Irish Coffee
By OcadoLife
Published on 29 November 2021
Making the perfect Irish coffee is all about good preparation, getting your timings right and using great ingredients, says Sarah Simpson, the owner of Blackbird bar and restaurant in Derry/Londonderry, Northern Ireland. Single or low fat cream has no place here – opt for chilled double or whipping cream. You want it firm enough that it won’t sink but not so stiff that it’ll stop you getting to the coffee beneath. Achieving those perfect black and white layers isn’t as daunting as it looks, and quantities don’t have to be exact. Time and servings
35 minsTotal time
1Servings
Ingredients
- 50 ml of double or whipping cream
- 1 tsp of brown sugar
- 1 shot of espresso coffee
- 35 ml of irish whiskey
- 0.5 tsp of cocoa powder, for dusting
Method
Step 1
First, warm your glass or mug by filling it with boiled water. A heatproof latte glass works well, so you can see the layers of your beautiful creation. Leave the hot water in there until you're ready to use the mug.Step 2
Next, whip the cream until it has a pillowy, ‘just-set’ appearance. Put it to one side in a jug.Step 3
Discard the water that’s been heating your glass and, while the glass is still hot, add 1tsp brown sugar along with a drop of freshly boiled water. Stir to dissolve.Step 4
Make an espresso with the best-quality coffee you can find and add to the glass, topping with freshly boiled water so it’s half full.Step 5
Next, add a good slug of whiskey. Always choose Irish, such as Jameson, and anything from 35ml to 50ml should do the trick. Top with boiling water to bring the glass to about two-thirds full, if needed.Step 6
Now comes the cream top: heat the back of a teaspoon with boiling water, then slowly pour the whipped cream over the back of the spoon onto the coffee mixture, until it fills your glass. The heated spoon is vital to help layer the cream and stop it from sinking.Step 7
Top with a dusting of cocoa powder for a final flourish, and serve. Sláinte!