The Buena Vista Irish Coffee is sweetened black coffee with a generous shot of good Irish whiskey and topped with a float of heavy cream.
Nothing warms the soul quite like a perfectly poured Irish Coffee on a chilly day. With its sweet rich aroma and creamy texture, this beloved drink has captured the hearts of many and has become a staple in Irish culture.
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However, this iconic, delicious beverage is not just an Irish mainstay, it has also become a staple in bars and cafes around the world. One place outside of Ireland that makes this drink exceptionally well is the Buena Vista in San Francisco.
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What is an Irish Coffee?
An Irish Coffee is made by placing two sugar cubes in a 6-ounce glass goblet. Then 3 to 4 ounces of hot brewed coffee are stirred in followed by a generous pour of Irish whiskey. The cocktail is then topped with a float of heavy cream poured gently over the back of a spoon. Yumm!
The original Irish coffee was invented in the 1940s by an Irish chef, Joe Sheridan, to warm up passengers at Shannon airport in Ireland. That was where the owner of the Buena Vista, Jack Koeppler, first discovered the drink in the early 1950s and was determined to create his own version and share it with his customers in San Francisco.
About This Irish Coffee Recipe
Years ago, I worked at a small food service company in San Francisco near the Buena Vista and my colleagues and I would go to lunch there. That was when I first heard of the famous BV Irish Coffee.
The Buena Vista sits at the very foot of Hyde Street and the cablecar turnaround is just steps from its doors. There, tourists from around the world step off the cablecar and through the doors of the Buena Vista, usually for only one thing... their world famous Irish Coffee.
And it doesn't matter what time of the year or the day. The day can be misty and cool with fog from the bay or surprisingly warm with clear skies. The tourists still come eagerly to get a sip of this famous cocktail.
On an average day, the Buena Vista makes as many as 2,000 Irish Coffees and I'm not exaggerating when I say it is truly a marvel to see the bartender make dozens of Irish Coffees in quick succession!
So to do justice to this famous version of Irish Coffee, I have researched what exactly makes it the best Irish Coffee, and to no surprise, it comes down to only two things, ingredients and preparation.
The three key takeaways are to use a good (but not too good!) Irish whiskey, to lightly beat the heavy cream to a ribbon stage to insure it will float, and to scald the glass well to make the drink stay hot longer.
Seriously, the Buena Vista Irish Coffee is the best hands down, I have ever had and I hope you enjoy this copycat version.
So, let's cook!
Ingredient Notes
For this Irish coffee recipe, you will need:
- Sugar Cubes - The BV uses white sugar cubes. But you can use either white or brown sugar cubes.
- Hot Black Brewed Coffee - This recipe can be made with any black coffee. I have used drip-brewed, French press, K-cup, perked coffee, and even instant espresso, and each works well.
- Irish Whiskey - It is said that the Buena Vista uses Tullamore D.E.W. Irish whiskey. But you can use your favorite brand instead. Popular choices are Bushmill's, Jameson, and Ide & Stills. There is no need to use an expensive single malt.
- Heavy Cream - Heavy cream that is slightly whipped to ribbon stage will float more easily on the top of the hot coffee. Do not substitute single cream or light cream.
How to Make the Best Irish Coffee
Before Assembling the Coffee: Brew the black coffee, whip the heavy cream to ribbon stage, and scald the glass with boiling water, twice.
Add Sugar Cubes. Add two sugar cubes to the scalded glass.
Pour Hot Black Coffee. Pour hot black coffee over the sugar cubes and stir with a spoon.
Add Irish Whiskey. Add Irish whiskey into the hot coffee.
Top with Heavy Cream. Pour the thickened heavy cream over the back of a spoon onto the surface of the coffee. Serve & Enjoy!
My Top Tip
♡ Scald the Glass Twice. To make your Irish coffee nice and hot, pour boiling water into the glass to heat it. Empty the glass, scald it again, and empty it.
Glasses for Irish Coffee
The traditional Irish coffee glass is a clear Georgian style chalice. These glasses are timelessly elegant and what is used at the Buena Vista for Irish Coffee. But you can use any heat proof mug. A clear glass mug is preferred to show off the beautiful layers of the drink.
♡ Did you love this Buena Vista Irish Coffee? Please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how things went in the ✍ comments below. Thanks for visiting!
📖 Recipe
Buena Vista Irish Coffee
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Equipment
- Irish Coffee Glasses or Clear Mugs
Ingredients
- 2 Sugar Cubes
- 3 ½ Ounces Hot Black Coffee
- 1 ⅓ Ounces Irish Whiskey
- 1 Ounce Heavy Cream, Whipped to Ribbon Stage
Instructions
- Add Sugar Cubes. Add two sugar cubes to a twice scalded glass.2 Sugar Cubes
- Pour Hot Black Coffee. Pour hot black coffee over the sugar cubes and stir with a spoon.3 ½ Ounces Hot Black Coffee
- Add Irish Whiskey. Add Irish whiskey into the hot coffee.1 ⅓ Ounces Irish Whiskey
- Top with Heavy Cream. Pour heavy cream over the back of a spoon onto the surface of the coffee. Serve and Enjoy!1 Ounce Heavy Cream
Notes
Nutrition
Per 1 serving. All nutritional information on this site is an estimate. Your results may vary.
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