What is Red Eye Coffee

– Everything You Need to Know About This Eye-Opener –

What can you drink when you are extremely tired but need to be wide awake?

This powerful eye-opener, namely the Red Eye Coffee may be the answer to all prayers from any coffee enthusiast around the globe.

Most coffee lovers will probably agree on one thing easily. There is no better way to start your day with a warm, or iced, cup of coffee.

Coffee is one of the most popular beverages in the world. And, this is rightly so for a whole bunch of great reasons.

Firstly, you literally have hundreds of exciting coffee drink versions to choose from. Or, you just create your own by using your imagination.

Secondly, coffee naturally comes with a lot of great health benefits. And lastly, some coffee lovers even say that it makes them happier and live longer.

Plus, the beverage accelerates you into success with each new day. But, what if you are just not feeling the same caffeine boost from your daily cup as you used to do?

Many people will just drink a second, third or even fourth cup of coffee then. This is fine. But, there is also another way.

Try adding an espresso to your coffee. And, there you go. You have just experienced the true eye-opener in our coffee world, namely the Red Eye Coffee.

Here is everything you need to know about it.

So, What is Red Eye Coffee?

Actually, this truly energizing coffee drink is pretty simple to make. Some people like to compare it to the quite similar preparation of the ‘Red Eye Beer’.

In short, for making a Red Eye Coffee you simply combine one shot of espresso with normal drip coffee.

Depending on where you are exactly living, there may be some regional variations on how to make it. Later, we will highlight a few of these versions in this article.

But first, let us explore the story behind this formidable drink.

The History of Red Eye Coffee

You may have asked this yourself already. Why exactly do people call it Red Eye Coffee?

Have you ever heard of a red eye flight? Maybe, you have taken one already. But, you just didn’t know that there is an actual name for it.

In commercial aviation, a so-called red-eye flight is an airplane flight departing at night. And, it arrives at its destination the following morning.

As long as major airlines have been operating them, these have been referred to as ‘red eyes’.

However, the actual term, ‘red eye’ originates from a somewhat more logical place. It derives from the symptom of having red eyes. People may also call them bloodshot eyes.

We may have all had red eyes ourselves already. Most probably caused by fatigue, by us simply being too tired due to sleepless or restless nights or days.

And, what better way to fight fatigue and red eyes with a caffeine-loaded Red Eye Coffee, right?

Of course, good and healthy sleep and a general good lifestyle is even better. But, sometimes, you are maybe just too busy and need a quick wake-up-call. The Red Eye Coffee is here to surely help you then.

Variations of Red Eye Coffee

Interestingly, there are different regional name versions of the Red Eye Coffee. This is especially the case for the United States.

Depending on which region you are at, you may come across names like ‘Hammerhead’, ‘Mondo’, ‘Sludge Cup’, ‘A Shot in the Dark’, or ‘Train Wreck’.

In addition, there are also a number of different drink variations of the Red Eye Coffee. The most common and popular ones happen to come from the various amounts of espresso being added to the coffee.

For example, the ‘Black Eye’ involves two shots of an espresso added to coffee. The name itself comes from the appearance of a black circle. Furthermore, this black circle appears in your coffee cup when you are pouring the shot of espresso on top of the coffee, which already has cream added to it.

Then, there is the ‘Dead Eye’. This variation involves three shots of espresso added to coffee. As you can imagine, the Dead Eye is very strong. Its name comes from the additional three shots of espresso. Literally speaking, the ‘Dead Eye’ is as high in its concentration of caffeine that it may even wake you up from the dead again. In summary, this drink get its name for the overload of caffeine, which may supposedly lead to organ failure.

Lastly, there is the newest version, called ‘Green Eye’. Starbucks mainly invented it. Essentially, it’s the company’s version of the Dead Eye. You can either receive it as an iced or hot coffee, which also involves three shots of espresso added to it.

So, How Much Caffeine is in a Red Eye Coffee?

As you can probably imagine already, all versions are quite strong.

In fact, any variation of a Red Eye Coffee will automatically always come with two different caffeine-filled drinks, namely filter coffee and espresso. Therefore, it certainly comes with a good amount of caffeine kick.

But, what are the exact numbers?

A regular filter cup of coffee commonly contains 8 ounces or 95 milligrams of caffeine. Plus, a regular espresso, equal to one shot, contains about 64 milligrams of caffeine.

So, when you are adding these two, you are certainly left with a strong cup of coffee. Altogether, you are having around 159 milligrams of caffeine in one regular Red Eye Coffee then.

If you are even making stronger versions of filter coffee mixed with an espresso, the caffeine amount and its boost will gradually increase more.

