Kick-off Your St. Paddy’s Celebration with Authentic Irish Coffee! / by Kristen Bradley

Having done plenty of Irish weddings, and having deep Irish roots ourselves, we take our Irish coffee extra seriously.  This Friday is St. Patrick’s Day, and it’s practically our favorite holiday after Thanksgiving.  We’re excited to cozy up with a mug of homemade, authentic Irish coffee, which isn’t as tough to make as you might think!  You’ll find our favorite recipe below, and in the meantime, enjoy a brief history of this traditional St. Paddy’s brew. 

The Buena Vista Cafe in San Francisco is credited as serving the first Irish coffee in the United States in 1952 after it was conceived in the 1940s by Irishman Joe Sheridan.  The concoction became so popular that the restaurant reported it has served over 30 million coffees just within the first 50 years of its debut.  What makes this drink so tasty?  Find out for yourself!  Check out our festive video for step-by-step directions that even a novice mixologist can master in time for St. Patrick’s Day!

Authentic Irish Coffee

You will need:

  • Traditional glass mugs with a handle
  • Boiling water
  • 1-4 servings of freshly brewed coffee
  • 2 sugar cubes per mug
  • 1 oz of Irish whiskey per mug
  • 2-3 dollops of freshly whipped cream per mug

Grab a traditional glass mug with a handle, and carefully pour boiling water in the mug to heat the glass.  Discard the water after a few moments.

Brew your favorite roast, and fill the warmed mug half way with coffee, (no espresso!).

Next, stir in two sugar cubes, until the sugar is completely dissolved, and then follow with the whiskey.

Top off with 2-3 dollops of whipped cream, letting the cream float on the top of the mug.

Serve and enjoy!

Two Irish Coffees

Happy St. Patrick’s Day, from all of us at Sip and Twirl!