SF cafe attempts world's largest Irish coffee

SAN FRNACISCO -- The historic Buena Vista Cafe at San Francisco's Fisherman's Wharf is known for its Irish coffee, a cozy blend of coffee, whiskey, sugar and cream.

Next week, the cafe will attempt to super-size its famous creation and set a Guinness World Record for the largest Irish coffee.

General manager Michael Carden said he has placed a special order with a local glassblower to create a 15-gallon Irish coffee glass modeled on those used at the bar. He expects it to be delivered today.

Carden said he doesn't believe such a record exists yet.

He said he has spoken with the people from Guinness, who told him only that the world's largest cup of largest cup of coffee - more than 900 gallons - was created in Columbia.

Buena Vista's attempt is clearly different, he said.

Carden does not know for sure whether Monday's unveiling of the giant Irish coffee will qualify as a record, but said he is taking the steps to make it official.

"We're going to go ahead with the application and have them monitor it," he said.

Following the Monday afternoon unveiling, the 15-gallon drink will be served to customers - Carden made sure to have the glassblower attach a spigot.

Carden said he doesn't yet know what quantity of each ingredient will be needed.

"My bar manager's working on the ratio," he said.

The project appears to be in good hands; the bar manager, Frank Siletti, won an international Irish coffee-making competition held in Ireland in 2003, Carden said.

The idea to go for the Guinness record came from Buena Vista server Andrew Smith, who brought it up during a conversation on how to celebrate the 56th anniversary of the creation of Irish coffee at the Buena Vista Cafe, Carden said.

The cafe will hold a celebration featuring Irish music and Celtic dancers throughout the weekend to mark the anniversary.

Monday's unveiling will take place at 1 p.m. at the cafe, located at 2765 Hyde St.

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