St. Patrick’s Day is one of the most fun holidays of the year. It's all about dressing up, causing mischief, and generally letting your hair down.
Of course, coffee is a part of most people's daily routines, but there's no reason you shouldn't mix it up during your celebrations.
This guide will introduce the best St. Patrick’s Day coffees so you can try something new and kick off the holiday the right way.
8 St. Patrick's Day Coffee Drinks (Delicious Recipes You Should Try)
St. Patrick’s Day is all about celebrating Irish culture, and Irish coffee. Thankfully, the Irish know how to make an interesting coffee, using Baileys Irish cream liqueur, Irish whiskey, espresso, milk, whipped cream, and even ice cream to create some wondering hot and iced coffee options.
We’ve compiled a list of the best St. Patrick’s Day coffees around. Some you’ll know, some you won’t, but you really need to give them all a go!
1. Classic Irish Coffee
Let's start with a classic, the Irish coffee. This rich and boozy coffee is perfect at any time of day and will warm you right through.
The original Irish coffee is rumoured to have been created by an Irish chef as a welcome drink to American tourists in the 20th Century, but it's now hugely popular, and you can order an Irish coffee year-round from most restaurants.
A classic Irish coffee has an espresso base mixed with 1 tablespoon of brown sugar. Next, 60ml of Irish whiskey is poured in, and it's all topped with cold heavy cream. You can also add chocolate chips if you want to make it a really happy St. Patrick's day treat.
There are usually about 200 calories and 100mg of caffeine in a serving, but bear in mind there are also about 3 units of alcohol from the Irish whiskey in each Irish coffee. It's definitely not one for the kids, but it's an Irish classic; it would be rude not to try it on St. Patrick’s Day.
2. Iced Mint Latte
This mixture of mint and coffee might not feel like an Irish drink, but the green mint makes it a great iced coffee option for St. Patrick's Day. It has the refreshing notes of mint with the energy boost of coffee, and it's the perfect cooler on a hot day.
To make the iced mint latte, you'll need to make a mint syrup. This iced coffee recipe is pretty simple, and you’ll just need to put water and sugar in a pan over heat until the sugar has dissolved, and then add in fresh mint.
Then, you'll need to make an espresso, add in milk, and pour it over ice. Finally, bring it all together by pouring the mint syrup into the coffee and mixing it all.
There are about 120 calories and 100mg of caffeine in a single serving of this iced coffee, and we think this is a great mid-day St. Patrick’s Day pick me up. Plus, it's non alcoholic, so it can be enjoyed by everyone!
3. Creamy Pistachio Iced Coffee
If you enjoy sweet, iced coffees, then you should try this St. Patrick's Day Irish coffee alternative. It's sugary, boozy, and nutty, with a nice energy boost from the caffeine. This is a great morning or afternoon drink that will really get you into the holiday spirit.
To make the creamy pistachio iced coffee, you'll need to mix a fresh coffee with milk and pour it over ice. Add 2 scoops of pistachio ice cream, and pour in 2 shots of Bailey's Irish cream liqueur.
Finally, add whipped cream to the top, and if you want to make this iced coffee even more Irish, you can add sparkling green sprinkles made from sugar.
I sometimes add chocolate chips or crushed pecans to the iced coffee just to enhance the flavor, but it all comes down to personal taste.
This iced coffee tastes amazing, but it definitely isn’t a healthy drink and has about 350 calories (a lot of these from the whipped cream), 100mg of caffeine, and 3 units of alcohol from the Baileys Irish cream or creme de menthe in each serving.
It’s a sweet and creamy St. Patrick’s Day coffee, but remember that it isn’t suitable for kids.
4. Baileys Irish Affogato
An affogato is an Italian coffee drink that is basically a dessert version of an Irish coffee. It's made by mixing coffee and ice cream together, but the addition of Baileys Irish cream gives it a creamier, boozier, and more Irish taste that's perfect for St. Patrick's Day celebrations. This drink is best enjoyed as an evening treat and definitely isn't for kids.
