Classic Irish Cream Breve (Easy Coffee Recipe) is a thick, velvety espresso based coffee drink combined with Irish Cream. This creamy coffee drink is perfect for St. Patrick's Day or any time that you're craving a decadent breve coffee at home.
Undeniably, Irish Coffee is at its most popular in March when Saint Patrick's Day comes around. However, there are more options than a traditional alcoholic Irish Coffee this time of year. I was inspired to make this Irish Cream Breve as a non-alcoholic Irish Coffee option that feels just as festive and decadent as an alcoholic Irish Coffee.
Since having children, I have enjoyed making my morning coffee drinks something special and something to look forward to. This Iced Strawberry Mocha Macchiato Latte is as colorful as it is flavorful. If you are looking for a hot coffee, look no further than Easy Cookie Butter Latte. It is a mix of dessert and coffee and pairs perfectly with your favorite cookie!
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
- This breve is non-alcoholic. Celebrate St. Patrick's Day without the booze by sipping on this Irish Cream Breve.
- You can make this breve in less than 5 minutes.
- If you use store-bought Irish Simple Syrup, this recipe only requires 3 ingredients.
What is a Breve?
A breve is a coffee drink that mixes equal parts espresso with steamed half and half. The result is a thick, creamy beverage.
How large is a Breve?
Traditionally, a breve is a small drink that is only around 4 ounces. However, Dutch Brothers has made the Breve Latte popular with its Dutch Bros Kicker Recipe. This is an Americanized Breve that is much larger than the traditional coffee drink.
How does a Breve differ from a latte?
A breve and a latte use different milk bases. The main difference is that a breve uses steamed half and half while a latte uses steamed milk. A breve uses equal parts espresso and half and half (normally 1 to 2 ounces of each ingredient). A latte normally uses 2 ounces of espresso and 6 ounces of steamed milk. A breve tastes richer than a latte due to the half and half. The breve also has a thicker and foamier layer on top due to the high fat content.
Ingredients
Coffee enthusiasts rejoice! You can make this coffee shop drink at home with a few simple ingredients from your local grocery store:
- The base of this drink is rich espresso.
- Half & Half is the used as the milk layer.
- Irish Cream Syrup is used to sweeten the coffee and give it an Irish cream taste.
See the below recipe card for the exact measurements.
Substitutions
- Substitute the espresso with the following:
- Cold Brew Coffee
- Strongly Brewed Coffee
- Use your French Press to make strongly brewed coffee similar to espresso.
- Use store-bought espresso. Coffee companies like Starbucks have begun making espresso that can be purchased in the refrigerated section of most grocery stores.
- Make your own Half & Half by combining equal parts heavy cream and whole milk. Whisk to combine.
Variations
- Make a boozy breve by adding Irish Cream Liqueur or Irish Whiskey to the drink. Keep in mind, adding these liqueurs will add sugar to your drink so you can eliminate or reduce the amount of Irish Cream Syrup in the recipe.
- Make your breve using dairy-free milk. While your coffee will not be as velvety as a breve, you can still achieve the nutty Irish Cream coffee drink flavor. Use Oat Milk for the smoothest dairy-free milk substitute.
- Make your breve lighter by combining half cream and half any other type of light milk such as Almond Milk or Skim Milk. Because this will have less fat content, the milk will be less thick and foamy as a traditional breve, however, you will save on the calories.
Instructions
Follow these simple instructions to make a breve.
Step 1: Add Irish Cream Syrup to coffee cup.
Step 2: Pour hot espresso over top of syrup.
Step 3: Pour steamed espresso over top of espresso.
Step 4: Spoon foam on top of half and half layer.
Equipment
- Espresso Machine If you do not have an espresso maker, use a moka pot, French press or coffee maker.
- Steam Wand. Alternatively, heat half and half over the stove or in the microwave. Be careful not to let the half and half burn.
- Handheld Frother. You can also whisk the milk or vigorously shake the milk in a mason jar to get a foamy effect.
Can I make a Breve without an espresso machine?
Most people think that you have to have an espresso machine to make fancy coffee drinks at home. You can still make a delicious drink without an espresso machine! Try one of these options:
- Use your coffee pot to make strong brewed coffee. To make your coffee strong, add some extra grounds to the coffee filter. Choose the 'Bold' setting on your coffee pot.
- Make cold brew coffee! Cold brew has a very smooth flavor and is strongly caffeinated similar to espresso.
- Use a moka pot! A moka pot is a stovetop espresso maker that makes strong coffee similar to espresso. The moka pot is an easy and inexpensive alternative to an espresso machine. Here is the Moka Pot that I like to use.
- Use a french press to make a concentrated coffee. To make the coffee similar to espresso, finely grind the coffee beans and use more coffee grounds in the press than you would when making traditional french press coffee.
Storage
A breve is best served hot. I do not recommend storing the breve as the milk foam will mix with the coffee. If you make homemade Irish Cream Syrup, store in the refrigerator.
Top tip
Personalize your coffee! The best part of making coffee drinks at home is the ability to tweak the recipe so that it is perfect for you. Experiment with the amount of espresso and sweetener. Use a different milk combination. There are so many different ways to make a delicious beverage!
FAQ
You can buy Irish Cream Syrup online or at stores like HomeGoods, Home Sense and high end grocery stores. I like the Torani brand and Monin. You can also make your own Irish Cream Syrup by combining water, brown sugar, cocoa powder, vanilla syrup and almond extract together. There are many recipes on the internet for homemade Irish Cream Syrup.
Irish Cream Syrup has a unique flavor with hints of chocolate, vanilla and hazelnut. Irish Cream Syrup tastes similar to Irish Cream Liqueur such as Bailey's Irish Cream only without the alcohol content.
An Irish Cream Breve is a coffee drink that combines shots of espresso, steamed half and half and Irish Cream Syrup.
Yes, you can make an Iced Irish Cream Breve! Simply, put ice cubes in a tall glass and mix with cold espresso or cold brew coffee. Do not steam the half and half. Mix together all ingredients and serve over ice. Use cold foam in place of the steamed milk foam.
A breve at Dutch Bros is a popular drink known as the 'Kicker Drink.' It is a mix of steamed half and half, espresso shots and their own Irish Cream Syrup. They also have specialty drinks that show up on their holiday menu each year such as the Shamrock Kicker that is a breve topped with gold sprinkles and a cold foam top. Don't forget about their 9-1-1 drink. This top-ordered drink is an Irish Cream Breve that has 6 shots of espresso!
Related
Looking for more coffee recipes?! Try one of these delicious drinks:
Pairing
These are my favorite dishes to serve with coffee:
📖 Recipe
Classic Irish Cream Breve (Easy Coffee Recipe)
Equipment
- Espresso Maker, Moka Pot or Coffee Pot
- Steam Wand/Handheld Frother
Ingredients
- 2 ounces Espresso Hot or Cold
- 2 ounces Half & Half
- ½ - 1 tablespoon Irish Cream Syrup
Instructions
- Add Irish Cream Syrup to the bottom of a coffee cup. Pour hot espresso over top of syrup.
- Using a handheld steamer, steam half and half until double in size. Pour over top of espresso.
- Spoon remaining foam on top of steamed milk. Enjoy!
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