A Closer Look at Classic Coffee Cocktails: Irish Coffee

With a history dating back to the 1940s, Irish coffee is a longstanding industry favorite. Today, we explore the lore behind the iconic beverage.

BY TAYLOR MURPHY-DYER
BARISTA MAGAZINE ONLINE

Featured photo courtesy of Anna Kumpan

Consumed year-round by people around the world, Irish coffee is an integral facet of both the coffee and cocktail worlds. Typically made with coffee, Irish whiskey, sugar, and a layer of whipped cream, the beverage strikes an ideal balance between smoky and sweet—and, in recent years, coffee shops and bars alike have been serving up their own takes on the traditional recipe.

Today, we’ll take a closer look at the history behind Irish coffee and the role it plays in the specialty-coffee industry today.

The Irish Coffee Experience

Irish coffee is characterized by a delicate balance of flavors and temperatures—and that crisp demarcation between coffee and cream is what elevates this drink from ordinary to extraordinary.

When prepared correctly, you’re presented with a stunning visual: a deep amber base crowned with glossy, pristine white cream, separated by a distinct, clean line. Your first sip delivers an enticing contrast between the cool, velvety cream followed immediately by the warming coffee and whiskey beneath. The mouthfeel is luxuriously silky, and the complex flavors linger pleasantly long after that initial taste. This is Irish coffee at its finest.

Unfortunately, in recent years, Irish coffee has somewhat fallen from grace. What’s often served is either too-sweet coffee topped with overly whipped cream or, perhaps worse, a tepid mixture where coffee, whiskey, and cream blend into a muddled disappointment. These poor executions have given Irish coffee an undeserved reputation—one that many modern-day baristas have sought out to change.

History and Popularization

Irish coffee first debuted at Ireland’s Foynes Airport in 1943 and was originally created as a comforting beverage for weary travelers. Eventually, the drink would become, according to the Irish Whiskey Museum, “a symbol of warmth, hospitality, and the rich cultural tapestry of Ireland.”

Though created in Ireland, the drink was more widely popularized in San Francisco, Calif., at the Buena Vista Cafe. There, the café owner, Jack Koeppler, along with travel writer Stanton Delaplane, worked tirelessly to recreate the captivating beverage. Their original 1952 recipe is still being served today. 

This classic cocktail, both accessible and versatile, continues to maintain prominence in the modern cocktail era. The Coffee in Good Spirits (CIGS) Championship dedicates an entire round of competition to it, with strict guidelines regarding ingredients and presentation that define a traditional Irish coffee.

“The Irish coffee may look simple in the cup, but it’s a masterclass in complexity,” says Ashley Wheelan, co-chair of the United States CIGS Championship. “From dialing in the coffee to balancing sweetness and spirit, and finding new flavors within the limited ingredients, every element has to be in perfect harmony—and there’s no room to hide behind flair or garnish.”

“Even the cream, which must be lightly aerated and carefully floated without any bleeding, demands a practiced hand. That’s why it anchors the Coffee in Good Spirits finals,” Ashley continues. “It asks competitors to bring technical precision, sensory intuition, and true hospitality into a single, deceptively simple serve. When done right, it’s pure magic.”

Every Ingredient Matters: Emphasizing Quality

When creating a great-tasting Irish coffee, each individual ingredient is important—and the quality of your ingredients is what will take your beverage from mediocre to exceptional.

Read on for find two different approaches: first, a traditional Irish coffee recipe that honors the drink’s rich heritage, and second, my personal interpretation that offers a subtle, contemporary twist. Try them both, compare them, and then use them as inspiration to create your own perfect version of this timeless classic.

Recipe 1: Traditional Irish Coffee

Ingredients:

2 tsp. sugar
4.5 oz. hot coffee (batch-brewed)
1.5 oz. Irish whiskey (Tullamore Dew or Jameson)
1.5 oz. heavy cream

Method:

1. Add sugar and hot coffee to a decanter and stir until the sugar has completely dissolved.
2. Add Irish whiskey to sugar and coffee. Stir.
3. Pour mixture into an Irish coffee glass.
4. Add heavy cream to a shaker and lightly whip using a dry shake or a hand frother. The cream should be frothy and light, but not stiff.
5. Slowly pour cream over the back of a spoon and onto the coffee base. To achieve a glossy, white surface, avoid touching the spoon to the coffee. Allow it to sit just above the surface.

Recipe 2: Irish Bourbon

Ingredients:

¾ oz. turbinado sugar syrup (2:1, sugar:water ratio)
½ oz. coffee blossom honey syrup (1:1, honey:water ratio)
5 oz. coffee  (I used a cold-washed Pink Bourbon from Rodrigo Sanchez, but you can use any delicious coffee you have)
1.5 oz. Irish whiskey (Tullamore Dew, Jameson, or, for an elevated experience, Redbreast 12 yr.)
1.5 oz. heavy cream

Method:

1. Brew coffee. I brewed my coffee at a 1:13 coffee to water ratio, at 204 degrees Fahrenheit on an Origami dripper.
2. Add syrups and Irish whiskey to brewed coffee and stir.
3. Pour mixture into an Irish coffee glass or a heat-resistant tulip glass. 
4. Add heavy cream to a shaker and lightly whip using a dry shake or a hand frother. The cream should be frothy and light, but not stiff.
5. Slowly pour cream over the back of a spoon and onto the coffee base. To achieve a glossy, white surface, avoid touching the spoon to the coffee. Allow it to sit just above the surface.

Stay Tuned

In the coming weeks, we’ll release more articles exploring the history behind the industry’s most popular coffee cocktails—keep an eye out!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Taylor Murphy-Dyer is a seasoned coffee professional, currently focused in education and competitions as a Wholesale Education Manager and Head Judge for the US Coffee in Good Spirits competition. Outside of work, Taylor prioritizes time with her incredible family. Her creative passion extends to the kitchen, where she enjoys cooking, baking, and developing original recipes.