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The first time I made a St. Patrick’s Day coffee at home, I wanted something more playful than my usual morning cup.
Mint, cream, and whiskey all change the drink in different ways, so the holiday gives me a reason to try combinations I would usually skip.
This guide rounds up St. Patrick’s Day coffees, from classic Irish coffee to greener, colder options, if you want a few festive ideas.
8 St. Patrick's Day coffee drinks (Delicious recipes you should try)
St. Patrick’s Day is a good excuse to lean into Irish coffee.
Baileys Irish cream liqueur, Irish whiskey, espresso, milk, whipped cream, and even ice cream can all show up in these drinks, which is why the hot and iced versions feel a bit more playful than a standard coffee order.
We’ve put together a list of the best St. Patrick’s Day coffees around. Some will be familiar, some less so, but each one gives you a different way to celebrate.
1. Classic Irish Coffee
I always think of Irish coffee as the drink that looks simple until you taste it. The espresso, whiskey, sugar, and cream come together as something much richer than a regular after-dinner coffee.
The story is usually traced to an Irish chef serving American tourists in the 20th century, although the details shift depending on the version you read. What matters now is that you can order an Irish coffee year-round from most restaurants.
A classic Irish coffee starts with espresso mixed with 1 tablespoon of brown sugar. Then 60ml of Irish whiskey is added, before the drink is topped with cold heavy cream.
You can also add chocolate chips if you want to turn it into a more obvious St. Patrick’s Day treat.
A serving is often estimated at around 200 calories and 100mg of caffeine, though that changes with the pour. The whiskey also adds alcohol, so it is not really an everyday drink.
It is definitely not one for kids, but it is the kind of Irish classic I still make at least once on St. Patrick’s Day.
2. Iced Mint Latte
The first time I tried mint with coffee, I expected it to taste like a novelty drink. Instead, the mint made the iced coffee feel cooler and a bit cleaner without hiding the coffee entirely.
It has the refreshing note of mint with the energy boost of coffee, so it works well when I want something cold and lighter than a cream-based drink.
You need a mint syrup for the iced mint latte.
That part is straightforward: heat water and sugar together until the sugar dissolves, then add fresh mint. I like when the syrup smells strongly of mint before it ever hits the coffee.
Make the espresso, add the milk, and pour it over ice. Then stir in the mint syrup so the sweetness spreads through the drink instead of sitting in one corner of the glass.
There are about 120 calories and 100mg of caffeine in a single serving of this iced coffee, though that can vary. It is a solid mid-day St. Patrick’s Day pick-me-up without feeling heavy.
It also gives you the holiday theme without alcohol, which makes it easy to serve any time of day.
3. Creamy Pistachio Iced Coffee
If you like sweet iced coffees, this St. Patrick’s Day Irish coffee alternative is the one that feels most like dessert to me. The pistachio and Bailey’s make it much richer than the mint drinks above.
It is sugary, boozy, and nutty, with a nice caffeine hit underneath. That combination makes it feel more like a treat than an everyday coffee, which is part of the appeal.
To make the creamy pistachio iced coffee, mix fresh coffee with milk and pour it over ice. Add 2 scoops of pistachio ice cream, then pour in 2 shots of Bailey’s Irish cream liqueur.
Finish with whipped cream on top, and if you want it to look a little more festive, add sparkling green sprinkles made from sugar.
I sometimes add chocolate chips or crushed pecans for a little extra texture, but the drink already leans sweet and creamy, so it depends on how far you want to push it.
This iced coffee is not a light drink. Depending on the toppings, it can come in at about 350 calories, with 100mg of caffeine and 3 units of alcohol from the Bailey’s Irish cream or creme de menthe.
It is sweet and creamy, and the Bailey’s makes it clearly an adult drink.
4. Baileys Irish Affogato
An affogato is an Italian coffee drink that already feels halfway between coffee and dessert.
