee is very similar to Irish coffee, but instead of Irish whiskey, Scotch whiskey is used instead. And in Russia, instead of Irish whiskey, vodka is used.

Why does the cream sink in my Irish coffee? ›

To ensure your cream floats rather than sinks into the coffee, lightly whip, shake, or blend your cream before pouring over the bowl of a spoon. It also helps if the cream and the spoon are gently warmed. Sweetening the coffee with sugar also amplifies the drink's flavours and helps the cream float.

What alcohol goes in Irish coffee? ›

Pour Irish whiskey into the prepared glass. Fill with coffee to within 1/2 inch of top. Add sugar and stir. Top with whipped cream.

What is a Gaelic Irish coffee? ›

Put whisky into warmed glass, add coffee and sugar to taste. Pour cream over back of spoon to give thick coating on top. Sip the very hot coffee through the layer of cool cream.

What kind of whiskey is best for Irish coffee? ›

Old standbys like Jameson and Bushmills work well, but there's a new emerging class of good Irish whiskies to consider, like Slane and Teeling. The same goes for the whipped cream on top. Skip the stuff that comes out of a can, and opt for heavy cream, whipped until it has thickened but not yet stiff.

Do they drink Irish coffee in Ireland? ›

Irish coffees are popular in Ireland among the Irish, sure,” says Grace McKeever, an Irish writer who has tended bar in the country. “I say popular loosely, since it's not like we're guzzling coffee and booze at the rate we drink Guinness, or even whisky sans the caffeine for that matter.

What is so special about Irish coffee? ›

On a cold fall afternoon, there's nothing better than enjoying an Irish coffee topped with cream. The coffee specialty with the subtle sweetness and a shot of Irish whiskey has a very unique character. It warms you up wonderfully and spreads a special feeling of coziness.

Is Baileys the same as Irish coffee? ›

A "Bailey's Coffee" was likely simply a cup of coffee with Bailey's added, and maybea dollop of cream on top. Anyone with legal ability to make and serve a drink would be able to get you that. An Irish coffee in it's truest form would be perhaps more work but is not really a different drink.

What is coffee and whiskey called? ›

The Irish Coffee may not be the first coffee drink with alcohol, but this co*cktail has become one of the most famous. Combining coffee with Irish whiskey, brown sugar and lightly whipped cream, the Irish Coffee is a hot, creamy classic that can wake you up on cold mornings or keep you going after a long night.

What glass is an Irish coffee served in? ›

Why is my Irish coffee curdling? ›

To give you a brief explanation… All coffee is slightly acidic and made up of various organic acids. Lactic acid is one of these acids. When a coffee that is maybe a little higher in lactic acid is mixed with older milk (milk continues to build more and more lactic acid as it ages), then curdling can occur.

Is Kahlua or Baileys better for coffee? ›

If you prefer a creamier, smoother texture reminiscent of melted ice cream, Baileys may be the best choice. The Baileys taste is both indulgent and satisfying with its signature blend of Irish cream, whiskey, and cocoa. Consider both flavor profiles when deciding whether you want to try Kahlua or Baileys in coffee.

Does Kahlua go in Irish coffee? ›

HOW TO MAKE. Into an Irish coffee mug (it's a thing – look it up), or heat resistant mug, add Kahlúa coffee liqueur, Jameson Irish whiskey and your favorite hot coffee. Spoon the whipped cream on top and garnish with grated nutmeg ('tis the season!)

What's in a hotty toddy? ›

Hot toddy is a warming drink combining water, whiskey, honey and lemon juice. It is often drunken as a nightcap and traditionally taken as a remedy to help ease the symptoms of colds and flu.

What whiskey was in the first Irish coffee? ›

As he stirred, he splashed a little bit of the drinks out here and there, to make sure each cup looked the same all down the bar. Irish whiskey, always Tullamore Dew, was next and then cold heavy cream spooned on top. And there you have it: the famous Irish coffee, reportedly invented right here in this bar.

Where is the original Irish coffee from? ›

The Irish Coffee was born on a typically stormy winters night on the wild west coast of Ireland in 1942. At that point in the early 1940s the west coast of Ireland, specifically Foynes in County Limerick, was one of the key stop-off destinations for air travel between Europe and the United States and Canada.

What is the backstory of Irish coffee? ›

Irish Coffee was created in the winter of 1943 by Joe Sheridan, chef at Foynes Port near Limerick, Ireland. Foynes had become one of the biggest civilian airports in Europe during World War ll and then an airbase for transatlantic flights that often carried political or Hollywood figures.

Who first made Irish coffee? ›

The History Of The Irish Coffee co*cktail

Joe Sheridan, a chef and bartender at the airport's restaurant, decided to whip up a special drink to warm up the chilly passengers. He brewed up some hot coffee and added a shot of Irish whiskey to each cup.

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