How to make the best Irish Coffee

Just start with the best ingredients

1. Brew your favorite coffee. Personally, I like dark roast best in Irish coffee, but that’s my general preference. Freshly brewed coffee is the way to go

2. Add Irish whiskey to an Irish Coffee Glass. I’m personally partial to Jameson. But there are now a huge range of amazing Irish whiskeys to choose from

3. Add a little maple syrup to sweeten. Mind you, I like my coffee black in the mornings, but a little sweetener takes the edge off the whiskey. You could use regular sugar or brown sugar instead, but maple syrup tastes better and blends in more easily

4. Add a splash of coffee and gently stir to blend. Then fill the Irish Coffee Glass with coffee, leaving about 1/2″ at the top for whipped cream

Irish Coffee Variations

I love these classic Irish coffees exactly as written, but here are some fun ways to change them up

• Add a garnish. Sprinkle the top with a pinch of ground cinnamon or nutmeg. If you’re really fancy, you can try finely grated fresh nutmeg or chocolate shavings on top

• Choose decaf coffee for an after-dinner drink. That is, unless you can drink coffee after 3 pm and still go to bed on time—in which case, I salute you

• Serve it on ice. Pour cold brew coffee or doublestrength brewed coffee over a cup filled with ice. Add a splash of half and half and skip the whipped cream

• Make it extra creamy and rich. Substitute Irish cream (like Baileys) for some or all of the whiskey

• Make it quick. Skip the homemade whipped cream and add a splash of half and half instead

• Lighten it up. If you’re looking for a less boozy drink, simply ease up on the whiskey

• Make it alcohol-free. Skip the whiskey and you have a delicious homemade coffee drink (nothing Irish about it, but hey, it’s tasty)