Irish coffee - the classic from Ireland
Irish coffee - Recipes
If you want to make Irish coffee, you first need the two most important ingredients: Coffee and Irish whiskey. In addition to the classic recipe, we also present a lesser-known alternative - the Irish cappuccino.
Irish coffee - the original recipe
Irish coffee with whiskey has a unique and contrasting taste and is also a symbol of Irish hospitality. Here's how to prepare the drink.
Irish coffee - ingredients (for 1 cup):
- 1 cup (approx. 240 ml) of freshly brewed coffee
- 40 ml Irish whiskey
- 1-2 tsp brown sugar
- 50 ml whipped cream
How it works:
- heat a heat-resistant glass, preferably an Irish coffee glass, briefly with hot water.
- pour the brown sugar into the glass, pour the whiskey over it and stir until the sugar has dissolved.
- fill the glass with hot, strong coffee, leaving some space for the cream.
- stir well again.
- whip the cream slightly to make it thicker but still runny.
- carefully spoon the cream onto the coffee using the back of a spoon so that it floats on top of the coffee.
Irish cappuccino
An Irish cappuccino is a variation of the traditional Irish coffee. The Irish cappuccino is less well-known than the traditional Irish coffee, but offers an interesting alternative for those who like the strong taste of espresso and the creaminess of a cappuccino, combined with the warming kick of Irish whiskey.
Ingredients (for 1 cup):
- 1 double espresso (approx. 60 ml)
- 30-40 ml Irish whiskey
- 150 ml milk
- 1-2 tsp brown sugar
- cocoa powder or grated chocolate to garnish
How it works:
- prepare double espresso and pour into a preheated cappuccino cup.
- add the whisky and brown sugar and stir until the sugar has dissolved.
- froth the milk with a milk frother or steam nozzle.
- slowly pour the frothed milk into the cup so that it mixes with the espresso and whiskey. Make sure that a layer of foam forms on top.
- garnish the foam with cocoa powder or grated chocolate.
Irish coffee - history and origin
Irish coffee was invented in Ireland in the 1940s, in the small town of Foynes in County Limerick. At the time, Foynes was an important air base for flying boats carrying passengers on the transatlantic route between Europe and North America.
In the cold, wintry Irish weather, airport café chef Joe Sheridan offered guests a blend of Irish whiskey and hot coffee topped with a layer of cream after a long and uncomfortable flight. The mixture warmed the passengers from the inside out and proved to be an instant success.
Irish coffee - from Ireland to the whole world
The popularity of Irish coffee grew rapidly, but the drink's international breakthrough came when Stanton Delaplane discovered the beverage during a visit to Ireland. Delaplane was a travel journalist for the San Francisco Chronicle and he brought Irish coffee to the USA. Together with Jack Koeppler, the owner of the Buena Vista Café in San Francisco, he worked on perfecting the recipe. From San Francisco, the enthusiasm for Irish coffee grew and spread throughout the USA. Incidentally, the Buena Vista is still famous for its Irish coffees today.
Irish hospitality in a glass
Irish coffee today still stands for the hospitality that is an important part of Irish culture. Especially in the cold winter months, the coffee mix is often served as an after-dinner digestif and evokes a cozy feeling of warmth and home.
The mixture of coffee and a spirit is not only popular in Ireland. Its Scottish cousin, Highland Coffee or Gaelic Coffee, uses Scotch whisky, Russian Coffee is prepared with vodka, while Jamaican Coffee contains rum and Mexican Coffee contains tequila
Preparing and serving Irish coffee
Would you like to enjoy coffee the Irish way? In addition to the ingredients, the right presentation is also part of the experience. The drink is traditionally drunk from special Irish coffee glasses. These are either a glass with a relatively thick stem or tall, glass cups. Some of the cups are also offered in an Irish coffee set including a stainless steel warmer.
A piece of Ireland in a glass
Irish coffee is more than just a warming drink - it embodies the essence of Irish hospitality and history. Whether classic or as an Irish cappuccino, the delicious blend of coffee and whiskey offers an enjoyable end to cold winter days. Try it out and bring a piece of Ireland into your home!