"Irish Coffee All Around"

Coffee reduces cirrhosis risk

Study shows four cups per day cut risk of alcohol damage to liver by 80 percent in women and men.

Carla K. Johnson / Associated Press

CHICAGO -- Coffee may counteract alcohol's poisonous effects on the liver and help prevent cirrhosis, researchers say.

In a study of more than 125,000 people, one cup of coffee per day cut the risk of alcoholic cirrhosis by 20 percent. Four cups per day reduced the risk by 80 percent. The coffee effect held true for women and men of various ethnic backgrounds.

It is unclear whether it is the caffeine or other ingredient in coffee that provides the protection, said study co-author Dr. Arthur Klatsky of the Kaiser Permanente Division of Research in Oakland, Calif. The study was in Monday's Archives of Internal Medicine.

Cirrhosis is an irreversible scarring of the liver that hurts the organ's ability to filter toxins from the blood. Not all heavy drinkers develop it.

Hepatitis C and some inherited diseases can also cause cirrhosis. But the study found coffee did not protect the liver against those causes of scarring.

Cirrhosis from all causes kills more than 27,000 Americans a year and sends nearly 400,000 to the hospital.

About the study

Participants ranged from teetotalers, who made up 12 percent of the total, to heavy drinkers, who made up 8 percent.

Coffee consumption was noted only at the beginning of the study, which the researchers admitted was a limitation. They were followed for an average of 14 years.

Other findings

The study found coffee drinkers had healthier results on blood tests used to measure liver function, whether or not they were heavy alcohol users.

The researchers found no reduced risk of cirrhosis for tea drinkers.


While I prefer mine with just whiskey and black coffeee some of these sound excellent and for those interested I found some decent recipes from Cocktail Times.

In 1952 Jack Koeppler, owner of Buena Vista in San Fransisco brought the Irish Coffee recipe back to the United States and made it famous. Every year, the Foynes Flying Boat Museum holds an Irish Coffee Festival in August. The festival has the world's best Irish Coffee making competition.

The Original Irish Coffee
Joe, Sheridan, Foynes Flying Boat Museum


Cream - Rich as an Irish Brogue

Coffee- Strong as Friendly Hand

Sugar - Sweet as the tongue of a Rouge

Irish Whiskey - smooth as the Wit of the Land

In a warm stemmed whiskey goblet, pour one jigger of Irish whiskey. Add one spoon of brown sugar and fill with strong black coffee within one inch of brim. Stir to dissolve the sugar and top off with whipped cream, slightly aerated by pouring it over the back of a spoon. Do not stir after adding the cream as the true flavor is obtained by drinking the hot coffee and Irish whiskey through the cream.

Classic Irish Coffee
- 2 oz Bushmills Irish Whiskey
- 2 teaspoons brown sugar
- 5 - 6 oz freshly brewed strong black coffee

Stir thoroughly and top off with a layer of heavy whipping cream, poured gently over the back of a spoon.

Hot Kiss Goodnight
- 2 oz Bushmills Irish Whiskey
- 2 teaspoons cream de menthe (green or white)
- 1/2 oz creme de cacao (white or brown)
- 4 oz freshly brewed strong black coffee

Stir thoroughly and then add a thick cap of whipped cream; place Hershey's Kiss on top.

Whiskey-a-Cocoa
- 2 oz Bushmill Irish Whiskey
- 4 - 5 oz hot chocolate

Stir thoroughly and then add a thick cap of whipped cream; sprinkle with flakes of chocolate.

Hot Mocha
- 1 oz Bushmills Irish Whiskey
- 1/2 oz creme de cacao (white or brown)
- 1 1/2 oz hot espresso

Stir thoroughly and top off with a layer of heavy cream, poured gently over the back of a spoon

Hot Irish Monk
- 2 oz Bushmills Irish Whiskey
- 1 oz Frangelico hazelnut liqueur
- 4 oz hot chocolate

Stir thoroughly and add a thick cap of whipped cream; sprinkle with chopped, toasted hazelnuts.