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Enjoy a mug of this authentic Irish Coffee Recipe as a nice ending to a great meal, or to ‘get-this-party-started’ at your St. Patrick’s Day celebration!
This has to be one of the easiest recipes you can make at home for an authentic Irish experience. If you’re a coffee lover, and enjoy a sip of Irish whiskey from time to time, you’re going to love this popular drink. According to the Irish Whiskey Museum, Irish Coffee was first invented in the early 1940’s by a young chef named Joe Sheridan. Joe was in charge of the new restaurant at the Foynes airport where they received politicians, Hollywood stars and prominent guests from America. One dark and stormy night in Ireland, Joe invented this spirited coffee to warm arriving passengers. According to legend, one passenger asked if they were drinking Brazilian coffee and Joe replied “no, that’s Irish Coffee.”
Our Irish Coffee Recipe couldn’t be easier.
All the measurements in our recipe are meant to be used as a guideline to get your started, so feel free to tweak the amounts as you see fit! Brown sugar is our sweetener of choice for this Irish Coffee recipe, but granulated sugar will work well too. Spoon sugar into clear coffee mugs while brewing a few cups of coffee.
Add about 8-ounces of strong, hot coffee to each of the mugs and stir to dissolve the sugar. This recipe serves two but can easily be halved or doubled as needed.
Next add about 1-ounce of your favorite Irish whiskey. We prefer to make our Irish Coffee with Jameson, our favorite Irish Whiskey. You may want to start with about 3/4 of an ounce and give it a taste. You can always add more!
Don’t stir!
Finally, lightly whipped cream is spooned on top of the hot coffee and you’re ready to serve. To get the cream to sit on top of the coffee, place the spoon upside down with the tip of the spoon resting on top of the coffee. Gently pour the cream over the back of the spoon until the top is covered. The coffee is meant to be sipped through the cream, so don’t be tempted to stir. When whipping the cream you’re looking for a pourable consistency with very soft peaks. This can easily be achieved with a whisk in a nice cold bowl.
Remember to drink responsibly, or at least have a very reliable designated driver. Sláinte!
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The IRISH COFFEE mug:
Serve your Irish Coffee in pretty clear mugs so you can see the layers of coffee and cream. These mugs hold 10-ounces which is the perfect size for a good Irish Coffee. Any clear mug will do but I prefer a smaller cup so the whiskey doesn’t get watered down by too much coffee!
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PRINT THE RECIPE!
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar, more or less to taste
- 16 ounces hot, strong brewed coffee
- 2 ounces Irish whiskey, more or less to taste
- 1/4 cup whipping cream, whipped to soft pourable peaks
- Divide the brown sugar between two clear mugs. Add hot coffee and stir to dissolve the sugar. Stir in the Irish whiskey and taste.
- Whip the cream to soft durable peaks. Invert a spoon over the coffee with the tip touching the side of the mug and top of the coffee. Gently pour the cream over the back of the spoon so that it rests on top of the coffee. Serve immediately garnished with a dusting of cocoa powder if desired. Do not stir but sip the coffee through the cream.
You need enough sugar in the coffee to support the weight of the cream, otherwise it will sink to the bottom of the mug. It’s still delicious but not as pretty!
Looking for another refreshing cocktail featuring Irish Whiskey?
Try this deliciously refreshing Jameson & Ginger Ale cocktail recipe. This is a smooth and bubbly grown-up drink made with Jameson Irish Whiskey, bottled ginger ale and plenty of fresh squeezed lime juice. Click HERE to get the easy recipe for Jameson & Ginger Ale.
Thanks so much for stopping by! Tricia
I have some beautiful Irish coffee mugs that I haven’t used in a very long time. I love how your tutorial mentions the proper way to add the cream. Now I’m excited to get those mugs out again!
A delicious treat for sure Susan – even if it’s just once a year 😉
I had so many Irish coffees in Ireland I can’t count! But what a perfect warming drink when it’s cold and windy outside. Really great post.
Thanks Mimi – we did too. I really want to go back again. Such a gorgeous island and the food is fantastic!
I’ve never tried making Irish coffee, it looks delicious. Pinned!
Amalia
xo
Thanks Amalia – hope you give it a try!
Oh I’d love one of these tonight, I need to up my coffee game ~ and I believe I have everything in the house to make this wonderful drink!
I think I could drink these for breakfast – so warming and delicious – gotta love Irish whiskey!
Just came in from shovelling snow, so I could use one of these (it’s ok for 9:20am, right? 🙂 Looks absolutely perfect. One of my favourites!
I think you need one of these more than I do Jennifer. Hope the snow disappears soon – you need some sunshine!
Wish I were holding that mug now! Looks really tempting, Tricia.
Thanks Angie 🙂