Red Eye Coffee: Are you facing a major exam tomorrow? Planning a lengthy road trip? Dealing with a teething baby? These situations provide perfect opportunities to indulge in the energizing delight of a Red Eye coffee. This powerful concoction combines brewed coffee with a shot of espresso, ensuring an instant pick-me-up.
Continue reading to discover more about this invigorating beverage and learn how you can easily prepare it in the comfort of your own home.
What is a Red Eye Coffee?
The Red Eye coffee, much like a multitude of other coffee beverages, is known by an assortment of names and is accompanied by diverse definitions, a phenomenon that arises as a result of regional variations and coffee establishments infusing their unique touch into the concoction. Now, let’s delve into the fundamental aspects of this invigorating drink.
A Red Eye coffee is a combination of drip coffee with espresso poured on top. It can be thought of as an Americano, but instead of using hot water, brewed coffee is used. The result is a highly caffeinated beverage with a rich flavor and a heavier body compared to a regular cup of coffee. Some claim that it provides a similar energy boost to cold brew.
Unlike most espresso drinks of Italian origin, the Red Eye coffee seems to have originated in the United States. It gets its name from the famous red-eye overnight flights from the west to the east coast of America, where people needed a drink to stay awake throughout the night.
The Red Eye coffee has evolved into a popular choice for working individuals who need to stay awake and be productive but don’t have the luxury of consuming multiple cups of coffee. It is commonly consumed on the go. Depending on where you order it, you may find the drink referred to by different names such as “Shot in the Dark,” “Black Hole,” “Black Eye,” or “Depth Charge.”
The number of espresso shots added to the coffee can vary, with double shots being standard in many coffee shops. Starbucks has its own naming system, where a Red Eye coffee has a single shot of espresso, a Black Eye has a double shot, a Lazy Eye combines one or two espresso shots with decaf drip coffee, and a Green Eye includes three shots of espresso added to a drip brew.
If you’re interested in exploring other coffee drinks, we can also provide information on an Americano, Irish coffee, or the unique Black Tie coffee, which combines espresso, tea, spices, condensed milk, and cream.
How to Make a Red Eye Coffee
Making a Red Eye coffee is relatively simple compared to fancy Italian coffee drinks, as there’s no need to froth milk. The only challenge is brewing both drip coffee and pulling a shot of espresso.
First, select good quality coffee beans. Since you’ll be making two different types of coffee, it’s an excellent opportunity to experiment with blending different flavors. For example, you can pair a citrusy and nutty drip brew with a full-bodied, chocolatey espresso.
Next, brew a cup of regular drip coffee using your preferred method. If you don’t have a coffee machine, there are various models available that can serve you well.
The third step is to pull a single or double shot of espresso, depending on how strong you want your Red Eye coffee to be. If you don’t have an espresso machine, we can provide recommendations for top picks.
To finish, simply pour the espresso over the brewed coffee and enjoy your Red Eye coffee experience.
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