Irish Coffee

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What Is an Irish Coffee?

Irish Coffee is a warm cocktail of hot coffee, Irish whiskey and brown sugar, topped with a thick layer of lightly whipped heavy cream. It isn't stirred after the cream goes on. Instead you drink the hot, sweet, whiskey-laced coffee through the cool cream. It's one of the most famous hot drinks in the world, and when it's made well, it's also one of the most comforting.

The drink is simple, but the details matter. The coffee should be strong and hot, the sugar is essential to help the cream float, and the cream should be whipped only until it's thick and pourable, not stiff. Get those right and you have a drink that's warm, rich and perfectly balanced.

A Brief History of Irish Coffee

The Foynes Flying Boat Terminal

Irish Coffee's origin story is one of the best in the cocktail world. In the early 1940s, transatlantic flying boats landed at Foynes, on the Shannon estuary in the west of Ireland. On a cold winter night around 1943, a flight turned back to Foynes because of bad weather, and chef Joe Sheridan made the tired, chilled passengers hot coffee with a shot of Irish whiskey and cream. When a passenger asked whether it was Brazilian coffee, Sheridan reportedly replied, "No, that's Irish coffee." He later worked at the bar of Shannon Airport, which replaced Foynes after the war.

The Buena Vista Cafe

The drink came to America in 1952, when travel writer Stanton Delaplane described it to Jack Koeppler, owner of the Buena Vista Cafe in San Francisco. The two spent weeks trying to get the cream to float properly, reportedly even traveling to Shannon to study it. The Buena Vista Cafe still serves thousands of Irish Coffees a day and is credited with making the drink famous across the United States.

Flavor Profile and What to Expect

The first sip goes through cool, silky cream into hot, sweet coffee with the gentle warmth of whiskey underneath. The contrast of hot and cold, rich and bitter, is the magic of the drink. Irish whiskey is a perfect partner for coffee: it's typically smooth and light, with notes of honey, vanilla and orchard fruit that complement roasted coffee without overpowering it. Brown sugar adds a hint of molasses and rounds out the coffee's bitterness.

Tips for a Perfect Irish Coffee

Warm the Glass

Fill the glass with hot water for a minute before you build the drink. A warm glass keeps the coffee hot through the last sip.

Don't Skip the Sugar

Sugar makes the coffee denser, which helps the cream float on top. Brown sugar or demerara syrup gives the best flavor.

Whip the Cream Lightly

Shake heavy cream in a jar or whisk it just until it thickens. It should still pour like melted ice cream. Pour it slowly over the back of a warm spoon so it settles in a layer on top of the coffee.

Choose the Right Coffee and Whiskey

Use freshly brewed, medium- or dark-roast filter coffee, or an Americano made from espresso. Very light, acidic coffees can clash with the cream. For the whiskey, any smooth blended Irish whiskey works well. You don't need an expensive single malt, because the coffee and cream will hide its subtleties. A good, everyday bottle you'd happily sip is perfect.

Popular Variations

Swapping the whiskey for other spirits gives you a family of coffee drinks: Scotch makes a Gaelic Coffee, rum makes a Caribbean coffee, and coffee liqueur and Irish cream make a sweeter drink in the style of our Nutty Irishman Coffee. For a cold option in warm weather, try a Spiked Iced Coffee or the hugely popular Espresso Martini. For more ideas, see our guide to the best coffee cocktails to make at home.

How to Serve an Irish Coffee

Irish Coffee is traditionally served in a stemmed, heatproof glass, often called an Irish coffee glass or toddy glass, so you can see the dark coffee under the white cream. A light dusting of grated nutmeg or cocoa on the cream is a nice touch, though purists leave it plain. Serve it right away while the contrast between hot coffee and cool cream is at its best.

Food Pairings and Occasions

Irish Coffee is a natural after-dinner drink and pairs well with desserts like bread pudding, chocolate cake, apple crumble and shortbread. It's also popular at brunch and is a staple of Saint Patrick's Day celebrations. On cold winter evenings it sits happily alongside other warmers like the Hot Toddy. Irish whiskey fans should also try the Irish Mule.

Why People Love Irish Coffee

Irish Coffee combines two things many people already love, a good cup of coffee and a glass of whiskey, into something warmer and more indulgent than either. It has a great story, it's easy to make at home, and it feels like hospitality in a glass, which is exactly how it began on a cold night at Foynes. For Difford's Guide's detailed method, see their Irish Coffee recipe.