How to Make Irish Coffee Like The Buena Vista

An SF classic.

The Buena freakinggg Vista Irish Coffee. They were the ones that literally made the Irish Coffee famous. BV is a favorite of mine, families, and friends. It’s a strange place where locals and tourists somehow mesh together in the almost unvisitable Fishermans Wharf area.

The Irish Coffees at BV is so good and warms your soul instantly on those cold days that Karl is in full force over the bay. Also, if you are in a rush, you can actually get one to go (local secret). The Irish Coffee is simple, but complex. However, very doable if you follow the right steps. Some of the bartenders have worked at BV for over 40+ years perfecting this craft. What takes an amateurs Irish coffee and puts it over the edge into perfection comes down to getting the cream right (we will discuss in step 4). They use a milk shake frother there, but I have an easy way to do it at home.

Anyways, let’s get this classic going. Ingredients needed are:

• (1) 6oz Irish Coffee glass, they are pretty specific but you can get away with a smaller size glass if you do not have these. Can buy these at the Buena Vista Gift Shop or on Amazon. Best to just go to the gift shop.
• ~3.5oz Black coffee – BV uses a regular coffee pot, basically as simple as you can get.
• 2 Sugar cubes – equivalent to 2 tsp – or slightly less to make it less sweet
• ~1.5+oz Irish whiskey – BV uses Tullamore Dew (as do I), but an Irish whiskey should do the trick. I usually make mine on the stronger side.
• Cold heavy whipping cream – the trick is make it thick enough so it sits right on top

Step 1 – Pour hot water into the glass while you prep the coffee.

Step 2 – Once your coffee is ready, dump the hot water, add the two sugar cubes, and pour in 3.5oz of coffee. Once the coffee is in, use a spoon vigorously mix the sugar and coffee together

Step 3 – Add in 1.5oz of whiskey. At BV they don’t actually measure things out, so after you make a few and you watch the bartenders for a while, it’s more of an approximation.

Step 4 – Add the heavy whipping cream to top it off. At BV, they use the milk shake frother. But honestly, I just use a cocktail shaker (or when I lived in a tiny studio apartment, two glasses stuck together), literally any glass that happens to close and you can shake for about 25-30 seconds. After, pour onto a spoon to the top of the glass.

Seriously, perfection in a glass. Enjoy with friends, family, or solo. It’s that good. Don’t agree? Leave a comment below and let me know what you like better and how to make it!

Ratings –

• Difficulty of ingredients – 2/5 stars – You might have everything at home
• Perceived difficulty of recipe – 2/5 stars – Some technique
• Difficulty after recipe – 1/5 stars – After you make a few, you are a pro and can whip these out in a few seconds!
• Time taken – 1/5 stars – less than 30 minutes, more like 5 minutes
• Taste – 5/5 stars – not much else to say here except you gotta make these!
• Make again – 5/5 stars – yes, and I have many times. It’s a staple in the family