Irish coffee is a whiskey based, sweetened coffee drink that is topped with cream. Prepare your own fabulous boozy beverage at home just like they do in Irish pubs with this easy, step by step Irish coffee recipe.
If you like hot coffee and Irish whiskey, this drink is for you.
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I wanted to share how to make an Irish coffee as I have seen lots of recipes for this boozy beverage which include ingredients that do not belong in an Irish coffee. It’s also a nice addition to go along with my Rudesheimer coffee recipe which I shared a few years ago after visiting this beautiful town on an AmaWaterways cruise on the Rhine River in Germany.
Last October, my friend, Cynthia from What a Girl Eats, and I had a one night stay in Dublin on our way back from a trip to Italy where we were judges for the Tiramisù World Cup in Treviso.
Unfortunately, the weather wasn’t very welcoming (and so windy) that we could really only manage to get to a pub for some chowder and bangers and mash for dinner. We stopped at another pub on the way back to our hotel to warm up with a hot, Irish coffee.
What is an Irish Coffee?
An Irish coffee consists of sugar, Irish whiskey, hot coffee and fresh cream that sits atop
the other ingredients in a separate layer.
We watched closely as the bartender prepared our boozy coffees. The whiskey was added to the glass with sugar which then had freshly brewed coffee poured in. Then came the cream (my favorite part)! Of course, Irish cream is amazing stuff, and if you’ve had it, you know.
He slowly poured the thickened cream over the back of a spoon to float on top of the whiskey and sweetened coffee which was just what the doctor ordered after popping in out of the rainy, blustery evening!
Celebrating? Make this Irish whiskey cake! It’s a show-stopper, and so tasty!
While American cream isn’t quite the same (it’s not as thick and has less fat), you can still have an amazing Irish coffee in your own home by following the recipe below.
It’s really simple, and if you can brew some coffee, stir and pour, you’re good to go! It’s a perfect choice for St Patrick’s Day (March 17th)!
How do you drink an Irish Coffee?
Don’t be tempted to stir your coffee once the cream has been added. The coffee is to be drunk through the cream, just like a Bicerin (a layered coffee and chocolate beverage from Turin, Italy).
Where was the Irish Coffee Invented?
Apparently, this iconic whiskey-laced coffee was invented in Limerick, Ireland by Joe Sheridan, an Irish chef and bartender. You can read all about the history of Irish coffee if you are curious.
Irish Coffee Recipe (From a Dublin Pub)
FULL PRINTABLE RECIPE BELOW Serves 1
Ingredients
- sugar
- Irish whiskey
- freshly brewed coffee
- heavy whipping cream (best quality you can find with no added ingredients, and higher fat percentage)
Prepare the Cream
Whip the cream gently so that it thickens without becoming stiff. It should be a much less runny than its original form, but still be able to pour slowly.
Make the Beverage
Put the sugar and whiskey in an Irish coffee mug or glass (8 oz capacity).
Pour in the hot coffee and stir so the sugar dissolves.
Using a tablespoon, turn it upside down and hold it against the side of the glass and gently pour the cream over the back of the spoon. It will stay as a layer on top of the coffee without mixing with it if it’s done correctly. Wipe the edge of the glass for a perfect presentation.
Serve immediately without stirring the cream into the coffee.
Goes perfectly with this Guinness chocolate cake, which is also a great choice for St Patrick’s Day!
If you have children, you may want to treat them to this naturally green moss cake (made with spinach, but they’ll never know)!
Irish Coffee (Irish Coffee Recipe from a Dublin Pub)
Yield: 1
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Additional Time: 1 minute
Total Time: 6 minutes
An easy Irish coffee recipe using only 4 ingredients like they make in a Dublin pub.
Ingredients
- 1 teaspoon sugar (or sugar cube)
- 2 oz (60 ml) Irish whiskey
- 5 oz (150 ml) freshly brewed hot coffee
- 1 oz (30 ml) heavy whipping cream
Instructions
- Whip the cream gently so that it is in between runny and stiff. It should be a much less runny, but still be able to pour slowly.
- Put the sugar and whiskey in an Irish coffee mug or glass (8 oz).
- Pour in the hot coffee and stir to dissolve the sugar.
- Using a tablespoon, turn it upside down and hold it against the side of the glass and gently pour the cream over the back of the spoon. It will stay as a layer on top of the coffee without mixing with it if it's done correctly.
- Wipe the edge of the glass and serve immediately without stirring the cream into the coffee.
Notes
- Double the ingredients for two drinks.
- For a non alcoholic version, omit the whiskey, however, it will no longer be an actual Irish coffee.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 1Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 314Total Fat: 11gSaturated Fat: 7gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 34mgSodium: 14mgCarbohydrates: 5gFiber: 0gSugar: 5gProtein: 1g
Nutrition information is only estimated.
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