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Irish Coffee recipe Irish Coffee recipe

IRISH COFFEE

By the Lavazza Team 2–3 minutes

Irish coffee is one of the most famous coffee recipes worldwide. Learn more about this beloved beverage, and how to make your very own at home with a step-by-step recipe.

What is an Irish Coffee

An Irish Coffee is a type of caffeinated cocktail containing a mix of Irish whiskey, hot coffee, sugar, and cream. There is much debate around when and where the drink was invented, but one popular theory states that the drink originated during WWII, at the Foynes Airbase in County Limerick, where the head chef added whiskey to the coffee as a warm welcome for some of the arriving passengers.

Recipe

It’s easy to make an Irish Coffee at home, you'll just need a few essential tools and ingredients:

Equipment

  • A heatproof glass
  • Coffee machine or French press
  • Whisk or hand mixer
  • Spoon

Ingredients

  • 150ml freshly brewed hot black coffee:
  • 2 tbsp double cream
  • 50ml Irish whiskey (make sure to choose an Irish brand, otherwise it won’t be a real Irish Coffee!)
  • 1 teaspoon brown sugar - adjust to taste based on your preference for sweetness
  • Optional: ground nutmeg or cinnamon

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Preparation

  • Step 1. Preheat the glass by rinsing it with hot water. This will ensure that your drink stays warm for longer.
  • Step 2. Very lightly whip your cream so that it’s slightly thickened and set aside
  • Step 3. Brew your coffee using your preferred method and make sure it's piping hot
  • Step 4. With a steam wand from a coffee machine or in a small pot, warm up the sugar and the whiskey until sugar is dissolved, then pour it into the glass
  • Step 5. Slowly pour the whiskey into the coffee into the glass and stir well to combine
  • Step 6. Using a spoon, carefully layer the whipped cream atop the coffee mixture, allowing it to gently float on the surface
  • Step 7. For an extra touch of flavor and garnish, add a sprinkle of ground nutmeg or cinnamon over the whipped cream.
  • Step 8. Serve and enjoy your Irish coffee!
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Tips and Variations

Here are a few ways you can change up your Irish coffee:

  1. Choose a bold and full-bodied coffee for the best flavor: a rich, dark roasted coffee will provide the best flavor in an Irish coffee
  2. The best Irish coffee glass: a heatproof, tall stemmed glass, specifically designed for Irish coffee will help maintain the temperature of the drink for an optimum drinking experience
  3. How to make Irish coffee with Irish cream: if you like your Irish coffee extra sweet, then you can substitute the sugar with a couple of spoonfuls of Irish cream to make your drink extra creamy and delicious.
  4. Alcohol-free Irish Coffee: if you’d prefer an alcohol-free warming drink, you can simply follow the same method illustrated above, removing the whiskey from the mix. It won’t technically be Irish, but it will still taste good!
  5. Decaf Irish Coffee: for an after-dinner drink, or for those who don’t like to consume caffeine, use a decaffeinated coffee in your Irish Coffee.
  6. Other alcohol variations: while the original recipe calls for Irish whiskey, you can always swap that ingredient for rum or bourbon if you’d prefer another spirit.
  7. Iced Irish Coffee: On summer days when the weather is hot, enjoy an Irish Coffee over ice for a refreshing cold variation on this classic cocktail!

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