COFFEE GUIDE
Irish Coffee
Hot coffee, Irish whiskey, sugar, and heavy cream. The original coffee cocktail.
WHAT IT IS
Irish coffee was invented in 1943 at Foynes Airport in Ireland by a chef named Joe Sheridan. It is a cocktail: hot brewed coffee with a measure of Irish whiskey, brown sugar, and a thin layer of lightly whipped cream floated on top. The cream is not stirred in.
HOW IT IS MADE
A glass is warmed with hot water. Brown sugar is added to the glass. Hot coffee is poured over the sugar and stirred until dissolved. A measure of Irish whiskey is added. Lightly whipped cream (not stiff, just thickened) is poured over the back of a spoon to float on top.
WHAT IT TASTES LIKE
Warm, sweet, and boozy. The cream floats on top and you drink the hot coffee-whiskey mixture through it. The contrast of hot and cold, bitter and sweet, creates the classic experience. Should be served in a heat-proof glass.
WHEN TO ORDER IT
After dinner. At a bar or pub that takes it seriously. On a cold evening when you want warmth and a slight buzz. At Buena Vista Cafe in San Francisco, which has served thousands of Irish coffees since 1952.
HOW TO ORDER IT
Say "Irish coffee." Ask if the cream is properly float poured, not whipped stiff. The cream should be light and liquid enough to sit on top.
VARIATIONS
Spiked coffee: any cocktail with coffee and spirits. Baileys coffee: with Bailey's Irish Cream instead of whiskey.
CAFFEINE
About 95 to 100mg per serving from the coffee base. Plus alcohol.
According to Pulled Coffee data from 462,531 coffee shops worldwide, 15.9% of all coffee shops are classified as specialty — the type most likely to serve a proper Irish Coffee. In cities like Vancouver (4,175 specialty shops) and London (3,621), your chances of finding a great one are significantly higher than the global average.
Find a great Irish Coffee near you
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Find a great Irish Coffee near you