Create a rich and wonderfully warming Irish Coffee in minutes using flavorful brown sugar, Irish whiskey, bold coffee, and decadent cream!
Irish Coffee is a great anytime drink that will warm you up and uses only four simple ingredients! Break out your bottle of Jameson Irish whiskey, brew a pot of strong coffee, whip a little cream, and set out the brown sugar to create an incredibly delicious cozy-feeling drink!
Coffee’s Best Friend
I was a very firm believer that cream and sugar were coffee’s very best friend until the day I had an Irish Coffee. Oh my stars, is the combination of coffee, whiskey, sugar, and cream the best thing ever to have been created! I say that about all the food I love, but seriously, this spiked coffee is too delicious with its layers of flavor and is absolutely warming. I love to serve this Irish Coffee to friends too, as an after-dinner drink, even if most of us need to use decaffeinated coffee instead so we can sleep later!
There is no shortage of ways to enjoy Irish whiskey, so mix up an Irish Julep, where the slight fruit flavors of the whiskey pair amazingly well with mint, or do yourself a big, yummy favor and make your own delicious homemade Irish Cream!
Other Recipes to Serve with Irish Coffee
- Before everyone dives into their after-dinner Irish Coffee, serve up a wonderful Crock Pot Corned Beef and Cabbage for them to devour!
- Irish Cream Mousse Cups are the perfect bites of sweetness that are incredibly easy to make!
Ingredients
Coffee: For this drink, medium-dark coffee works the best, but feel free to use the coffee you like best, including decaffeinated coffee, if you’re making this at night.
Irish Whiskey: Only Irish Whiskey will give you the amazing flavors you’re looking for, so be sure to have a bottle of Jameson or Bushmills to make this coffee.
Sugar: Brown sugar is the preferred sugar in this coffee, as the deep notes of molasses add a great flavor, but granulated sugar can also be used.
Cream: Pick up heavy whipping cream to make the topping for this coffee.
How to Make an Irish Coffee
STEP ONE: Brew a 6-ounce cup of coffee. While the coffee is brewing, fill a footed mug with hot water and let it sit for a few minutes.
STEP TWO: While the mug heats, whip the heavy whipping cream in a mixing bowl with a hand mixer until medium peaks form.
STEP THREE: Pour out the hot water, and add the brown sugar and whiskey to the mug.
STEP FIVE: Fill the mug 1 inch below the rim with hot coffee. Stir the drink until the sugar has dissolved.
STEP FIVE: Top with a big dollop of whipped cream and enjoy immediately!
Tips for Success
- Warming the mug with hot water ahead of time is great for keeping the coffee hot for as long as possible, so remember to warm your mug while the coffee is brewing.
- If you don’t have a footed mug for this drink, then any mug can be used, but a clear mug is wonderful for viewing the layers of cream and coffee. Whatever you use, make sure it’s heatproof.
- Fresh homemade whipped cream is spectacular in this drink, so whip it just until it thickens so that it both floats on top and also slowly mixes with the coffee. Don’t stir the whipped cream into the coffee, instead, allow it to mix in slowly. You’ve already added the brown sugar to the cocktail, so the cream doesn’t need to be sweetened.
What’s the difference between Irish Coffee and Baileys and Coffee?
Irish coffee is a delicious mix of coffee, Irish whiskey, sugar, and cream, which is way more flavorful than just tossing a whiskey into your morning coffee! Baileys and coffee are similar in that they are a shot of Baileys Irish Cream (made from sweetened Irish cream and Irish whiskey) poured into your favorite coffee. Adding Baileys gives the drink a more chocolatey flavor, which overshadows the flavors of Irish whiskey with a sweet, almost dessert vibe. Both drinks are great, and the little time it takes to make each is well worth it. So try each of them and enjoy!
Is Irish Coffee drunk in the morning?
Traditionally, Irish coffee is an afternoon drink, especially enjoyed on chilly days. These days, Irish coffee is considered the perfect drink any time of day and is a favorite on holiday mornings or for brunch.
If you’re less able to drink caffeinated beverages after a certain time of the day, decaffeinated coffee is an excellent substitute so that you can still make a warming after-dinner Irish Coffee for you and your guests.
More Amazing Coffee Break Inspiration
- Espresso Baileys Cocktail
- Iced Caramel Macchiato
- White Chocolate Mocha Latte
- Boozy Samoa Latte
- Copycat Starbucks Caramel Frappuccino
Ingredients
- 2 ounces heavy cream
- 1 ½ ounces Irish whiskey
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 6 ounces brewed coffee
Instructions
- Fill a footed mug with hot water and let sit for 2 minutes to heat the glass.
- While the mug sits, use a hand mixer to whip the heavy cream to medium peaks in a mixing bowl. Set aside.
- Pour out the hot water and add the whiskey and brown sugar to the mug. Pour in the coffee, filling to about 1 inch shy of the rim of the glass. Stir until the sugar has melted
- Top with a large dollop of the whipped cream. Serve immediately.
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