How to Make an Irish Cream Breve (Easy Coffee Recipe)

If you’re a coffee lover who also appreciates a good dessert, you’ve got to try an Irish cream breve! 

If you love a creamy coffee drink with a velvety texture, this combination of dark espresso and Irish cream is the perfect choice for you. 

Breve coffees are super popular in coffee shops right now, and now you can make one right in your kitchen – no fancy equipment required! 

What is an Irish Cream Breve? 

Named for the Italian word for “short” or “brief”, a breve has a creamy texture and smooth flavor. An Irish cream breve combines the boldness of espresso with the richness of half-and-half and Irish cream syrup to create a truly luxurious coffee experience.

The Irish syrup, with a slightly nutty flavor and hints of vanilla, adds a unique twist to this coffee beverage. It’s kind of a cross between a vanilla syrup and a hazelnut syrup. 

What’s the difference between a Breve and a Latte? 

The main difference between a breve and a traditional latte is the type of milk used. A classic latte can be made with skim milk, 2% milk or whole milk. 

A caffè breve, on the other hand, is always made with half-and-half. Some recipes may call for heavy cream, but most use half-and-half.

The higher fat content in the caffe breve gives it a richer texture than a traditional cafe latte. 

Ingredients

Here’s what you’ll need to create this creamy twist on a café breve:

• Brewed espresso (we’ll be using a double shot of espresso). No worries if you don’t have an espresso machine. I’ll provide several alternatives further down in this post. 
• Half-and-half. This is exactly what its name implies: It’s half cream and half milk. The use of half-and-half is what qualifies this drink as a breve. 
• Irish cream syrup. You may be able to find this at your local grocery store. My local store does not carry it, so I order a small bottle from Amazon. 

How to Make a perfect Breve

Follow these simple steps to create a perfectly creamy breve:

Brew the Espresso

The first step is to brew your espresso, or very strong regular coffee.

No espresso maker? No problem. Scroll down for alternative ways to make delicious espresso without a machine.

Steam the Milk

If you have an espresso maker with a milk frother attachment (i.e. steam wand), you can use it to steam the cold half-and-half.

Place the frother attachment just underneath the surface of the milk without going too deep. When the cup of milk becomes almost too hot to handle, you’ll know that it’s ready to add to the espresso.

You can also steam the half-and-half in a small saucepan on the stove, watching it carefully so that it doesn’t boil over and scorch. The microwave also works! 

Make the Irish cream

Pour that Irish cream syrup right into your steamed milk and froth it while it’s still very hot. 

There are different ways to froth milk, and the easiest way is to use a handheld frother. 

If you don’t have a handheld frother, pour the hot milk into a French press coffee maker and plunge up and down vigorously until foam forms. 

Combine the Irish Cream and Espresso

Now, pour your Irish cream over the shots of espresso and stir to combine. The finished beverage will have a 1:4 ratio of espresso to half-and-half.

If you prefer a stronger beverage, try experimenting with the amount of milk and espresso you use, increasing the shots of espresso one at a time. You could even take it up to equal parts milk to espresso if you want a more coffee-forward flavor. 

How to serve this Irish Cream Breve

Serve your creamy bev as-is or give it a dusting of cocoa powder or a drizzle of caramel syrup on top. 

Whether you enjoy it as part of your morning coffee routine, a decadent after-dinner drink or even a substitute for dessert, you’re going to love it! 

Variations on this recipe

Now that you know how to make the perfect cup of breve, try out these creative twists the next time you make one:

1. Iced Irish Cream Breve. To create an iced breve coffee, simply skip the step where you’d steam the half-and-half and stir it directly into the espresso. Use a tall glass and leave room for plenty of ice cubes.

2. Blended Irish Cream Breve. Coffee milkshake, anyone? Pour all of your ingredients into a blender along with a cup of ice and blend until frosty. 

3. Make it an Irish Coffee. Pour a shot of espresso into a glass, followed by a shot of quality Irish whiskey and the Irish cream syrup. Don’t steam the half-and-half. Just froth it and spoon it on top of the espresso. 

4. Booze it up. Swap out the Irish cream syrup for its boozy cousin, Irish cream liqueur. The most popular brand is Bailey’s, which is a mixture of Irish whiskey and cream. Bailey’s is used in famous cocktails like White Russians, Mudslides and other indulgent drinks. 

What if you don’t have an espresso machine? 

Many coffee lovers think that they can’t make fancy espresso drinks without a machine. Not the case! 

Here are alternative ways to get it done:

1. Instant Espresso: Dissolve instant espresso powder in hot water to create a concentrated coffee. I keep espresso powder on hand to use in many cookie and baking recipes, and it’s an easy way to create the base for macchiatos, lattes and other specialty coffee drinks.
2. Stovetop Moka Pot: A stovetop moka pot is a classic Italian coffee pot that can produce a strong, espresso-like coffee. It might not be true espresso, but it’s a great option for home brewing.
3. French Press: While traditionally used for making coffee, a French press can be used to brew a strong coffee concentrate that can serve as the base for espresso-based beverages.
4. Aeropress: The Aeropress is a versatile coffee maker that can produce a concentrated coffee shot akin to espresso. It’s a popular choice among home baristas.
5. Nespresso Machine: Another popular choice, you can have espresso in just the press of a button if you choose the right capsule.

When you make this Irish cream breve coffee, I’d love to hear about it! Drop a rating or leave a comment below. Enjoy! 

For more fun drink recipes, try these:

• Iced Mocha Macchiato (Starbucks Copycat Recipe)
• Easy Mango Smoothie Recipe (No Yogurt or Dairy)
• Hot Mocha Macchiato (Easy Coffee House Recipe)
• Apple Cider Ice Cream Floats
• Mulled Spiked Cider