Does Irish Coffee Have Any Health Benefits? (Yes, a few…)

My wife thinks I drink too much Irish Coffee (as if that’s even possible…).

Trying to come up with an argument as to why that couldn’t possibly be true sent me down a rabbit hole of research.

We all know that Irish Coffee is delicious but is there another reason that it has persisted for hundreds of years? Could Irish Coffee have any health benefits if I drink it regularly? (meaning daily…)

Well, it turns out that it has a few.

Irish coffee was invented in the 1930s by Joe Sheridan in Foynes, County Limerick. It became popular during World War II when it was served at Shannon Airport to passengers on transatlantic flights. He mixed some whiskey with hot coffee and sugar to warm them up before they got on the boat to America. The passengers loved it so much that he started making it for all the passengers who were coming through Foynes airport.

And every one that drank it lived forever which is why Shanon Airport is now known as the fountain of youth. Not really. But the first part is true!

The Health Benefits Of Irish Coffee

Irish coffee is a hot, sweet, and caffeinated beverage that is served all over the world. It’s a drink that has many variations but the most popular version of it is made with coffee, cream, sugar, and whiskey.

The drink has been touted for its health benefits as it contains caffeine and antioxidants. It also has a low glycemic index which can help regulate blood sugar levels. The drink is part of a “wellness trend” that includes blends of tea, coffee, and fruit juice.

We all know that drinking a hot Irish coffee is the best way to start your day. It’s not only delicious, but it also has a lot of benefits for your health. 

• Hot Irish coffee can help you lose weight: Studies have shown that drinking a cup of this beverage before breakfast can boost metabolism and suppress appetite for up to 24 hours. 
• Hot Irish coffee can make you feel energetic: Caffeine in this drink increases the production of serotonin, which is responsible for regulating mood and energy levels. 
• Hot Irish coffee can help you sleep better: Drinking this beverage before bedtime will make you sleep faster and longer. 
• Hot Irish coffee can reduce the risk of heart disease: Coffee itself contains antioxidants that protect against cardiovascular diseases. This also applies to Irish coffee. Irish coffee can reduce the risk of heart disease: The whiskey component of Irish coffee provides a good source of antioxidants that protect against cardiovascular diseases. 
• Hot Irish coffee can reduce your risk of diabetes: Drinking this beverage before breakfast will significantly improve insulin sensitivity.
• Hot Irish coffee can be a good source of iron: This drink is made with black coffee, which is rich in iron that is beneficial for people suffering from anemia.

How Do You Serve Irish Coffee?

Irish Coffee can be served with or without cream and can also be topped with a dusting of cinnamon. Irish Coffee is typically served in a mug, but it can also be served in a glass. The drink should not be too sweet because the whiskey will overpower the sweetness.

How Many Calories Are In Irish Coffee?

There are many variations of traditional Irish coffee. Some recipes call for more coffee, some use less sugar, and some use more cream. There are also different types of whiskey that can be used as base liquor. All of these factors will affect the calorie content of Irish coffee.

The average Irish coffee has about 180 calories per serving with a shot of whiskey, but this can vary depending on how it is prepared. That’s about 4% of your daily caloric intake.

Does Irish Coffee Make You Drunk?

This is a question that has been asked by many people, including those who are not Irish. The answer is that it depends on a person’s tolerance to alcohol. Some people are more sensitive to alcohol than others and might be drunk after one glass of wine. For others, it may take two or three glasses of wine before they start feeling the effect of the alcohol.

How to Make a Perfect Irish Coffee?

Here is a pretty detailed step-by-step recipe for how to make the perfect Irish coffee. The recipe is not that complicated, so let’s get into it.

Ingredients: 

• 2 cups of cold coffee
• 1 cup Irish cream (Bailey’s)
• 1 shot of espresso or 1/2 cup of strong coffee
• White sugar to taste or Brown sugar to taste
• 1 shot of Irish whiskey

Directions:

• Step 1: Pour the coffee into a heatproof mug.
• Step 2: Heat the contents of a second mug in the microwave for 20 seconds. The steam will melt the sugar, so when you pour it into your first mug, it will create that creamy texture.
• Step 3: Stir in the cream and then add sugar and stir again.
• Step 4: Finally, pour in the shot of Irish whiskey and take a sip!
• Step 5: Enjoy your perfect Irish coffee!

What is the History of Irish Coffee?

As with all types of drinks (and coffee itself) the history of Irish Coffee is a bit obscure.

However, here’s the story as well as I could piece it together.

The history of Irish coffee is not as clear as some other beverages because there are no records to tell us exactly when it was invented. However, we do know that it was first served in 1943 in San Francisco by Joe Sheridan who had just returned from Ireland after World War II. He was a chef at the airport’s restaurant. One story goes that he combined the ingredients of hot coffee and whiskey to help sober up some pilots and passengers who had been drinking too much during a layover.

Other sources say that Joe Sheridan’s wife asked him for something to keep her awake during her long shifts as a nurse at night. He mixed her whiskey with hot black coffee and sugar and served it to her in a glass with whipped cream on top.

Irish coffee became famous when the President of Ireland, Éamon de Valera, visited the United States in 1945. He was served Irish coffee at Shannon Airport and loved it. He then asked for it everywhere he went in America and Irish coffee became a popular drink in the U.S.

Conclusion

At the end of the day, the health benefits of Irish Coffee are simply due to the fact that it contains coffee. Coffee comes with a host of health benefits and Irish Coffee does not really benefit from having all of the added sugar, cream, and alcohol.

However, given the fact that there are some health benefits, I’ll take it as permission to drink up and you should too! Enjoy!