Tricky Stuff: Irish Coffee
Shannon Airport photo from oldukphoto.com
pub in Cobh Ireland
Ireland
The original Irish coffee recipe was invented by a chef at Foynes’ port, in the 1940′s. Planes traveling from Europe to America refueled before crossing the Atlantic Ocean at Foynes’ port, a predecessor of Shannon International Airport. Joseph Sheridan, the chef in question, sought to keep passengers warm as their planes were being refuelled. The Irish coffee was conceived after a group of American passengers disembarked from a flight on a bitterly cold winter’s evening. Sheridan added whiskey to the coffee to warm the passengers. For obvious reasons, the passengers enjoying the taste, and inquired if they had tasted Brazilian coffee. Sheridan told them it was Irish coffee, and with a bit of tweaking Irish coffee was born.
San Francisco connection
Was this where it all began?
Stanton Delaplane, a travel writer for the San Francisco Chronicle, brought Irish coffee to the United States after drinking it at Shannon Airport. He worked with the Buena Vista Café in San Francisco to start serving this eye opening drink, and worked with the bar owners to recreate the Irish method for floating the cream on top of the coffee, sampling the drink until he nearly passed out. Now that’s dedication, and the San Francisco Chronical claims:
November is a great month for anniversaries, but don’t forget Nov. 10, 1952, when The Chronicle made one of its greatest contributions to American culture….the day Chronicle columnist Stanton Delaplane brought Irish coffee to America.
But before it was released to the deserving citizens of San Francisco, the team, sensing they were missing a key component to successfully replicate the Irish drink, sought assistance from the city’s then mayor, George Christopher, who owned a dairy. He suggested that cream aged at least 48 hours would be likely to float, and it did. Delaplane popularized the drink by frequently mentioning it in his travel column, which was widely read across America.
I found this recipe on Jamie Oliver’s website, and modified it slightly. Note, the comments after the title point to the confusion around this drink.
If you are not in Ireland or near the Buena Vista in San Francisco, this recipe will have to do; not a big hardship to be sure. However, if you make it to San Francisco, even though its considered touristy, there is something special about stopping by the Buena Vista on a foggy day and enjoying an Irish Coffee.
Buena Vista of San Francisco Authentic Irish Coffee
“The world-famous Buena Vista, on Fisherman’s Wharf in San Francisco, pioneered Irish Coffee in 1952. It took them many months to perfect this recipe, which is still being used today.”
photo from grupcapresso.jur.com
Ingredients (per serving):
3-5 oz. coffee made to taste
1 oz. Irish Whisky (Jameson’s or like)
1-2 tsp. sugar
1 oz. heavy cream
6-8 oz coffee mug or glass mug with handle
Hot water to warm mug.
Directions
Add hot water to mug and warm. In a bowl, whip or froth the cream lightly with a whip or eggbeater; it should still be pourable. Drain water from the mug, and replace with coffee and sugar. Stir to dissolve sugar. Add Irish whisky and stir. Hold a spoon upside down over top of mug. Slowly pour cream over inverted spoon, allowing it to float onto top of the coffee. Do not stir — sip the drink through the cream. Slàinte!
Ireland
I thought this post was a good segue to inform you I am off to Ireland and look forward to tasting an authentic Irish coffee, hopefully not because I need to ward off the cold. I’m very excited about this trip. My mom and I are traveling together to explore the land of our distant relatives. We’re traveling relatively free and easy, I let mom pick the destinations and we’re off to start exploring.
Have a great time exploring Ireland! See you next month!
Lucky lucky lucky. If only to be there…
No matter where it was invented, I love irish coffee.
Sounds like you’ll have a great travel! Wish you a wonderful vacation with lots of food and drink discovries. Looking forward to hear your reviews.
I wanted it to be Irish! Glad it is! Can you imagine how much more civilized things would be these days if the pilots did indeed make Irish coffees for the travelers stuck on tarmacs for hours?
Looking forward to hear about your trip
Yay for Irish coffee!
Irish coffee is usually my answer when asked what my favorite drink is. I was literally shocked to read that the origin of Irish coffee was even a topic of debate. I had no idea. I actually had it from the source during a layover in the Shannon airport on my first visit to Ireland and had no idea how important that location was!
I’ve ordered Irish coffee in the US from time to time, but it never compares to what I’ve had in Ireland. Perhaps I should make a trip to the cafe in SF. As much of a tourist destination as it may be, I had a fantastic one at the Jameson factory. For me, Jameson specifically is an essential component.
Have an awesome trip!!
Would you believe that I also did not know that there was any debate as to the origins of Irish coffee? Very fine stuff it is, regardless of where it was invented
Safe travels and hopefully see you over here soon!
Hope you are having an awesome time in Ireland! Unfortunatly I didn’t bring back any Jameson whiskey from Dublin but hubby did manage to buy some Sheridan’s coffee layered liqueur!
You know Buena Vista is very close to another place I had to frequent! The irish coffee there is so good, but I always wondered if they really invented it. Sorry, I’ve been computer silent for a bit – how was the trip to Ireland?
Thanks for all the well wishes – we had a fantastic time, and I learned a bit about Irish cooking and its food. I also threw my rules about cookbooks out the window and brought back several so I could explore Irish food at my leisure.
Claudia – I think they should mandate Irish Coffee in the airline travelers bill of rights – so much more civilized.
Lori/Spud – maybe its not widely contested but it seems to come up here in SF from time to time with various bars claiming creation.
Phylis – that Jameson is good stuff – we tried to bring back some Baileys too, but the airlines had different ideas – smashed our bottles.
Gastro – The trip was awesome – hope classes are going well. Got a fantastic book that may be from your one of your instructors on food policy – read it on the flight back.
Irish coffee – such a delicious treat. And how lucky to be on your way to Ireland where you can get the authentic kind. Have a wonderful trip!
I remember seeing the Buena Vista on my last trip up to SF. I didn’t go though, but I heard about the coffee. I gotta hit up that place the I go back.
That’s really neat how they make it. I love it. Plus, it seems pretty easy and quick to make, too. I also love how it’s not served in a coffee mugs.
i love to eat and drink exotic foods and delicacies from all over the world.-;-