What Irish Coffee Has to Do with Airport Delays

The Editors, 18.03.2026

Irish coffee is far more than just coffee with a splash of alcohol. Its origin story shows how a simple improvised drink can quickly turn into a timeless classic.

What Italians often order as caffè corretto – an espresso “corrected” with a small shot of alcohol, usually grappa – has its own counterpart in Ireland: Irish coffee. But where does this beloved coffee cocktail actually come from?