Additionally, the regular Black Eye version, which has two common shots of espresso, brings you approximately 223 milligrams of caffeine. And, the Dead Eye or Green Eye version, containing three shots of Espresso, increases your total caffeine intake by up to 287 milligrams per drink.

Of course, this sounds like and also surely is a lot of caffeine.

However, depending on your own individual tolerance, it still keeps you safely under the common 400 milligrams per day mark.

How much is Too Much?

On average, many health experts argue that a total amount of 400 mg of caffeine is safe to consume for a healthy adult on a daily basis.

These articles will share information with you about caffeine in general, how much may be too much, caffeine withdrawal symptoms. And, whether caffeine may be addictive or not.

In general, we are all sensitive to it to different degrees. Of course, you should always listen to your body and brain. Then, you can better decide what amount may be right for you.

For example, if you are experiencing symptoms such as increased nervousness, restlessness or even forms of anxiety. Then, you should definitely cut back your daily caffeine intake.

Furthermore, other side effects of overly excessive caffeine consumption may include stomach aches, muscle tremors, irritability, increased urination and sometimes even increased heart rate.

Lastly, drinking more and more caffeine on a regular basis does not automatically mean that you are more focused and efficient. If you keep drinking coffee to basically help you study or work, there may come a point where any more caffeine simply makes you exhausted, wired and jittery instead of focused.

Extra caffeine is not necessarily extra fun every time.

As with many things in life, a healthy balance between all factors is always the best way. Speaking of healthy lifestyle, this article shares great fun ways to make your coffee healthy.

How Does it Taste Like?

Well, first and foremost, the final and overall taste of any Red Eye Coffee will primarily depend on the roast level and flavor of your base coffee.

For example, a coffee with a darker roast will most likely be slightly more bitter and smoky. Whereas, a lighter roast will probably make it taste bright and acidic.

Quite typically, coffee makers usually prepare a Red Eye Coffee with medium roast blends. Essentially, this provides both hints of each flavor from light to dark roasts.

As for the espresso, the range of flavor can be a lot wider.

In general, an espresso is usually quite acidic, sweet, nutty, bitter and slightly juicy. And, when you are eventually adding your espresso to your coffee, each subtle filter coffee flavor is enhanced by the espresso.

So, overall, you are experiencing and ending up with an extra rich-tasting cup of coffee.

After, you can even further spice or sweeten it up with other additives. For example, many people like to put either any kind of sugar or milk additives into their regular cup of coffee. They tend to do the same for a Red Eye Coffee as well then.

However and since the combination of filter coffee and an espresso in a Red Eye Coffee already brings out quite rich and intense flavors. You usually even have to add more sugar or milk than usual.

Lastly and as alternative to the usual sugar or milk options, these articles share other great milk alternatives and a variety of natural sugar substitutes with you.

Naturally, coffeeis a quite healthy beverage. And, these alternatives can help you further keeping it this way when drinking your daily cup.

How to Make a Red Eye Coffee?

Let’s keep it short. It’s very simple!

By now, you already know the two key ingredients of a Red Eye Coffee. Therefore, you can actually make it at home yourself quite easily.

Firstly, you are brewing your own coffee at home. Secondly, you will need some sort of espresso machine, that can maybe not only make the espresso shot but brew your filter coffee, too.

Thirdly, and in order to make a proper Red Eye Coffee, ideally, you should brew your coffee, first. And then, you are pouring the fresh espresso into the coffee cup right after.

After, you can finish off your very own Red Eye Coffee however you like. Some of the most common additives are various sorts of cream, sugar, vanilla and cinnamon.

That’s it.

Now, it’s time to sip, enjoy and get your senses going.

Final Thoughts – Red Eye Coffee

To sum up, what did we learn about the Red Eye Coffee?

• This coffee type is called Red Eye Coffee, because it supposedly has the ability to keep you awake throughout the entire night.
• There is a great variety of different names and stronger variations out there.
• Typically, a regular Red Eye Coffee approximately contains 159 milligrams of caffeine.
• On average, a healthy adult should probably not consume more than 400 mg of caffeine per day.
• You can make your own Red Eye Coffee at home. After some little practice maybe, it’s not difficult.

So, how about you?

Have you ever tried a Red Eye Coffee already? Or, maybe some of the stronger versions and even under a different name?

Did we forget anything important to mention when it comes to the Red Eye Coffee? On a daily basis, how much coffee or caffeine do you roughly consume?

Feel free to share your thoughts and experiences with us.

Until then, stay safe, healthy and properly caffeinated.

Cheers!