Baileys Coffee: An Easy Recipe For Comfort In A Cup
Any coffee lover who fancies sipping on Baileys at a restaurant as an after-dinner treat will love this Baileys Irish Cream coffee recipe. While a Baileys and coffee recipe can be as simple as just putting Baileys in hot coffee, we’ve opted to class it up with whipped cream topping and a sweet, syrupy garnish of your choosing.
Read on for coffee and Baileys, an easy recipe for comfort in a cup.
Baileys Coffee Ingredients
- 1 cup of hot coffee
- 3 tbsp of Baileys Irish Cream liqueur
- Sweetened store-bought or homemade whipped cream, for topping
- Brown sugar, cinnamon, chocolate shavings, nutmeg, or syrup drizzle to garnish
At A Glance
Time:
10 minutes
Yield:
One drink (355 ml)
Other Notes
- You may wonder how much Baileys in coffee to add. Keep in mind Baileys Original Irish Cream has a 17% alcohol content. We recommend 3 tbsp, which is 45 ml, or one standard shot size. However, feel free to use less for a milder coffee Baileys cocktail – or more if you had a particularly rough day at the office.
- Baileys has a dairy-free, vegan-friendly version of its Baileys Original Irish Cream known as Baileys Almande. It has an almond and soy base and a 13% alcohol content. The almond-vanilla flavour infusion adds a rich nuttiness to cocktails while also meeting dietary restrictions (1).
- The type of coffee and brewing method you use will influence the taste of the drink. You’ll get a more classic bitter robustness from a darker roast used in a French Press versus a lighter, crisper quality from a medium roast brewed with a Chemex.
- For a proper post-dinner treat, opt for a nice decaf for a more restful evening and sleep.
How To Make Baileys Coffee
Making a Baileys in coffee recipe is a simplified version of how to make an Irish coffee. We’ll show you how to make a Baileys Irish Cream and coffee in four steps and a few ingredients. As with coffee and Kahlua, you only need liquor, hot coffee, whipped cream, and a garnish. Is Baileys good in coffee? Follow along to find out!
1. Prepare The Brew
Prepping the hot coffee is the first step to our Baileys Irish Cream coffee.
Make a 240 ml hot coffee using a French Press, Aeropress, Moka Pot, Pour Over, or your favourite coffee maker. Freshly grind your whole coffee beans with a quality burr grinder right before use for the best flavour.
The standard ratio for brewing coffee is 14 g coffee for a 240-ml brew. If you want your hot coffee to be stronger, use a higher ratio of coffee to water for a caffeinated kick more akin to an espresso.
Pro Tip: If you want to make a Baileys latte instead of a Baileys Irish Cream in coffee, you’ll need an espresso machine to pull one to two shots of espresso. Then use a steam wand or milk frother to heat ½ cup of milk, 3 tbsp of Baileys, and the same toppings as you’d use in a Baileys coffee. The best milk to froth is 2%, which is compatible with all frothers.
2. Combine Baileys and Hot Coffee
Preheat your favourite coffee mug. Pour the 45-ml shot of Baileys into the mug as the coffee is brewing. Once the brewed coffee is ready, add it to the mug and swirl it to blend the flavours.
Pro Tip: If you want a sweeter coffee, mix 1 to 2 tsps of brown sugar or 1 tbsp of a flavoured syrup like chocolate or vanilla while adding your coffee. Baileys is already pretty sweet, but the richness of a splash of chocolate sauce, for example, is unparalleled.
3. Add Sweetened Whipped Cream
Spoon a few good dollops of sweetened whipped cream to the top of your drink. Whipped coconut cream is an excellent substitute if you’re making a vegan version of this drink
Pro Tip: To make sweetened homemade whipped cream, you need 1 cup of cream, 1 tbsp of sugar, and 1 tsp of vanilla extract. Use an electric mixer, or a hand mixer, to whisk the cream. Add the sugar and vanilla as it thickens, and beat it without overbeating until it gets firm peaks (2).
4. Serve Immediately With Garnishes And Enjoy!
Add a sprinkling of brown sugar, powdered sugar, cinnamon, or cocoa for an absolutely divine presentation. Or drizzle on some chocolate syrup or maple syrup in a zigzag pattern over the whipped cream. We recommend using some chocolate bits for the piece de resistance. Sip and enjoy!
Pro Tip: The perfect way to enjoy delicious Irish coffee is to serve it in an Irish coffee mug. It feels authentic and fancy to drink from, and if it happens to clear glass, it’ll show how all the layers settle nicely.
Check out our list of coffee cocktail recipes to try more fun creations with spirits. We recommend a White Russian with coffee for vodka lovers.
Final Thoughts
Bailey’s Irish Cream coffee is the best combination of Irish whiskey and hot brewed coffee. With just four ingredients and four steps, you’ll transform a regular coffee into pure, delicious comfort in a cup. Serve Baileys coffee as a delightful treat for you, your friends, family, or guests, but consider opting for decaf if it’s late in the day.
FAQs
Yes, Baileys does curdle in coffee if the coffee is too hot. Make sure you wait a bit after your water has boiled before prepping the coffee and again before combining it with the Baileys. You’ll know your Baileys Irish whiskey has spoiled if it turns brown and develops an odd texture (3).
No, Baileys doesn’t need to be refrigerated after opening, but drinks with Baileys and coffee taste better if the Baileys is kept cold. Cream liqueur manufacturers suggest storing Baileys in a cool place between 0 to 25˚ Celsius, even though the alcohol has preservational properties.
A bottle of Baileys lasts for at least six months once opened, but it can be kept for up to a year when stored properly. Keep it out of direct sunlight and high heat to prolong its life. But with this recipe, we doubt you’ll have any trouble finishing the bottle.
References
- Baileys. (n.d.). Baileys Almande. Retrieved March 6, 2023, from https://www.baileys.com/en-ca/products/baileys-almande
- Garten, I. (n.d.). Sweetened Whipped Cream. Retrieved March 6, 2023, from https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/sweetened-whipped-cream-recipe-2108615
- LCBO. (n.d.). Shelf Life & Storage of Cream Liqueurs – General Knowledge. Retrieved March 6, 2023, from https://hellolcbo.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/1563/~/shelf-life-%26-storage-of-cream-liqueurs—general-knowledge
