Canadian Coffee
Hot coffee sweetened with maple syrup, a measure of smooth Canadian whisky, and lightly whipped cream with a little more maple folded in. It is Irish coffee's Canadian cousin, with maple standing in for brown sugar.
At a glance
- Coffee : whisky
- 4:1
- Active time
- 4 min
- Total time
- 5 min
- Makes
- 1 glass
- Serve
- Hot, with cream
- Kit
- Heatproof glass
Ingredients
Note: Pancake syrup is not maple syrup. It is mostly corn syrup and flavouring, and it makes this taste artificial.
Method
-
Maple and coffee
Warm the glass with hot water and empty it. Add the maple syrup and hot coffee and stir until combined.
-
Whisky in
Add the whisky and stir once.
-
Maple cream on top
Whip the cream with half a teaspoon of maple syrup until thick but still pourable. Float it over the back of a spoon. Drink through the cream.
Why this works
Maple syrup does the job brown sugar does in an Irish coffee, and it brings a flavour of its own. It is about two thirds sugar, mostly sucrose, so it sweetens and, dissolved in the coffee, makes it dense enough for the cream to float. Its flavour comes from compounds formed when the sap is boiled down: caramel and vanilla-like notes, and a woody, slightly smoky depth that suits both coffee and whisky.
Canadian whisky is usually lighter and smoother than Scotch or bourbon, often with a spicy rye character. That spice cuts through the sweetness of the maple. A heavily peated Scotch would overpower the maple, and a sweet bourbon would make the whole thing taste of caramel.
Folding a little maple into the cream ties the top layer to the drink below. The cream is lightly whipped, thick enough to float but still pourable, because the air in it lowers its density. Stiff cream sits on top like a lid and does not mix gracefully into each sip.
Use real maple syrup. Pancake syrup is mostly corn syrup with flavouring and colour, and it tastes thin and artificial next to whisky. Darker, more robust grades of maple taste stronger and are worth the money here.
Variations
- With maple liqueur: replace half the whisky with a maple whisky liqueur and halve the syrup.
- With rye: a straight rye for a spicier, drier drink.
- Non-alcoholic: maple syrup and a drop of vanilla, the maple coffee.
- Iced: cold brew, whisky and maple shaken over ice, with cream poured on top.
Contains a measure of whisky. Not for children, drivers, or anyone avoiding alcohol.
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Questions
What is in a Canadian coffee?
Hot coffee, Canadian whisky, maple syrup and lightly whipped cream.
Can I use pancake syrup?
It is not the same. Pancake syrup is mostly corn syrup and flavouring. Real maple syrup tastes much better and floats the cream the same way.
What whisky is best for Canadian coffee?
A smooth Canadian blended whisky, ideally with some rye character, which balances the maple.
What is the difference between Canadian coffee and Irish coffee?
Canadian coffee uses Canadian whisky and maple syrup. Irish coffee uses Irish whiskey and brown sugar.