Irish coffee is a hot cocktail made from freshly brewed coffee, sugar, and Irish whiskey, topped with a float of lightly whipped cream — sipped hot through the cold cream. It’s one of the few coffee cocktails that’s genuinely easy to make well at home. Here’s how, plus a little of its story.
What Is Irish Coffee?
At its heart, Irish coffee is four simple ingredients: Irish whiskey, freshly brewed coffee, sugar, and a layer of lightly whipped heavy cream. What you get is a satisfying contrast of hot and cold, bitter and sweet, with rich cream floating on top. The most famous version comes from the Buena Vista Café in San Francisco, whose recipe has stayed essentially unchanged since 1952.
How to Make Irish Coffee
You’ll need:
- 6 oz fresh hot brewed coffee
- 1½ oz Irish whiskey
- 1–2 tsp sugar (white or brown)
- Lightly whipped heavy cream, to float
Method:
- Warm the glass with boiling water, then tip it out — this keeps the drink hot after the whiskey goes in.
- Fill about three-quarters with hot coffee.
- Stir in the sugar until dissolved.
- Add the whiskey and stir gently.
- Float the cream over the back of a spoon so it sits on top. Sip the hot coffee through the cold cream — don’t stir.
A traditional Irish coffee uses a tempered glass that’s narrow at the bottom and wider at the top. Whipping the cream lightly (so it just holds but still pours) is the trick to getting it to float. Need help with the cream? See frothing and whipping techniques.
A Little History
Like many classic drinks, Irish coffee’s origins are debated. The most-told story credits barman Joe Sheridan, who is said to have created it around 1942 at the Foynes flying-boat terminal in Ireland to warm stranded, weather-delayed passengers. It reached the U.S. thanks to travel writer Stanton Delaplane, who tried “Gaelic coffee” abroad and, back home, worked with Buena Vista Café owner Jack Koeppler to perfect it — Koeppler became so devoted that he later traveled to Ireland to study the original. Other traditions place its invention at a Dublin bar during World War II, where whiskey and cream helped mask the taste of poor wartime coffee. Wherever it started, it’s now been beloved for well over half a century — and is arguably even more popular in the U.S. than in Ireland.
Which Coffee Should You Use?
Start with high-quality, freshly brewed coffee that complements the whiskey rather than overpowering it. Most recipes steer away from straight espresso, since its intensity can make the drink too bitter — a well-balanced medium roast or a bright, fruity single origin (a natural Ethiopian is a lovely choice) works beautifully. Coffees with a winey, fruit-forward character pair especially well with the whiskey. Our single origins and medium blends are great starting points.
Whether it’s St. Patrick’s Day, a chilly evening, or a celebration, a good Irish coffee is hard to beat — and it starts with the beans. Want more coffee-and-spirits ideas? Check out our Top 5 Coffee Cocktails, and shop fresh-roasted whole beans to make yours with the best possible brew.
Please enjoy responsibly.
