Traditional Irish Coffee

Name: Irish Coffee recipe
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: PT-481568H22M8S
Cuisine: Irish
Ingredients: 1 1/2 parts Kilbeggan® Irish Whiskey; 1 Tbsp brown sugar syrup (2:1 sugar to water); 3 parts dark roast coffee; 1/2 cup heavy cream; grated chocolate, nutmeg and/or cinnamon

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The best Irish Coffee recipe only requires 4 ingredients! This classic whiskey and coffee drink is topped with whipped cream & shaved chocolate.

2 Irish coffees in glass mugs topped with shaved chocolate & nutmeg

What is Irish Coffee?

Classic Irish Coffee is just coffee and whiskey, topped with whipped cream. Like our Spiked Eggnog, this cocktail is warm and comforting on a cold day. We love it with warm Chocolate Chunk Cookies or Classic Madeleine Cookies for dunking.

The original Irish Coffee was created by Joe Sheridan, a chef at Foynes Air base (near Limerick, Ireland) in 1943. One evening, a flight had to turn back to Foynes midway through its journey, and Joe created a coffee and whiskey cocktail to warm up the cold and weary passengers. It became legendary, and was eventually brought to the U.S. by a travel writer, Stanton Delaplane. Delaplane persuaded Jack Koeppler, a bartender at the Buena Vista Café in San Francisco to recreate it.

Jump to:

What is Irish Coffee?
Ingredients
Instructions
Top tip
What's the best whiskey for Irish Coffee?
Variations
Irish coffee toppings
More cocktail recipes to try
FAQ
Related recipes
Irish Coffee recipe

Ingredients

Irish Whiskey: we used Kilbeggan® Irish Whis k ey
Brown sugar syrup (make this by adding 2 parts sugar to 1 part water)
Dark roast coffee: we recommend brewing coffee in a French press for dark roast flavor.
Heavy cream: whipped heavy cream (whipping cream)
grated chocolate, nutmeg, and/or cinnamon (for topping)

*see recipe card for quantities.

Instructions

Rinse coffee mug with hot water
Add brown sugar syrup and whiskey
Fill mug with freshly brewed coffee
Lightly whip heavy cream and pour gently into mug.
Garnish with grated chocolate, nutmeg (or your topping of choice)

Top tip

Piping hot, freshly brewed coffee is a must for this drink.

hand stirring whipped cream into glass of Irish coffee

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What's the best whiskey for Irish Coffee?

Kilbeggan Traditional Irish Whiskey is the best for Irish Coffee because of its meticulous blend of the finest malted barley and corn. Its sweet caramel and vanilla flavor blend perfectly with dark roast coffee and fresh whipped cream. Slàinte!

Variations

Add Bailey's Irish Cream: add a splash of Bailey's Irish Cream Liqueur for more creamy, caramel flavor
Iced Irish Coffee: use cold brew coffee + some ice cubes for refreshing flavor
Decaf Irish Coffee: use your favorite decaf coffee for an after dinner coffee drink

Irish coffee toppings

Ground cinnamon or ground nutmeg
Shaved chocolate: we like good dark chocolate
Orange zest
Caramel syrup
Raw sugar cubes or sugar sprinkles

More cocktail recipes to try

2 Irish coffees in glass mugs topped with shaved chocolate and nutmeg

This post is sponsored by our friends at Kilbeggan. All opinions are our own.

FAQ

What is the best coffee is best for Irish Coffee?

We recommend a strong, dark roast or expresso roast coffee for optimum flavor. The coffee should be strong enough to stand up to the other ingredients without overpowering them.

What are the traditional ingredients of Irish Coffee?

The traditional Irish coffee recipe includes hot coffee, Irish whiskey (like Kilbeggan), brown sugar, and heavy cream. These ingredients come together to create a rich and flavorful drink.

How is the cream layer in Irish coffee created?

To create the signature cream layer in Irish coffee, gently float whipped heavy cream on top of the coffee by pouring it over the back of a spoon. This ensures a distinct separation of layers.

What kind of cream should I use?

Fresh whipped, heavy cream (whipping cream) works best. We recommend creams with 35-38% milk fat, as they whip up and float perfectly on top of this cocktail.

Can I use any type of whiskey for Irish coffee?

While personal preference plays a role, it's recommended to use authentic Irish whiskey, such as Kilbeggan, for the best flavor. The smooth and slightly sweet profile of Irish whiskey complements the other ingredients.

How do I make brown sugar syrup?

Mix 2 parts brown sugar with 1 part water. Stir until dissolved.