COFFEE GUIDE
Red Eye
Drip coffee plus a shot of espresso. 158mg caffeine. For serious mornings.
WHAT IT IS
A red eye is a cup of drip coffee with one espresso shot added. Also called a shot in the dark, hammerhead, or depth charge depending on the region. A black eye has two espresso shots. A dead eye has three.
HOW IT IS MADE
A regular cup of drip coffee is brewed. An espresso shot is pulled and added to the cup. The espresso can be added on top or stirred in. The result is a large, high-caffeine black coffee.
WHAT IT TASTES LIKE
Like strong drip coffee with additional espresso complexity. The crema from the espresso adds a slight bitterness and richness. The combination is more than the sum of its parts when both components are quality.
WHEN TO ORDER IT
When a regular coffee will not cut it. For early morning shifts, long drives, or extended study sessions. When you want a large black coffee with real caffeine impact.
HOW TO ORDER IT
Ask for "a red eye" or describe it: "drip coffee with an espresso shot." Not all shops call it a red eye, so the description works everywhere.
VARIATIONS
Black eye: two espresso shots in drip. Dead eye: three espresso shots in drip. Turbo shot: a red eye with an espresso shot from a ristretto pull.
CAFFEINE
About 158mg per serving (95mg drip plus 63mg espresso). A black eye has about 220mg. A dead eye has about 285mg.
According to Pulled Coffee data from 462,531 coffee shops worldwide, 15.9% of all coffee shops are classified as specialty — the type most likely to serve a proper Red Eye. In cities like Vancouver (4,175 specialty shops) and London (3,621), your chances of finding a great one are significantly higher than the global average.
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