To make a Baileys Irish cream affogato, you'll need to make an espresso. Take two scoops of vanilla ice cream, add 1 ounce of Baileys Irish cream, and then pour the fresh espresso on top.
This should create a gooey, half-liquid, half ice cream mess that tastes incredible. You can also add whipped cream on top, but this can be overkill with the ice cream already in there.
There are about 350 calories, 100mg of caffeine, and 2 units of alcohol from the Irish cream in an Irish affogato, and it's a tremendous decadent treat to round out your St. Patricks Day.
5. St. Patrick’s Day Coffee Smoothie
St. Patrick's Day might seem like one big party, but that doesn't mean you can't be slightly healthy. This smoothie has the bold green color associated with St. Patrick's Day, and if you want a healthy, non iced coffee option then this is a great choice.
To make it, you'll need to blend together a frozen banana, almond milk, a spoon full of almond butter, 2 dates, and a handful of spinach.
Then, pour in some concentrated cold brew coffee (or make your own by steeping coffee grounds in cold water for 18-24 hours), and mix it up. You should have a fresh but high caffeine Irish coffee drink that will set you up for the day.
The St. Patrick's Day coffee smoothie has about 180 calories and 200mg of caffeine in a serving (the cold brew really gives it a kick), and this is another non alcoholic option which makes for a great alternative to the classic Irish coffee.
6. Minty Cold Brew
Mint and coffee work together surprisingly well, and the sweet and refreshing mint in this Irish inspired coffee recipe helps make the extra strong coffee easier to drink.
By mixing the flavors, you end up with a high-caffeine morning drink which is the perfect way to kick off St. Patrick's Day.
To make this minty cold brew coffee, you'll need to add coffee grounds to cold water and let it steep for 18-24 hours. This cold brew coffee making technique releases a lot of coffee flavor but keeps more of the caffeine, which is what makes cold brew coffee so strong.
After brewing, you need to filter out the coffee grounds and pour the resulting cold brew into a new glass. Next, create a mint syrup by mixing hot water, sugar, and fresh mint. Keep it on the heat until the sugar has fully dissolved and it starts to thicken.
Finally, pour your cold brew coffee over ice, pour in milk, and add the syrup. The result is a very sweet and mellow Irish coffee that’s definitely going to perk you up.
A single serving of a minty cold brew coffee will have about 100 calories and 200mg of caffeine (the cold brew makes this iced coffee strong), so it’s a great iced coffee for those who want a big energy boost.
7. Blarney Kissed Coffee
This is the perfect St. Patrick's Day coffee for those who love it sweet and a little bit boozy - and it's a bit like an Irish cream mocha - or a sweeter Irish coffee.
It's rich and creamy to drink, with some Irish flavors and green on top to appropriately celebrate the day. It's simple to make and tastes really comforting on a cold March day.
To make Blarney Kissed Coffee, you'll need to 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, and then pour in a freshly brewed espresso. Mix it all together, and then top with whipped cream (keep whipping until you have stiff peaks), and green sprinkles.
The Blarney Kissed coffee has about 300 calories and 100mg of caffeine - though the calorie count will go up if you use more whipped cream.
This Irish cream mocha also has about 4 units of alcohol from the Irish cream or creme de menthe, so it'll make for a very happy St. Patrick's day.
8. Matcha Green Cocktail
We're rounding the list off with something a bit different, which technically isn't a coffee, but the matcha green tea does give it a caffeine boost. It's definitely an alcoholic drink, though, so enjoy it sparingly.
It's made by mixing matcha green tea powder, concentrated mint syrup, honey, fresh lime juice, and a double shot of gin.
It's like a slightly fruity mojito, and the 50mg of caffeine from the matcha tea will definitely perk you up. Mix it all over ice and enjoy.
