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Here are the secrets for the best Irish Coffee: Dissolve brown sugar in whiskey, add boiling-hot coffee, and float a layer of barely-whipped, frothy cream on top. Anything else and it’s just not right.
If you didn’t learn your Irish Coffee from the Irish, chances are you’re doing it all wrong. Most people add coffee to a [warmed] glass, stir in some sugar, and top it off with whipped cream. To increase the insult, add some chocolate shavings!
The real deal involves a ritual of stirring brown sugar into the whiskey, adding boiling coffee to ensure the sugar is dissolved, and then floating a layer of soft, aerated heavy cream on top.
To complete the experience, sip the boiling-hot coffee through the frothy cream, trying not to burn your mouth while you do so, and enjoy your morning.
Table of Contents
Recipe ingredients
At a Glance: Here is a quick snapshot of what ingredients are in this recipe.
Please see the recipe card below for specific quantities.
Ingredient notes
- Heavy cream: Look for 50% to 60% heavy cream. You want to whip it just enough that it will float on top of the coffee when poured over the back of a chilled spoon.
- Irish whiskey: Killbeggan (reader-recommended!), Jameson, or Paddy’s Irish whiskey are best. Bushmills is a little too sharp for Irish coffee.
- Coffee: The coffee needs to be HOT in order to dissolve the brown sugar completely.
Step-by-step instructions
- In a small bowl, add heavy cream and beat until soft peaks form, about 2 to 3 minutes.
- In the bottom of a mug, add whiskey.
- Add brown sugar and stir to dissolve.
- Top with hot coffee.
- Pour the thickened cream over the back of a chilled spoon so it floats on top of the coffee.
6. Serve boiling hot.
Recipe tips and variations
- Yield: Each recipe makes 1 drink and should not be made in big batches.
- Glassware: An Irish Coffee mug is great, but if all else fails, just choose something clear.
Recipe FAQs
Thanks to the whiskey and brown sugar, Irish Coffee tastes like a sweet, boozy coffee drink with a layer of cream on top.
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Irish Coffee
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup heavy cream chilled (see note 1)
- 1 1/2 ounces Irish whiskey (3 tablespoons, see note 2)
- 1-2 teaspoons brown sugar
- 4 ounces freshly brewed coffee hot (see note 3)
Instructions
- In a small bowl, add heavy cream and beat until soft peaks form, about 2 to 3 minutes.
- In the bottom of a mug, add whiskey. Add brown sugar and stir to dissolve.
- Top with hot coffee. Pour the thickened cream over the back of a chilled spoon so it floats on top of the coffee.
Recipe Video
Notes
- Heavy cream: Look for 50% to 60% heavy cream. You want to whip it just enough that it will float on top of the coffee when poured over the back of a chilled spoon.
- Irish whiskey: Killbeggan (reader-recommended!), Jameson or Paddy’s Irish whiskey are best. Bushmills is a little too sharp for Irish coffee.
- Coffee: The coffee needs to be HOT in order to dissolve the brown sugar completely.
- Yield: Each recipe makes 1 drink and should not be made in big batches.
- Glassware: An Irish Coffee mug is great, but if all else fails, just choose something clear.
Nutrition
Meggan Hill is a classically-trained chef and professional writer. Her meticulously-tested recipes and detailed tutorials bring confidence and success to home cooks everywhere. Meggan has been featured on NPR, HuffPost, FoxNews, LA Times, and more.
I applaud Meggan for posting an authentic Irish Coffee. This is exactly how I was taught by a young lady who was born and raised in Ireland. Forget that Irish Cream and whiskey version. By the way a great Irish whisky for this is Killbeggan
Thank you so much for your comment, BlarneyTalker! And thank you for the whisky recommendation! Take care! – Meggan
How did you know I’ve been searching how to prepare decent Irish Coffee?! This looks easy/tasty. Thank you. 🙂
Great story and explanation. I made my topping green and minty.
