Content Summary
Have you ever wanted to make a perfect drink that is both easy, delicious, and will get the party started? Mix up an Irish coffee!
Let’s explore how to make the perfect Irish Coffee in 2 ways: traditional hot Irish coffee and creative cold Irish coffee.
What Is An Irish Coffee?
Irish Coffee is a mix of freshly brewed coffee, whiskey, sugar, and cream. It’s an old recipe that originated in the 1940s at Foynes Port in Limerick, Ireland.
The story goes that an American traveler arrived one night during a storm and asked the chef for “something to warm him up.” The chef obliged by combining hot coffee with whiskey, sugar, and cream – thus creating the first Irish Coffee!
If you want extra sweetness, you can also add nutmeg and/or chocolate shavings on top. How much of each ingredient you use depends on your personal preference.
Hot Irish Coffee
Ingredients
- 25 ml or 0.85 oz. of Tullamore Dew Irish whiskey or Jameson whiskey or any favorite whiskey
- 15 ml or 0.5 oz. of brown muscovado sugar syrup
- 120 ml or 4 oz. of freshly brewed drip coffee
- 100 grams or 3.5 oz. of heavy double cream
Instructions
- Fill your mug with hot water and then empty it to heat the mug.
- Add whiskey and sugar syrup to the heated mug and stir until combined.
- Add freshly brewed coffee to the mug and stir again.
- Slowly pour the cream over the back of a spoon so that it sits on top of the coffee.
- Enjoy your hot Irish Coffee!
Cold Irish Coffee
Ingredients
- 30 ml or 1 oz. of Tullamore Dew Irish whiskey or Jameson whiskey or any favorite whiskey
- 25 ml or 0.85 oz. of brown muscovado sugar syrup
- 120 ml or 4 oz. of freshly brewed coffee and fridge for 1 hour
- 100 grams or 3.5 oz. of heavy double cream
Instructions
- Combine whiskey and sugar syrup in a shaker with ice and shake vigorously for 10 seconds.
- Strain the mixture into a cold old-fashioned cocktail glass.
- Add the cold chilled coffee and stir once to combine.
- Slowly pour the cream over the back of a spoon so that it sits on top of the coffee.
- Enjoy your cold Irish Coffee!
Additional Instructions
Detailed instructions on how to make a pour-over coffee: here.
How to make the perfect cream for the coffee:
- Shake the double cream in a shaker 50 times.
- Don’t overdo it or else it will become liquid again.
- Pour the cream slowly in a circular shape into the cup, so that it won't mix with the coffee.
Irish Coffee FAQs
Here are a few frequently asked questions about how to make the perfect Irish coffee:
What is the difference between Baileys coffee and Irish coffee?
Baileys coffee uses Bailey's Irish cream liqueur (17% abv.), whereas Irish coffee uses Irish whiskey (40% abv).
That’s why Irish coffee has a more bitter and strong taste, whereas Bailey's coffee has a sweeter and more gentle flavor. Each of them carries its unique characteristics and should be enjoyed for what it is.
What is the difference between Gaelic and Irish coffee?
Gaelic coffee is an Irish coffee with Scottish whiskey, sugar, and cream; however, Gaelic coffee includes a drop of espresso liqueur—making it a bit stronger than Irish coffee.
Irish coffee, without the espresso liqueur, has a stronger Irish whiskey flavor and is slightly sweeter than Gaelic coffee.
How do you get the cream to float on an Irish coffee?
The trick to getting the cream to float on an Irish coffee is pouring the cream over the back of a spoon. This will slow down how quickly the cream mixes with the coffee, allowing it to slowly float on top of your coffee.
Make sure to shake your heavy double cream before pouring it on the coffee to get a fluffy, thick layer of cream.
What coffee is best for Irish coffee?
The best coffee to use for Irish Coffee is a freshly brewed drip or pour-over coffee. This type of brewing method releases all the rich flavors and aromas of the coffee beans. You can also try using cold brewed coffee for a unique twist on this classic cocktail!
Tips & Tricks
- For a bit of extra flavor, you can add a sprinkle of nutmeg or cinnamon on top of your cream.
- You can also add a dash of honey or maple syrup to add a hint of sweetness.
- You can use the wine cooler method to mix a chilled Irish coffee. Simply combine whiskey and sugar syrup in cold ice wine cooler, top with cold coffee, stir, slightly shake and enjoy.
Need a pour-over coffee maker? Check out our collection of the best manual coffee makers in the below blog post now!
Jane Vo
With its rich history and delicious flavor, it's easy to see why so many people love sipping on Irish coffee after dinner or late at night.
Now that you know how easy it is to make one yourself at home — you can add some extra pep into any gathering with friends or family anytime you want! Enjoy!
Catchy Finds