There's no Bailey's Irish cream or creme de menthe, but you'll still get about 3 units from the gin - so drink responsibly.
How To Make St Patrick's Day Coffee Drinks At Home?
Coffee shops will usually put on specialty drinks during the holiday season, and some coffee chains do offer St. Patrick’s Day coffees.
The only issue we normally have is that they don’t have a license to sell alcohol, so you can’t get a boozy beverage without making it yourself. That’s why we prefer to make our own so we can customize the St. Patrick's day coffee recipes however we like.
Here are a few tips to make the best St. Patrick’s Day coffee drinks at home:
Don’t Be Intimidated
There's nothing too technical about St. Patrick's Day coffee recipes, but there's usually some mixing involved.
You can use exciting new ingredients like cold brew, indulgent additions like whipped cream, caramel syrup, or ice cream, or you can even switch it up to make it an iced coffee.
You may need a blender for some fresh ingredients, but usually it's just about stirring liquids together, so don't be afraid to ditch the classic Irish coffee and try something new.
Use The Right Coffee
You should really use an espresso in your St. Patrick's day coffee recipes. Instant coffee isn't going to have the same flavor, and when you start mixing it with other ingredients, it won't really work and even whipped cream won't hide the bland flavor.
Espressos are easy to make and can be served hot or cold (depending on whether you want a hot or iced coffee), making them the perfect caffeine base for your Irish drink.
If you want it a bit stronger, you should look for a cold brew coffee (or a cold brew concentrate). This cold coffee is made using cold water, where the grounds are left to steep for 18-24 hours.
The resulting cold coffee will have double the caffeine, and cold brew is perfect for those who need a bit of an energy boost. You can substitute cold brew for espresso in most cold coffee options, just make sure it doesn't over power the flavors.
Add Alcohol
Not everyone drinks, but St. Patrick’s Day is generally considered a day to indulge in an alcoholic tipple.
Adding alcohol to coffee works really well, and we think the best St. Patrick’s Day coffee recipes have a boozy quality. We find that Irish whiskey, Bailey’s Irish cream, or creme de menthe work best, but always remember to drink responsibly.
Make It Green
Using fresh ingredients will help you maximize the flavor and also help you change the coloring of the coffee. Using green ingredients is usually a good idea; fresh mint blends well with hot coffee or iced coffee, and we like to add green sprinkles or green coloring, especially when we're using whipped cream, to make it even more Irish.
Chocolate and caramel syrup are commonly used in coffee drinks, but green minty syrups work just as well - so don't be afraid to include them in your St. Patrick's day coffee recipes!
Common St Patrick's Day Coffee Drinks Questions
What is Beto O'Rourke St Patrick's day coffee?
Beto O'Rourke was an American presidential candidate, and during his campaign, he said he would start St. Patrick's Day with a pint of beer, completely forgoing coffee altogether!
Does Starbucks do anything for St Patrick's Day?
Unfortunately, Starbucks don't offer an Irish coffee, but they do offer a Shamrock Tea, which is an iced green tea latte made from coconut milk. This is bright green to celebrate St. Patrick's Day and you can also order it as an iced coffee.
How do you order St. Patrick’s Day coffee?
To order a Shamrock Tea from Starbucks, you'll need to ask for a venti iced green tea latte made with coconut milk. We'd recommend adding some sugar to sweeten it a little.
How much does the St. Patrick’s Day coffee cost?
A St. Patrick's Day coffee will usually cost $2-$3, depending on exactly what you order. For example, the Venti Starbucks Shamrock Tea will cost around $3. Some cold coffee or iced coffee options are more expensive because the St. Patrick's day recipes contain cold brew which is more expensive.
Conclusion
St. Patrick's Day is celebrated around the world, and it's a great excuse to have some fun and try something new.
Mixing it up with a few new coffee drinks is a great way to kick off the day, and hopefully, we've introduced some exciting hot and iced coffee options that you're keen to make for yourself.
