It doesn’t matter what time of the year it is an Irish Coffee is always a welcomed drink. Strong sweetened coffee with a kick of Irish whiskey sipped through a dollop of fresh whipped cream. I love it as an after-dinner drink but it’s also the perfect way to celebrate St Patrick’s Day in Spring or cozy up on the sofa with during the holidays.
This cocktail is super easy to make and doesn’t require a ton of expensive and fancy liqueurs either, in fact, you probably already have everything you need to make in your kitchen now and if not I’ve got all the tips you need to make the perfect Irish coffee below.
What you need to make this recipe
Coffee – make sure you use good quality strong brewed coffee it’ll make a huge difference to the overall flavor!
Whiskey – to make an Irish coffee you’ve got to use Irish whiskey, I recommend Jameson whiskey.
Sugar – this is used to sweeten the coffee, you can add more or less to taste.
Heavy cream – heavy cream takes just a few seconds to whip up with a hand whisk. You can add a little sugar to sweeten it if you prefer.
How to make an Irish Coffee
1. Add the sugar to a mug
2. Pour over the hot coffee and stir to dissolve the sugar.
3. Add the Irish whiskey and give it a stir.
4. Lightly whip the heavy cream in a bowl then dollop it on top of the Irish coffee, serve.
Pro tips for making this recipe
- Good quality coffee makes all the difference, it must be strong and rich to make an authentic Irish coffee. I recommend using a French press or Cafetiere to brew your coffee.
- Make sure to use Irish whiskey, it doesn’t need to be expensive.
- Use fresh heavy cream and avoid anything in cans.
- If you want to add a caramelized flavor to the coffee you can use brown sugar instead of granulated.
- I recommend whipping the cream by hand to avoid over whipping, the cream should resemble soft peaks so it’s still smooth, creamy, and pourable (see photos).
- If you want to impress, warm up your mugs before making your cocktail this will keep it warmer or longer and makes it extra cozy!
- If caffeine is not your friend or you’re avoiding it you can use decaf coffee instead.
Frequently Asked Questions
When was it invented?
Although the origin of Irish coffee is not entirely certain it’s thought to be invented by Joe Sheridan, a chef at the Foynes Airbase, Flying Boat terminal in Ireland. He created Irish coffees for stranded passengers waiting for their flight during a winter storm.
Is it strong?
It should always be made with strong brewed coffee so there will be a strong caffeine kick. Although whiskey is a strong spirit it is diluted with coffee and the flavor is mellowed with the addition of sugar and cream so it doesn’t have an overpowering alcoholic taste.
What should I serve it in?
Traditionally this coffee is served in glass goblets with a stem, it makes the drink look super impressive because you can see the coffee and cream layers. If you don’t have any don’t worry too much normal mugs will work just fine.
How do I warm the glasses?
I recommend warming the glasses or mugs so it stays warmer for longer (cold whiskey and cream can really cool it down). To do this pour boiling water into the glasses and let it sit for a few minutes to warm up then pour it out.
Irish Coffee variations
You can make up some fun variations of this cocktail, here are some suggestions below;
Use baileys instead of whiskey – this is a fun alternative to whiskey and especially great during the holidays!
Other whiskey alternatives – rum, nut, or coffee liqueurs make great alternatives to whiskey, of course, it will no longer be an Irish coffee but it’ll make an absolutely delicious coffee cocktail!
Toppings – why not go a step further and dust your whipped cream with a sprinkling of cocoa powder, chocolate shavings, or even cinnamon.
Chocolate whipped cream – for an extra indulgent treat add a spoonful of hazelnut chocolate spread to your cream before you whip it, I’ll say no more!
Dairy-free option – if you’re looking for a dairy-free alternative you can swap the whipped cream for coconut cream, it’s delicious and also vegan friendly.
If you love this recipe try these out!
If you’ve tried this Irish Coffee then don’t forget to leave a rating and let me know how you got on in the comments below, I love hearing from you!
Irish Coffee
Ingredients
- 2 tsp sugar add to taste
- 4 oz Coffee strong hot
- 1 1/2 oz Irish whiskey
- 1/4 cup heavy cream lightly whipped
Instructions
- Add sugar to a mug then pour over the hot coffee, stir to dissolve the sugar.
- Add the whiskey and stir,
- Lightly whip the cream to thicken to soft peaks. You can add a dash of sugar to sweeten if you prefer.
- Add a dollop of cream on top of the Irish coffee and serve.
Notes
- Good quality coffee makes all the difference, it must be strong and rich to make an authentic Irish coffee. I recommend using a French press or Cafetiere to brew your coffee.
- Make sure to use Irish whiskey, it doesn't need to be expensive.
- Use fresh heavy cream and avoid anything in cans.
- If you want to add a caramelized flavor to the coffee you can use brown sugar instead of granulated.
- I recommend whipping the cream by hand to avoid over whipping, the cream should resemble soft peaks so it's still smooth and creamy (see photos).
- If you want to impress, warm up your mugs before making your cocktail this will keep it warmer or longer and makes it extra cozy!
- If caffeine is not your friend or you're avoiding it you can use decaf coffee instead.
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