Irish coffee
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Irish coffee

Ireland
Ireland

Irish coffee is one of those drinks that somehow manages to be considered a coffee and a cocktail at the same time. Technically, Irish coffee is a cocktail that combines the flavor and the caffeine of coffee with a kick of Irish whiskey, all rounded up with cream that is floating on top. This is typically enjoyed during the colder months, and mostly during the evenings. Though Irish coffee might seem simple in ingredients and preparation, it has a richer history than most other coffee drinks in the world.

 

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Origins and History of Irish Coffee

Irish coffee, unlike many other coffee cocktails, has a well-documented history. But before we dig into that story, let's take a look at coffee cocktails history. Today Irish coffee is well known in all circles of society, but in the old days many other variations of coffee cocktails were popular. For example the 19th century Pharisäer and the Fiaker were popular in Germany and Austria, but unlike the Irish coffee they were rum based. At the same time, in France, the Glorias were popular using spirits as their base. Over the centuries, many coffee cocktails were popular in Europe, like the Maria Theresia that had liqueur made from oranges, or even a Kaisermelange that was made with Cognac.
But as time passed, all but one were forgotten. The story of Irish coffee starts in the middle of World War II, in an transatlantic airport in Limerick, Ireland. There worked a chef named Joe Sheridan, who one once cold day had a group passengers whose flight had been delayed. Sheridan wanted to serve something to warm up the group, but instead of offering regular coffee, he decided to add a bit of Irish whiskey to it and topped it with some cream.When one of the passengers asked if it was Brazilian coffee, Sheridan reportedly said, “No, it’s Irish coffee,” and thus, a legend was born. The drink was so popular that Sheridan eventually moved to the Shannon Airport when it opened and brought the recipe with him. From there, it caught the attention of a Pulitzer Prize-winning "San Francisco Chronicle" columnist Stanton Delaplane, who brought the recipe to the United States, introducing it to the world at the Buena Vista Cafe in San Francisco in the 1950s. This café has become famous for serving Irish coffee to millions of tourists since the 50s.

 

Ingreditnts of Irish Coffee

The traditional Irish coffee recipe is pretty straightforward. The ingredients are:

  • Hot drip coffee (preferably around 120ml of strongly brewed coffee)
  • Irish whiskey (usually 50 ml), Jameson is probably the most popular choice worldwide, but any good-quality (Irish) whiskey will do.
  • Brown sugar (about 1 teaspoon)
  • Lightly whipped cream (it should be thick but not stiff. Place it in the fridge 30 minutes before serving)

 

How to Make Traditional Irish Coffee

  1. Warm the glass: A pre-warmed glass helps keep the drink at a pleasant temperature for longer, this can be done at home by putting warm water in the glass and letting it sit for a few minutes.
  2. Add the whiskey and sugar: Yes, unlike other coffees that actually have coffee as the base, the Irish coffee has a shot of Irish whiskey, followed by brown sugar (white sugar can be used, but brown sugar adds a deeper flavor).
  3. Mix in the coffee: Pour hot, freshly brewed drip coffee into the glass and stir until the sugar dissolves completely.
  4. Float the cold cream on top: The final step, and arguably the trickiest, is to gently float col whipped cream on top. The goal is for the cream to sit on top without mixing into the coffee, creating that iconic look.

Traditionally, Irish coffee shouldn't be stirred once it’s served. It is supposed to be drunk through that layer of cream, allowing the hot coffee and whiskey mixture to meld in the mouth with the cold cream.

 

How To Get The Cream Just Right in Irish Coffee

If you've ever tried to make Irish coffee and found that the cream sank straight to the bottom, you're not alone. Getting the cream to float perfectly is an art in itself. The cream has to be lightly whipped—not so thick that it's stiff, but not so runny that it mixes into the coffee. The key is to whip it just enough to give it a bit of body with air so that when you pour it over the back of a spoon, it floats delicately on top of the coffee. This method of using the spoon ensures that the cream touches the drink gently instead of dropping and mixing with the coffee.

 

Irish Coffee Around the World

Although Irish coffee started in Ireland, its popularity has spread far and wide. In the United States, it’s a staple at Irish pubs and is especially popular in cities like Boston and New York, where there's a significant Irish-American population. The Buena Vista Cafe in San Francisco claims to have served millions of Irish coffees since it started offering the drink in the 1950s, and it’s often credited with introducing the beverage to mainstream America.

In Europe, Irish coffee is enjoyed in many cafes and bars, especially during the winter months when the warm drink offers a cozy, indulgent treat. You might also find variations of the drink served in cold weather Scandinavian countries like Norway or Sweden.

 

Variations of Irish Coffee

Over the years, as with any iconic drink, variations of Irish coffee have emerged:

  • Baileys Irish Coffee: A sweeter and creamier version of the drink that replaces the whipped cream with Baileys Irish Cream liqueur.
  • Spanish Coffee: This version swaps out Irish whiskey for rum and adds just a bit of cinnamon (or nutmeg) on top of the cream.

  • Iced Irish Coffee: Those who love the flavor but don’t want to drink a hot drink, iced Irish coffee offers the same combination of whiskey and coffee but served over ice,

 

Irish Coffee Facts and Trivia

  • National Irish Coffee Day is celebrated every year on January 25th.
  • The Buena Vista Café in San Francisco is credited with popularizing Irish coffee in America and claims to serve around 2,000 glasses of the drink every day.
  • Mint or cinnamon were used in the early days of Irish Coffee.