Howard Test Kitchen: Irish Coffee
By: Jayne Ann Bugda
Updated: March 14, 2013
HR: With St. Patrick's Day right around the corner, we have been getting lots of emails and Facebook requests asking us if we know how to make the perfect Irish coffee. Well, we do. And as a matter of fact, a few years ago, Mr. Food and our crew went to Ireland, and we had the best time ever. What a country. And one of the highlights while we were there was visiting Foynes Flying Boat Museum. It's the birthplace of Irish coffee. So instead of me telling you how to make it, I figured I would call on my good friend Margaret O'Shaughnessy, so she could tell you first hand.
MO: Hi Howard. Great seeing you again.
HR: Miss you guys. So tell everyone the story like you told us.
MO: Well Howard, 70 years ago Chef Joe Sheridan invented Irish coffee here in Foynes for some cold, miserable passengers coming off a transatlantic flying boat. This is how he did it. He heated a glass, just to keep the drink warm. Next, some good brewed coffee half ways up the glass. Then you get one spoon of brown sugar. And then the secret ingredient: good Powers Irish whiskey, and be generous with your measure. And a good stir so that the sugar dissolves. Finally, some nicely whipped cream over the back of a spoon to stop it from sinking. And then, you sip the hot liquid through the cold cream. Slinte.
HR: That looks amazing! And when you sip this flavorful hot coffee through the cool cream, get ready for a dose of pure Irish comfort. The recipe for "Traditional Irish Coffee" is online now, along with our recipe for "Leprechaun Bites" so you can relax with two warm-ya-up favorites. Margaret, thank you and happy St. Paddy's Day. Do you remember what Mr. Food said when he took his first sip?
MO: I do indeed, Howard ... "OOH IT'S SO GOOD!!"
MO: Hi Howard. Great seeing you again.
HR: Miss you guys. So tell everyone the story like you told us.
MO: Well Howard, 70 years ago Chef Joe Sheridan invented Irish coffee here in Foynes for some cold, miserable passengers coming off a transatlantic flying boat. This is how he did it. He heated a glass, just to keep the drink warm. Next, some good brewed coffee half ways up the glass. Then you get one spoon of brown sugar. And then the secret ingredient: good Powers Irish whiskey, and be generous with your measure. And a good stir so that the sugar dissolves. Finally, some nicely whipped cream over the back of a spoon to stop it from sinking. And then, you sip the hot liquid through the cold cream. Slinte.
HR: That looks amazing! And when you sip this flavorful hot coffee through the cool cream, get ready for a dose of pure Irish comfort. The recipe for "Traditional Irish Coffee" is online now, along with our recipe for "Leprechaun Bites" so you can relax with two warm-ya-up favorites. Margaret, thank you and happy St. Paddy's Day. Do you remember what Mr. Food said when he took his first sip?
MO: I do indeed, Howard ... "OOH IT'S SO GOOD!!"
