The Perfect Irish Coffee is meant to be served on a chilly evening just like it was in the mid-19th century
This simple recipe is a nostalgic beverage and is one of the all-time favorite coffee flavor drinks. The best way to enjoy one is to grab a seat at the Buena Vista Café in San Francisco
Sipping a frothy Irish Coffee, with the Golden Gate Bridge in the background, well, it just doesn’t get better than that!
Our single memory of this became the inspiration for this post, along with the fact that we both love to brew up these amazing cocktails on a chilly night for friends and family. We could not resist sharing this recipe with you.
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Irish Coffee Recipe Ingredients:
This true Irish coffee drink uses only four ingredients.
These drinks are easy to make and a great addition to brunch or happy hour, and they also make a perfect after-dinner drink. We love to make them on a chilly Fall night or during a winter storm because they are such a cozy drink! It’s the pick-me-up cocktail you will want to make over and over!
Here are the ingredients you will need to make a great cup of coffee:
- Fresh Brewed Dark Roast Coffee – make sure it’s piping hot!
- Irish Whiskey – choose your favorite brand – we have a list below of favorites
- Sugar Cubes – we like the taste and look of raw sugar cubes
- Heavy Whipping Cream – whipped until lightly firm (it’s sometimes labeled heavy cream)
How to make a classic Irish Coffee recipe:
The key ingredient in making an original Irish Coffee is fresh whipped cream. The cream needs to be whipped to just the right consistency so that it will float on top of the coffee. The coffee is meant to be sipped through the cream.
- Prepare your coffee
- PRO TIP: For best results when making the perfect hot drink heat up the cup while preparing the coffee. Make sure the cup is a heatproof glass. Fill the cup with hot water and let it sit, allowing the cup to get hot. Pour out the hot water once you are ready to pour in the drink. The San Francisco Chronicle called these the best Irish Coffee mugs, and they have been used since the early 1940s.
- Use a milk frother to whip the cream until lightly frothed and foamy, but not firm. This will take about a minute to a minute and a half.
- Next, place 2 raw sugar cubes into the warm cup. One cube of sugar is equal to one teaspoon. If you don’t have cubes you can use 2 teaspoons of sugar.
- Pour in hot brewed coffee until the cup is ¾ full.
- Stir the cup and allow the sugar to fully dissolve.
- Add one ounce of Irish Whiskey.
- Gently pour the frothed whipped cream over the back of a spoon into the drink. Allow cream to spill over the edges of the spoon. This will allow the cream to float on top of the coffee.
The milk frother we used in this recipe is the affordable Aerolatte Milk Foamer.
Choose a great Irish Whiskey to use in Irish Coffee
As you would assume, Irish Whiskey comes from the country of Ireland. The word Whiskey comes from the Irish word “Gaelic”, which means “water of life”. At one time in history, it was the most popular spirit in the world. In the United States, Jameson has become the Irish Whiskey of choice.
The process to make Irish Whiskey begins with a yeast fermentation mash of corn, wheat, and barley and is distilled three times. This extra step in the distilling process makes for a lighter smoother finish on the palate.
Depending on the process used to make the whiskey the end product can have overtones ranging from spicy to fruity. You will want to choose a whiskey whose flavor profile does not overpower your drink.
You will find many great Irish Whiskey brands on the market. We used Tullamore Dew Whiskey in this recipe, but we also love Jameson Irish Whiskey, which we used in our Irish Cream Liqueur (which you’ll love because it tastes just like Baileys!).
Here are a few we recommend:
- Tullamore Dew Irish Whiskey – a classic that is used at the original Buena Vista
- Jameson Irish Whiskey – it’s a classic at a great price point
- Bushmills Irish Whiskey – has a spicier edge
- Green Spot Irish Whiskey – has a fruity flavor
Enjoy these additional delicious drinks on our site:
- Pumpkin Spiced Latte
- Homemade Irish Cream liqueur
- Homemade Bloody Mary Mix
- Classic Bellini Cocktails
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Irish Coffee Recipe
Equipment
- One milk frother
Ingredients
- 2 cubes raw sugar
- 6 ounces brewed coffee
- 1 ounce Irish Whiskey
- 2 tbsp frothed whipping cream
Instructions
- Use a milk frother and whip the cream until lightly frothed and foamy, but not firm. This will take about a minute to a minute and a half.
- The first step in making the perfect Irish Coffee is to heat up the cup. Fill cup with hot water, let sit for a few seconds allowing cup to get hot. Pour out water.
- Next place 2 raw sugar cubes into the warm cup. One cube of sugar is equal to one teaspoon. If you don't have cubes you can use 2 teaspoons of sugar.
- Pour in hot brewed coffee until the cup is ¾ full. Give the cup a stir, allowing sugar to dissolve.
- Add one ounce of Irish Whiskey.
- Gently pour frothed whipped cream over the top of a spoon. Allowing cream to spill over the edges. This will allow the cream float on top of the coffee.
Sara Welch
Love a good cocktail with a kick; this was exactly what I needed to wind down last night! Heaven!
Kay
My mum’s favourite after a nice meal in a restaurant! I will surprise her next time she comes over and make her this.
Biana
This sounds delicious, perfect for St Patrick’s Day.
Lindsay
An irish coffee after a big dinner after a long week – Perfection! Thanks for the easy recipe.
Gail Montero
Love the frothed whipped cream on top! Sounds like my kind of coffee for sure!