Irish coffee is a warm, comforting drink that combines the intensity of Colombian coffee with the smoothness of Irish whiskey and the sweetness of sugar, topped with a layer of cream. It was born in Ireland in the 1940s and is enjoyed around the world today. In this article we tell you its story and share the classic recipe to make it at home, one of the many ideas in our 25 coffee recipes, to celebrate the meeting of Colombian and Irish culture in a single cup.
The origin of Irish coffee: from Foynes to San Francisco
Irish coffee was born in the winter of 1943 in Foynes, in the west of Ireland, home to the flying boat terminal that connected Europe with North America. One night, a flight bound for New York had to turn back because of bad weather, and chef Joe Sheridan wanted to warm up the chilled passengers: he added Irish whiskey to their coffee and topped it with cream. When one of them asked whether it was Brazilian coffee, Sheridan replied that it was Irish coffee, and the name stuck.
The drink crossed the Atlantic in 1952 thanks to American journalist Stanton Delaplane, who had tasted it at Shannon Airport, the successor to Foynes. Back in San Francisco, he persuaded Jack Koeppler, owner of the Buena Vista Café, to recreate it. After several failed attempts to make the cream float, they found the formula that made Irish coffee famous worldwide, and the Buena Vista still serves it every day.
Classic Irish coffee recipe
This recipe, true to the version made famous at the Buena Vista, takes about 10 minutes and makes one glass.
Ingredients
- 120 ml of freshly brewed hot coffee. We recommend our Tradition Coffee, with caramel notes, or our Natural Coffee if you prefer it fruitier.
- 40 ml of Irish whiskey.
- 2 teaspoons (about 10 g) of brown sugar.
- 30 ml of cold heavy cream, lightly whipped.
- Nutmeg for dusting (optional).
Equipment
- Irish coffee glass or heat-resistant glass.
- Spoon.
- Hand whisk or a jar with a lid to whip the cream.
Method
- Preheat the glass. Fill it with hot water, wait a couple of minutes and empty it. This keeps the drink hot for longer.
- Dissolve the sugar. Put the brown sugar in the glass, add the hot coffee and stir until it dissolves completely.
- Add the whiskey. Pour it in and stir briefly. Leave a couple of centimeters free at the top for the cream.
- Whip the cream. Whip it only until it thickens and forms soft peaks: it should still be pourable, because fully whipped cream does not float the same way.
- Float the cream. Pour it slowly over the back of a spoon held just above the coffee, so that it forms a layer about 2 cm thick.
- Serve immediately. Dust with a little nutmeg if you like. Do not stir: Irish coffee is sipped through the cream, so you feel the contrast between hot and cold.
Tips
- Use a good-quality Irish whiskey: its smoothness is what balances the drink.
- Brew the coffee with a filter method or as a long espresso. A Colombian specialty coffee brings the body and aroma needed so the whiskey does not overpower it.
- If you like it sweeter, add a little more sugar. Besides sweetening, sugar helps the cream float.
Irish coffee variations
- Scotch coffee: made the same way, but with Scotch whisky, which has a more intense and often smoky profile.
- With cream liqueur: replace part of the whiskey with an Irish cream liqueur for a sweeter, creamier version.
- Iced Irish coffee: mix cold coffee or cold brew with whiskey and sugar, serve it over ice and finish with the cream.
A meeting of cultures
Irish coffee is a symbol of the union between two vibrant cultures: Colombia and Ireland. Colombian specialty coffee, known for its intensity and aroma, pairs perfectly with the smoothness of Irish whiskey, and the result is a warm, comforting drink, perfect for any moment.
A warm embrace of flavors
When you take a sip of a good Irish coffee, you feel a warm embrace that wraps your senses. The blend of the coffee's bitterness, the sweetness of the sugar and the character of the whiskey creates a complete sensory experience, in which each ingredient enhances the others.
Moments to enjoy this liquid embrace
This drink is ideal for sharing on special occasions:
- On cold nights, when you need something comforting.
- At gatherings with friends, celebrating the meeting of cultures and traditions.
- As a digestif after a good meal.
- On festive occasions, such as St. Patrick's Day or Christmas.
To make sure the base lives up to the whiskey, always start with a Colombian gourmet coffee with intense, aromatic notes.
Irish coffee FAQs
What is an Irish coffee?
An Irish coffee is a hot cocktail that combines freshly brewed coffee, Irish whiskey and sugar, topped with a layer of lightly whipped cream that floats on the drink. It was created in 1943 in Foynes, Ireland, and is sipped through the cream, without stirring, to enjoy the contrast between hot and cold.
What goes in an Irish coffee?
An Irish coffee has four ingredients: 120 ml of freshly brewed hot coffee, 40 ml of Irish whiskey, two teaspoons of brown sugar and about 30 ml of lightly whipped heavy cream. You can optionally dust it with nutmeg. The sugar does more than sweeten the drink: it also helps the cream float.
Cheers!
