What Is A Red Eye, Black Eye, And Dead Eye Coffee?

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Some mornings, your usual cup of coffee just doesn't hit the same.

If you're craving a stronger boost (or simply love bolder coffee flavor), there's a simple upgrade: add a shot of espresso to your regular brewed coffee.

That combo has a few famous nicknames: red eye, black eye, and dead eye, depending on the number of espresso shots added.

Quick Answer: What is a red eye coffee?A red eye is brewed coffee with 1 shot of espresso added. A black eye has 2 shots, and a dead eye has 3 shots; basically, the “eye” names tell you how intense you want your coffee to be.

Below, I'll break down what each “eye” coffee is, how strong it tends to be, and how to make one at home (plus a few ordering tips if you're getting it at a coffee shop).

Let's begin!

Post Contents show First, ‘Eyes’, really? What is a Red Eye Coffee? Is a red eye coffee strong? What is a Black Eye Coffee? What is a Dead Eye Coffee? How much caffeine is there in all of these “Eye” Coffees? How to make an “Eye” Coffee at Home? 5-Minute Red Eye Coffee Ingredients Instructions Notes Recommended Products What does it taste like? Can you order the Red Eye, Black Eye, and the Dead Eye Coffees at Starbucks? What is a lazy eye coffee? What is a dripped eye coffee? What is the difference between an Americano and a Red Eye? How do you make a Red Eye with milk? Conclusion More coffee recipes

First, ‘Eyes’, really?

That was exactly my reaction when I first heard of these different-sounding names, but don’t worry; you will understand what they mean to your cup of freshly brewed.

I will explain all the eye colors below for you, and in the end, you will learn how to brew it yourself at home.

I will start by covering the red eye coffee, and then I will move on to the other “eye” coffees.

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What is a Red Eye Coffee?

Red eye coffee is a type of coffee that includes an added espresso shot. The espresso shot is poured directly into the coffee cup and then stirred in.

They say that the name “red eye” coffee was named after the extra zip needed to stay awake through an overnight “red eye” flight from the West Coast to New York.

Of course, red eye coffee isn’t the only name for this awesome cup of joe. Another alternative to the red eye is the hammerhead.

Is a red eye coffee strong?

A red eye coffee is strong because it is made with espresso and added to regular drip coffee.

Espresso is a very concentrated form of coffee that is brewed by forcing pressurized water through finely ground coffee beans. This makes for a very strong, rich, and somewhat bitter cup of coffee.

Adding regular drip coffee to the espresso helps balance the flavors, making for a more drinkable cup of coffee.

What is a Black Eye Coffee?

A black eye coffee is almost the same as a red eye, but it’s a cup of coffee with not one but two shots of espresso added to it.

You’re probably wondering now where the name came from, right?

At first, I assumed it was just a funny name for a much stronger coffee.

Although that might still be the case, the real reason it’s called “black eye” coffee is because of the black ring that appears in your coffee after pouring in the espresso shots.

What is a Dead Eye Coffee?

So now that you know what a red eye and a black eye coffee are, you can probably guess already what a dead eye coffee is, right?

Correct! A dead eye coffee is a cup of coffee with not one, not two, but three added espresso shots. The triple red eye coffee!

Does that make you sweat already?

Below, you learn how much caffeine there will be in each of these “eye” coffees. I think you can guess why it’s called the Dead Eye Coffee!

However, the dead eye isn’t the only name for this strong cup of coffee. It’s also called the Green Eye.

Can you guess where they mainly call it this?

Correct! At Starbucks.

How much caffeine is there in all of these “Eye” Coffees?

Now that you know what the Red Eye, Black Eye, and Dead Eye coffees are, how much caffeine will you consume if you drink one of them?

Considering that the coffee contains two different caffeine-filled drinks in one, it packs quite a punch.

Let’s start with the basics:

An 8-oz (240-ml) cup of brewed coffee typically contains approximately 95 mg of caffeine, but this amount can vary significantly depending on the type of beans and brewing method.

An espresso shot can also vary by café and shot size, but a 1-oz (30-ml) shot is typically estimated to contain around 63 mg of caffeine.

When you add the two of these together, you are left with an awesome cup of coffee that will get you these caffeine levels:

• Red Eye coffee: 95mg + 63mg = 158mg of caffeine
• Black Eye coffee: 95mg + (63mg x 2) = 221mg of caffeine
• Dead Eye coffee: 95mg + (63mg x 3) = 284mg of caffeine

For many people, that's a lot of caffeine, especially later in the day, so it's worth choosing the “eye” level that fits your tolerance.

How to make an “Eye” Coffee at Home?

Now that you have read all about what these “eye” coffees mean, it’s time to get into the brewing guide of these coffees.

It’s actually really simple to make, and you just need two ingredients. Coffee and more coffee.

A freshly brewed cup of coffee made while using a Chemex, Hario V60, or even a French press.

The choice is up to you!

Next up is the espresso.

Brew an espresso and mix it with your favorite brewed coffee. If you want to take the original route, you have to pour your espresso over your brewed coffee.

