HOW TO MAKE THE BEST IRISH COFFEE AT HOME
Stunning Irish Coffee recipe that doesn't require a visit to Ireland to make.
We all know how hard it can be to make good coffee – so many variables, chances of getting burned, or making a mess. But what if we told you that the best coffee comes from your kitchen, without the fuss? This is an easy-to-make and impressive drink that demands attention.
THINK ABOUT IT:
Iced Irish coffee makes for a perfect end-of-the-day treat because it tastes like melting chocolate on top of creamy milk froth. Just the smell of it is enough to make you happy. And the large amount of caffeine makes you feel like you’ve accomplished something important for the day.
Irish coffee recipes are usually associated with visiting Ireland, but this one doesn’t need flights, Starbucks shops, or rude cab drivers to be enjoyed – and it tastes even better than what they serve at your favorite Irish pub.
SOME INTERESTING AND AMAZING FACTS ABOUT IRISH COFFEE HISTORY:
• It was invented by Joe Sheridan in Foynes, County Limerick on a cold February day in 1943 when a pilot named Captain James Fitzmaurice had difficulty getting a hot cup of coffee through the crew weather deck hatch. Sheridan and his friend Murrough O’Brien came up with the idea of combining whiskey, coffee and cream because the warm whiskey was able to melt the ice in the coffee.
• The original Irish coffee recipe used Tullamore Dew Irish Whiskey, but many bartenders use Jameson’s, Bushmills and even Johnny Walker Scotch.
• There are different Irish coffee recipes but they have one thing in common: they all have hot coffee.
• The “Foynes Float” is a variant where whipped cream is added to the top of the drink along with a stir of chocolate powder or cocoa powder.
• Irish coffee was invented at an airport called Aerfort Fhada (“Foynes Long-Aerodrome”) which was the first international airport in Ireland.
WHAT YOU WILL NEED TO MAKE THIS:
* 1/2 cup of freshly brewed coffee or espresso, cooled to room temperature.
* 1 teaspoon of brown sugar or vanilla sugar, finely ground in a mortar and pestle. Add more or less depending on your personal preference.
* 1 cup and 2 tablespoons of Irish whiskey, preferably Tullamore Dew and/or Bushmills.
* 2 tablespoons of heavy cream.
* 1 tablespoon of unsweetened cocoa or chocolate powder (or add more if you want it to be extra potent).
HOW TO MAKE IT:
1. Pour the remaining 8 ounces of Irish whiskey into a small saucepan, preferably a non-metal saucepan with an oven safe handle. Add the sugar and stir. Ensure that there are no sugar chunks on the bottom of the pan. Allow it to heat up for about 5 to 10 minutes until the sugar has dissolved completely into the whiskey. The whiskey should be heated but not boiling so as to not make any froth in your drink.
2. Remove the pan from heat and stir in the cream, pretty carefully to not burn yourself.
3. Pour in the cooled coffee or espresso. Stir well.
4. Add a pinch of cocoa powder or more as you prefer (or add chocolate syrup to make it more potent).
5. Pour the mixture back into your favorite glass, stir gently and serve immediately (it will still be hot).
• There are different coffee types used to make Irish coffee. The Irish coffee is usually prepared with black coffee (which is not the same as a strong coffee) and can be hard like espresso, or have a more subtle flavor depending on the bar’s recipe and personal taste. The type of coffee should be brewed in about 10 seconds to blend with the whiskey.
• Many experts say dark chocolate is a great addition to an Irish Coffee, but it shouldn’t be too bitter so you don’t lose your appetite while drinking it.
There are many ways of preparing an Irish Coffee, many variants include adding a splash of Baileys, Amaretto and even vodka. Let us know your way!
