Here at Royal Cup, we love sporting our best green outfits and celebrating St. Patrick’s Day! While people typically only put Ireland and coffee in the same sentence when they’re drinking an Irish coffee, the European nation is embracing everyone’s favorite hot beverage like never before. A majority of people don’t realize just how far back Ireland’s history with coffee goes. As hard as it is to believe, Irish coffee houses date all the way back to the 17th century! Fast forward to 2019 and coffee has grown to become the “on-trend drink of today” in Ireland.
So, exactly how popular has coffee become in Ireland?
To Coffee!
The Irish have always shown a proclivity for toasting before drinking with friends. As shown by industry trends, the Irish have been saying cheers with coffee more and more over the last decade. 75 percent of Irish consumers state that they regularly drink coffee, with seven out of 10 opting for more than one cup per day. And the love for coffee doesn’t stop in the home. 33% of people report paying a visit to their local coffee shop at least four times a week to get their caffeine fix. Experts forecast that from 2017-2022, Ireland’s coffee industry will grow by 7% — a sure sign that the Irish enjoy a good cup of joe!
Pubs and Bars
As its popularity has grown in Ireland, coffee has become a mainstay within the food and beverage industries. Pubs and bars have become a common place where consumers satisfy their coffee cravings, with surveys indicating that 44 percent people care about whether their favorite drinking spot has quality coffee. This menu update isn’t just important to patrons, but also to the bottom lines of businesses. Over a third of consumers would buy coffee more often in pubs and bars if the beverage quality was better.
Taking Dinner to the Next Level
Irish consumers don’t just talk a big game about wanting coffee with their meal — they order it! 63 percent of Irish consumers believe that a high-quality cup of coffee at the end of a meal makes the difference between a good versus great experience. In fact, over 30 percent of Irish diners choose coffee over dessert when eating.
Celebrating St. Patrick’s Day, the Right Way
A blog on Ireland and coffee wouldn’t be complete without a quality recipe for the world-famous Irish Coffee. We hope you enjoy this recipe as much as we will – Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
Original Irish Coffee
1 Cup of Hot Royal Cup Coffee
1 Tablespoon of Brown Sugar
3 Tablespoon of Irish Whiskey
Whipped Heavy Cream
Fill a footed or standard mug with hot water to preheat it, then empty. Pour piping hot coffee into a warmed glass until it is about 3/4 full. Add the brown sugar and stir until completely dissolved. Blend in Irish whiskey. Top with a collar of whipped heavy cream by pouring it gently over the back of a spoon. Serve hot.
Courtesy: Food Network