When you add Baileys Irish cream, it becomes even softer and richer, and the whole thing starts to feel like an indulgent St. Patrick’s Day version of a dessert coffee.
I usually treat this as an evening drink, and it is definitely not one for kids.
To make a Baileys Irish cream affogato, pull a fresh espresso, add 2 scoops of vanilla ice cream and 1 ounce of Baileys Irish cream, then pour the coffee over the top.
The best part is the first few seconds, when the hot espresso starts melting into the ice cream and the top turns into a creamy puddle. A little whipped cream works, but with ice cream already in the glass, too much on top can feel heavy.
There are about 350 calories, 100mg of caffeine, and 2 units of alcohol from the Irish cream in an Irish affogato. It is a proper decadent treat for the end of St. Patrick’s Day.
5. St. Patrick’s Day Coffee Smoothie
St. Patrick’s Day does not have to be all rich drinks and sugar. Every so often, I like making something that still feels green and festive but is a little lighter to start the day.
This smoothie has the bold green colour associated with St. Patrick’s Day, and it is a good choice if you want something healthy that is not another iced coffee.
To make it, blend a frozen banana, almond milk, a spoonful of almond butter, 2 dates, and a handful of spinach.
Then pour in concentrated cold brew coffee, or make your own by steeping coffee grounds in cold water for 18 to 24 hours, and blend again.
When the balance is right, the banana and dates keep it smooth while the cold brew stops it from turning into a plain green smoothie with coffee added in.
The St. Patrick’s Day coffee smoothie has about 180 calories and 200mg of caffeine in a serving. The cold brew does most of the lifting here, so it still tastes coffee-forward.
6. Minty Cold Brew
Mint and coffee work better together than I expected. The mint cuts through the bitterness enough that the drink stays easy to sip, even when the coffee base is strong.
By mixing the flavours, you end up with a high-caffeine morning drink that still feels fresh rather than heavy.
To make this minty cold brew coffee, add coffee grounds to cold water and let it steep for 18 to 24 hours.
Cold brew usually pulls out a lot of coffee flavour without the sharper edge you get from hot brewing, which is why it can taste so strong even when it is served cold.
After brewing, filter out the grounds and pour the cold brew into a clean glass.
Next, make the mint syrup by mixing hot water, sugar, and fresh mint. Keep it on the heat until the sugar has dissolved and the syrup begins to thicken slightly.
Finally, pour the cold brew over ice, add milk, and stir in the syrup. The mint softens the edges, but the drink still comes through as sweet and fairly punchy.
A single serving has about 100 calories and 200mg of caffeine, so it is one of the stronger iced coffee options on the list.
7. Blarney Kissed Coffee
This is the St. Patrick’s Day coffee for anyone who likes things sweet and a little boozy. It reminds me more of an Irish cream mocha than a classic Irish coffee.
It is rich and creamy, with enough green on top to make it feel on theme, and it is especially comforting on a cold March day.
To make Blarney Kissed Coffee, start by pouring a double shot of Irish whiskey into a glass.
Add 1 spoonful of spiced brown sugar, 1 shot of Bailey’s Irish cream, and an ounce of milk, then pour in freshly brewed espresso.
Mix it all together, then top with whipped cream and green sprinkles. I always whip the cream until it holds its shape, because under-whipped cream tends to disappear into the coffee too fast.
The Blarney Kissed coffee has about 300 calories and 100mg of caffeine, though the calorie count will rise if you add more whipped cream.
This Irish cream mocha also has about 4 units of alcohol from the Irish cream or creme de menthe, so it is best treated as a special-occasion drink.
8. Matcha Green Cocktail
We are finishing with something a bit different. It is not technically coffee, but the matcha green tea still gives it enough caffeine to fit the holiday mood.
It is definitely an alcoholic drink, so I would keep it to one of those slow, occasional St. Patrick’s Day pours.
It is made by mixing matcha green tea powder, concentrated mint syrup, honey, fresh lime juice, and a double shot of gin.
