Red Eye Coffee: What Is It And How Do You Make This Drink?

RED EYE COFFEE RECIPE: WHAT’S THE HYPE AROUND THIS DRINK?

Red Eye coffee is my go-to drink for a serious caffeine hit, and I’m excited to tell you all about it!

Do you have a big exam tomorrow? Or a long road trip coming up? Maybe a new baby is keeping you up all night? These are all great reasons to enjoy the red eye.

A classic red eye is a highly caffeinated drink made by adding a shot of espresso to a cup of filter coffee. The result is not just a guaranteed pick-me-up; it’s a flavorful and full-bodied brew sure to please any coffee lover.

In this article, I’ll tell you all about this peppy drink, including how to make Red Eye coffee at home.

What Is Red Eye Coffee?

The Red Eye has several names and definitions – an inevitable consequence of regional variation and cafes putting their spin on the drink.

At its core, a traditional Red Eye coffee is always a cup of coffee with espresso poured on top.

The result is a strong coffee with a much richer flavor, a heavier body, and far more caffeine than an average cuppa joe. Many claim it offers a similar jolt to cold brew coffee.

How Many Shots Of Espresso Are In it?

There is no standardized recipe for a Red Eye coffee, but in most coffee shops, a Red Eye is a regular drip coffee with a shot of espresso. Red Eye coffee variations are typically dictated by the number of espresso shots added to your coffee. A Black Eye has two shots, and a Dead Eye has three shots!

Why Is It Called A Red Eye?

Unlike most espresso drinks of Italian origin, the Red Eye seems to have originated in the U.S. It gets its name from the famed red-eye overnight flight from America’s West to the East Coast. Need to stay awake all night? This is your drink.

The infamous red eye has evolved into the working person’s drink — most commonly consumed on the go, when there’s a need to be awake and productive, but without the luxury of multiple cups of coffee.

You can find the drink sold under several different names depending on where you’re ordering it. I’ve seen it referred to as a Shot in the Dark, a Black Hole, a Depth Charge, or a Sludge Cup.

How To Make A Red Eye Coffee

The red eye is relatively simple compared to many cafe drinks because there’s no need to froth milk, but you do need to prepare two different styles of coffee – regular and espresso – so it requires some coordination and planning.

Here’s a quick step-by-step Red Eye recipe.

Ingredients

• 8 ounces brewed coffee
• 1-ounce espresso shot

AT A GLANCE

Time

5 to 10 minutes

Yield:

One 9-ounce drink

Step 1: Prepare The Coffee

It’s particularly important to pick good coffee beans when making such a boldly flavored drink.

From there, brew a cup of coffee using your preferred method. I tend to use a pour-over coffee maker if I’m making a single serving or a drip coffee machine if I’m planning to serve a crowd.

Once brewed, pour 8 ounces of coffee into a preheated mug.

Pro Tip: Because you are making two different types of coffee, this is an excellent opportunity to explore blending different flavors (1). Personally, I love combining a fruity and nutty drip brew with a full-bodied chocolatey espresso.

Step 2: Pull The Espresso Shot

Use an espresso machine to pull a single shot into your mug of coffee. If you don’t have an espresso maker, you can get away with a Moka pot or Aeropress shot, but your drink won’t have quite the same full body.

Pro Tip: If you have an espresso machine with a dual-spout portafilter, you can make two Red Eye coffees simultaneously!

Final Thoughts

The red eye has a reputation as a drink for desperate times when caffeine is a top priority, rather than something worthy of a specialty coffee shop. But in my opinion, it can be far more than just an energy booster.

A well-made cup of red eye coffee featuring carefully chosen high-quality beans is a delicious coffee experience in its own right. That extra pep in your step afterward is just a nice bonus!

FAQs

How much caffeine is in a Red Eye coffee?

There is approximately 300 mg of caffeine in a Red Eye coffee drink made from 8 ounces of brewed coffee and a double shot of espresso, but this can vary substantially depending on beans and the brewing method. Anywhere from 200 to 400 mg of caffeine is possible. For reference, the maximum recommended daily caffeine intake for a healthy adult is 400 mg (2).

What is a Red Eye coffee at Starbucks?

A Red-Eye coffee at Starbucks is a regular coffee with one shot of espresso. They also offer a Black Eye coffee, which has a double shot, and a Green Eye coffee, which adds a whopping three shots of espresso. A Lazy Eye coffee drink has one or two espresso shots with a decaf cup of drip coffee.

What’s the difference between an Americano and a Red Eye?

The difference between an Americano and a Red Eye is that an Americano is made from espresso and hot water, whereas a Red Eye drink pairs normal drip coffee and espresso. As a result, the Red Eye has a bolder flavor, a fuller body, and considerably higher caffeine content.

References

1. Grant, T. (2020, August 28). Finding The Right Coffee To Suit Your Needs. Retrieved from https://perfectdailygrind.com/2020/08/finding-the-right-coffee-to-suit-your-needs-flavor-harvest-propina/
2. FDA. (2024, August 28). Spilling the Beans: How Much Caffeine is Too Much? Retrieved from https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/spilling-beans-how-much-caffeine-too-much