How To Make The Best Irish Coffee
I've got a treat in store for you here!
If you've ever been to the Emerald Isle - or not perhaps, you may already have tasted a real Irish coffee made with genuine Irish whiskey. If not, then you're in for a treat!
Here is my recipe on How-To make the gorgeous stuff (I live in Ireland, so have had plenty of practice!)
Attention to detail with every step makes all the difference to the final outcome.
This soothing and tasty beverage was invented by accident at Shannon airport on the west coast of Ireland. On a day in 1942, a flight bound for New York encountered bad weather soon after take off and was forced to return to Shannon. A local chef named Joe Sheridan was serving up coffee to the passengers, and thought that something a bit stronger might be appreciated, so he added a drop of Irish whiskey into their coffee.
"Is this Brazilian coffee"? asked a bewildered American passenger. "No, That's Irish Coffee", Joe replied. From then on Irish Coffee became the official welcoming drink at the airport.
Today you'll find the bar serving food and drink at Shannon airport is called "The Sheridan" after good 'ol Joe's efforts!.
Time required: 10 mins
Difficulty: medium
Cost: Couple of dollars!
Materials:
- Irish Whiskey
- Coffee
- Water
- Whipping Cream
- Brown Sugar
Tools:
- Kettle
- Coffee Pot
- Cream Jug
- Irish Coffee Mug or Cup
- Teaspoon
Instructions:
1. First warm up the glass. The usual Irish Coffee cup has a sturdy, short stem, with a decent handle, but if you don't have one almost any cup/mug will do. Always remember to preheat the glass with hot water.
2. Use pressed coffee for the best results. It's like anything in the food and drink world - for the best taste, you select the best raw materials - so don't use instant coffee!
3. Next the whiskey (uisce beatha in Irish or water of life). Just as you wouldn't want to skimp on the coffee, certainly don't skimp on the whiskey either. I recommend Jameson's Irish Whiskey as it's what the pros use.
4. Whip the double cream to an almost stiff consistency ensuring that is still pourable, but still nice and thick.
5. Empty the hot water out of the glass, then pour the whiskey into it - 1.25 oz or 35 ml. The heat of the glass works wonders on the whiskey aromas and soon you'll smell them all around!
6. Having brewed up your coffee now pour it over the whiskey leaving enough room for the whipped cream on top.
7. Add 2 teaspoons of brown sugar (this can be adjusted to taste in future brews if if too sweet), and stir until fully dissolved. The hot beverage melts the sugar quickly.
8. This is a satisfying stage when you pour the cream onto the coffee over the back of a spoon.
Use approx. 20 ml of the cream and top up the glass. Pour gently to create a layering effect making sure that the cream remains on the surface.
9. Your Irish Coffee is now ready to be sipped and savored. Drink the beverage slowly through the cream, and you'll never forget your first real Irish Coffee!
Enjoy It!
