Irish Coffee
Average
Sweet & Coffee
5 Minutes
Jug Glass
Ingredients
The Irish Coffee is a classic hot cocktail also known as a Gaelic Coffee or Caife Gaelach in Irish that combines bold, rich coffee with smooth Irish whiskey, topped with whipped cream and served in a Toddy Glass.
This cocktail is easy to make, but as Absolut Global Brand Ambassador Ricardo ‘Rico’ Dynan points out, it’s one that many people often get wrong.
Here, we’ll show you how to make a classic Irish Coffee done right. Sláinte!
How To Make aN IRISH COFFEE COCKTAIL
Bar tools you’ll need
Jigger
Bar Spoon
How to Mix
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Brew Coffee by adding coarsely ground coffee to a French Press and pouring in hot water. Stir gently, place the lid on, and let it steep for 4 minutes.
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Use a Jigger to measure and pour Irish Whiskey into a Jug Glass (aka Toddy Glass).
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Measure and pour Brown Sugar into the glass.
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Use a Spoon to stir the sugar until it dissolves.
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Pour Heavy Cream into a Glass Jar, put the lid on the jar, and shake it to whip the cream until it’s nice and thick.
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Press the plunger down on your French Press, then pour the coffee into your glass, three quarters to the top.
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Use the back of a Spoon to pour the whipped cream into the glass, all the way to the top.
Watch Rico demonstrate how to make the perfect Irish Coffee:
What is an Irish Coffee?
The Irish Coffee is a caffeinated alcoholic drink served hot, made with Irish whiskey, coffee, brown sugar and whipped cream. An Irish Coffee is traditionally served in a heatproof Toddy glass, which is a glass mug with a handle designed for hot beverages.
What Does an Irish Coffee Taste Like?
A rich blend of bold coffee and smooth Irish whiskey. The whiskey adds depth and a hint of caramel, the cream brings a luxurious, silky texture, while brown sugar adds a decadent sweetness.
“The Muscovado sugar really comes through, giving that nice taste of molasses and the cream, well, tastes exactly like cream should,” adds Rico.
The History of the Irish Coffee
Rico explains in the video that the first known instance of coffee being mixed with alcohol occurred in Sweden with a drink known as Kaffekask. However, it wasn’t until 1943 at an airport in Limerick, Ireland, that the art of blending alcohol and coffee was perfected, giving birth to the Irish Coffee.
According to the tale, a bartender added whiskey to hot coffee to warm up a group of American passengers. When asked if they were being served Brazilian coffee, the bartender replied, “It’s an Irish Coffee.”
Tips for Making the Perfect Irish Coffee
- Choose the best Irish Whiskey you can find
You’ll see in the video that Rico opts to use Powers Gold Label Irish Whiskey for his Irish Coffee. “It’s super sweet, super buttery and caramelly,” says Rico.However, as Rico shares, if you can get your hands on Powers John’s Lane Irish Whiskey, you should use. “It makes the best Irish Coffee,” says Rico. “Jameson’s also works fantastic,” he adds.
- Go for Bold Coffee
Your Irish Coffee should really taste like coffee, so pick a dark roast that’s strong and rich to give it that boldness. - Make Brown Sugar Syrup
Instead of adding a teaspoon of brown sugar into your Irish Coffee, use brown sugar syrup instead. This way you don’t have to stir and wait for the sugar to dissolve. If you use brown sugar syrup, pour 10 ml into each drink.How do you make brown sugar syrup? Follow our instructions on how to make simple syrup but swap white sugar for Muscovado sugar or brown sugar and change the ratio to 2 parts sugar to 1 part water.
- Whip That Cream
Shake the cream in the jar until you feel it thicken up. You want it whipped just right so it sits nicely on top of your drink, giving it a perfect finish.
Variations of an Irish Coffee
There are countless variations of an Irish Coffee where either the Irish whiskey is replaced with another spirit or mixed together with a liqueur of some sort. Here’s just a few variations:
- Dublin Coffee
What is a Dublin coffee you ask? Invented in 2016, it mixes Irish whiskey, cold-brewed coffee, brown sugar and…wait for it…stout! It doesn’t get more Irish than that! - Amaretto Coffee
Replace Irish whiskey for Amaretto almond-flavored liqueur for a decadent drink that tastes like coffee with a rich and sweet almond twist. - Turkish Coffee
Can you make an Irish Coffee with vodka? Yes, you can! A Turkish Coffee mixes Turkish espresso coffee, muddled cardamom pods, vodka and rich syrup. Trust us, this drink is incredible and a must-try! - Mexican Coffee
Replace Irish whiskey for Tequila and mix it with filter coffee, rich syrup and lightly whipped cream for a delicious Mexican twist on an Irish Coffee. - Mix with coffee liqueur
Love coffee? Then you’ll love this variation of an Irish Coffee. Mix 1-part Irish whiskey, 1-part coffee liqueur (my personal preference is Kahlúa), 4-parts hot coffee, and then top with whipped cream.
Serving and Garnish Ideas for an Irish Coffee
- We recommend serving an Irish Coffee in a heatproof Toddy Glass.
- To garnish, sprinkle some ground cinnamon on top or grate some fresh nutmeg.
- Alternatively, crush a single coffee bean and sprinkle it on top to garnish.
Irish Coffee FAQ
No. A classic Irish Coffee is topped with whipped cream.
A traditional Irish Coffee is made with Irish whiskey, coffee, whipped cream and brown sugar or brown sugar syrup.
Irish Coffee is also known as Gaelic Coffee or Caife Gaelach as it is traditionally called in Ireland.
Always use Irish whiskey in your Irish Whiskey. Choose a smooth style, such as Jameson, for balance, or opt for a richer single pot still whiskey for depth.
Irish Coffee is served warm in a heat-safe Toddy glass and meant to be savored slowly, sipping through the rich layer of cream.
Irish Coffee can be enjoyed all year round but is particularly popular on St. Patrick’s Day and during the winter holidays.
The Irish Coffee was invented in Ireland. As the story goes, a bartender working at an airport in Ireland added whiskey to hot coffee to warm up a group of American passengers. The passengers asked if they were being served a Brazilian coffee to which the bartender replied, “It’s an Irish Coffee.”
No, a traditional Irish Coffee does not contain Kahlúa or coffee liqueur. However, a variation of an Irish Coffee can be made by mixing 1-part Irish whiskey, 1-part Kahlúa, 4-parts hot coffee, and topped with whipped cream.
No. Muscovado is a variety of brown sugar. Muscovado sugar is partially unrefined and retains natural molasses, resulting in a moist, sticky texture and a rich, toffee-like flavor. In contrast, most supermarket brown sugar is refined white sugar with molasses reintroduced.