Below, you can see how the coffees turn out depending on the number of espresso shots you’re going to add:

That’s all you’ve got to do to make an “eye” coffee at home. Simple right?

You can follow the recipe below to try it out:

Continue to Content Prep Time 3 minutes Additional Time 2 minutes Total Time 5 minutes

Ingredients

• 1 cup (0.24 l) of brewed coffee
• One espresso shot (1 oz or 30 ml)

Instructions

1. Start by brewing your coffee. Use your preferred method for this. I like to use Chemex coffee for this recipe.
2. While the coffee is brewing, prepare your espresso shot. You can use an espresso machine, AeroPress, or Moka pot.
3. Pour the brewed coffee into a tall glass of choice and leave a small amount of room for the espresso.
4. Slowly pour the espresso onto the brewed coffee.
5. If you prefer, add a sweetener or other add-in to the coffee.
6. Give it a quick stir to combine the flavors, and enjoy!

Notes

• If you want to make a black eye coffee, use two espresso shots.
• For a dead eye coffee, use three espresso shots

Recommended Products

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

• Bialetti Stovetop Espresso Maker
• AeroPress Coffee and Espresso Maker

Nutrition Information:

Serving Size:

1 Amount Per Serving: Calories: 1

What does it taste like?

The taste of red eye, black eye, and dead eye varies a lot. This depends on the coffee roast and the overall flavor of the coffee.

It will also depend on the number of espressos you add to your cup of joe to create the Red Eye, the Black Eye, or the Dead Eye.

When a darker roast of coffee is used, it is likely to have more bitter and smoky flavors.

A lighter roast typically has a bit more acidity and tastes brighter.

Most “eye” coffees are made using a medium roast, which combines the flavor profiles of the other roasts.

Blending this with a shot of espresso (for the red eye coffee) will enhance the flavors even further.

The flavors you will most likely encounter when tasting an “eye” coffee are nutty, flowery, spicy, and even a little bitter and acidic.

Once you start adding the espresso to your coffee, you will end up with a super-rich-tasting cup of joe.

These flavors can be a bit overpowering for some, so I suggest using your favorite add-ins when tasting one of the “eye” coffees.

This can change depending on the person, but most like to add a bit of sugar, milk, creamer, or even some flavorful syrups to top off their coffee.

Can you order the Red Eye, Black Eye, and the Dead Eye Coffees at Starbucks?

If you don’t want to brew it at home, you can order these caffeine-packed coffees at Starbucks.

Don’t forget that the barista there might not be familiar with these ‘Eye’ coffees. If they don’t understand, you can always order it like coffee with one or multiple added espresso shots.

Plus, don’t forget that you can order the Green Eye, which, as you can read above, is the same as the Dead Eye coffee.

That's a strong option, so if you're sensitive to caffeine, consider starting with a red eye first.

What is a lazy eye coffee?

A lazy eye coffee is a decaf drip coffee with an added espresso shot. The espresso shot adds a bit of extra flavor and caffeine to the coffee, making it more interesting to drink than regular decaf drip coffee.

Lazy eye coffees are a great way to get your caffeine fix without having to drink regular coffee.

They’re also a good option for individuals who dislike the taste of regular coffee or are trying to reduce their caffeine intake.

What is a dripped eye coffee?

In some places, you might hear “dripped eye” used as another nickname for a dead eye coffee (drip coffee + three espresso shots).

It’s drip coffee with three shots of espresso, making it incredibly strong and caffeinated.

If you want a stronger coffee than usual, a dead eye is the most intense version; just keep in mind it's a high-caffeine drink.

What is the difference between an Americano and a Red Eye?

The main difference between an Americano and a red eye coffee is that an Americano is made by adding hot water to espresso, whereas a red eye is made by adding espresso to drip coffee.

An Americano tastes more like traditional coffee, while a red eye has a stronger espresso flavor.

Find Your Dream Coffee

Want more ideas? Use my Coffee Recipes Directory to find drinks that match your mood, brew style, and time.

• See hot, iced, cold brew, and Frappuccino recipes in one place.
• Browse latte, espresso, milk-based, and coffee add-in recipes.
• Get inspiration for what to make next at home.

Browse the Coffee Recipes Directory →

Over 200 coffee recipes to explore.

How do you make a Red Eye with milk?

There are a few different ways to make a red eye with milk:

• The most popular method is to combine equal parts of coffee and hot milk, then sweeten to taste with sugar or another sweetener. This results in a rich, creamy coffee that is perfect for sipping on a cold winter day.
• Another way to make a red eye with milk is to first froth the milk, then add it to strong coffee. This creates a lighter, airier coffee with a bit of foamy texture.

No matter which method you choose, making a red eye with milk is easy and tastes delicious!

Conclusion

So, if you ever wondered what to do when you want to stay up at night, just brew a Dead Eye coffee! Or maybe just a Red Eye, haha.

But seriously, did you know about all these caffeine-packed coffee variants? If not, then I hope you will try them at home one time to see if you can take the caffeine high or not.

Have you ever heard about these “eye” coffees?

Also, let me know if you plan to try the Red Eye, the Black Eye, or the Dead Eye coffee.

Good luck with your coffee journey and everything you have planned for today!

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