The flavour ends up somewhere between a fruity mojito and a green tea cocktail, and the 50mg of caffeine from the matcha gives it a little extra lift. Serve it over ice and it feels bright rather than heavy.
There is no Bailey’s Irish cream or creme de menthe here, but you will still get about 3 units from the gin, so it is worth drinking responsibly.
How to make St Patrick's Day coffee drinks at home?
Coffee shops usually bring out specialty drinks during the holiday season, and some chains do offer St. Patrick’s Day coffees.
The catch is that most cafés do not have a licence to sell alcohol, so the boozy versions are usually easier to make at home.
That is usually why I make them at home. I can dial in the sweetness, the strength, and how obvious the Irish flavour tastes.
A few things make St. Patrick’s Day coffee drinks work better at home:
Don’t be intimidated
There is nothing too technical about most St. Patrick’s Day coffee recipes, but there is usually some mixing involved. That is part of why they are easy to adapt once you know what each ingredient is doing.
You can use cold brew, whipped cream, caramel syrup, ice cream, or any other add-in that suits the drink. I usually think of these recipes as a chance to make coffee taste a little more like dessert.
Some versions need a blender if you are using fresh ingredients, but most of the time you are just stirring liquids together. That makes it easy to move away from the classic Irish coffee and try a colder or sweeter version instead.
Use the right coffee
I keep coming back to espresso for these recipes because the coffee flavour stays clearer once cream or syrup goes in.
Instant coffee tends to get lost once you add cream, syrup, or ice, and even whipped cream cannot really hide how flat it tastes once everything is mixed together.
Espresso is easy to use hot or cold, which makes it a practical caffeine base for Irish-style drinks.
If you want something stronger, cold brew or cold brew concentrate is worth a look. It is made with cold water and left to steep for 18 to 24 hours.
The resulting coffee usually tastes stronger and smoother, which is why people often use it when they want a bigger caffeine hit.
You can substitute cold brew for espresso in most cold coffee options, just make sure it does not overpower the other flavours.
Add alcohol
Not everyone drinks alcohol, and St. Patrick’s Day does not need to revolve around it.
In coffee, the alcohol usually adds flavour instead of competing with it.
I usually reach for Irish whiskey, Bailey’s Irish cream, or creme de menthe, then stop there and keep the rest of the drink simple. Whatever you use, drink responsibly.
Make it green
Fresh ingredients help more than I expected, especially with flavour and colour.
Fresh mint works well in both hot and iced coffee, and green sprinkles or green colouring can make a whipped-cream topping feel more festive.
Chocolate and caramel syrup are common in coffee drinks, but minty green syrups fit these recipes just as easily, so they do not need any special treatment.
FAQs
What is Beto O’Rourke St Patrick’s day coffee?
Beto O’Rourke was an American presidential candidate, and one claim that gets repeated about his campaign is that he said he would start St. Patrick’s Day with a pint of beer and skip coffee altogether.
Does Starbucks do anything for St Patrick’s Day?
Starbucks does not offer an Irish coffee, but it does offer a Shamrock Tea, which is an iced green tea latte made with coconut milk. On the right day, it is bright green enough to feel on theme.
How do you order St. Patrick’s Day coffee?
To order a Shamrock Tea from Starbucks, ask for a venti iced green tea latte made with coconut milk. A little extra sugar helps it taste smoother.
How much does the St. Patrick’s Day coffee cost?
A St. Patrick’s Day coffee will usually cost $2 to $3, depending on what you order. A Venti Starbucks Shamrock Tea is often around $3, although prices can change.
Cold coffee or iced coffee versions can cost a bit more when they use cold brew, since the concentrate is usually pricier.
Conclusion
St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated around the world, and it is a good excuse to have some fun with coffee and try something new.
Mixing things up with a few new coffee drinks is a simple way to start the day, and hopefully this list has given you a few hot and iced options worth making for yourself.
