Red Eye: The Unofficial Coffee Boost

If you’ve ever worked in a coffee shop, you’ll know that some drinks exist off the menu, known only to coffee aficionados and baristas. The Red Eye is one of those drinks. Even though it wasn’t on the Starbucks menu, customers would often order it, and we’d just roll with it, charging them extra for the shot of espresso as per the “just say yes to the customer” policy. It was a bit of an underground favorite—a simple, no-nonsense way to get an extra jolt of caffeine.

Discovery

The Red Eye is one of those drinks that was likely born out of necessity—customers needing a serious caffeine fix to power through long days or nights. The name is said to come from the term “red-eye flight,” referring to those late-night, overnight flights where you need an extra boost to stay awake. The Red Eye is essentially a regular cup of brewed coffee with a shot of espresso added to give it an extra kick.

Red Eye Recipe

Ingredients:

• 1 cup of brewed coffee (your preferred blend)
• 1 shot of espresso

Instructions:

1. Brew a cup of coffee using your preferred method—drip coffee, French press, or pour-over.
2. Brew a shot of espresso.
3. Pour the espresso into the coffee and stir.
4. Serve immediately and enjoy the caffeine kick!

Why Drink a Red Eye?

The Red Eye isn’t for the faint of heart. It’s for the person who needs more than just a regular cup of coffee to get through the day. Here’s why it has become a quiet favorite among coffee drinkers:

1. Extra Caffeine Boost:
   A regular cup of coffee has enough caffeine for most people, but the Red Eye delivers for those who need an extra pick-me-up. By adding an espresso shot, you’re doubling (or more) the caffeine content.
2. Familiar Taste, Extra Power:
   The beauty of the Red Eye is that it still tastes like regular coffee, but with more intensity. The espresso adds a slight richness without completely changing the familiar flavor of brewed coffee.
3. A Barista’s Secret:
   While it wasn’t on the Starbucks menu, we often had customers who knew about the Red Eye and would order it by name. We didn’t have to make anything complicated, just brew the espresso and add it to the coffee. For those in the know, it’s like a little coffee hack.

What Makes it Bad

Even though it is a simple drink, it can still go wrong:

• Weak Coffee Base: The brewed coffee should be strong enough to complement the espresso shot. If the base coffee is weak, the drink will taste watered down, and the extra shot of espresso will feel out of place.
• Too Bitter: The Red Eye can be a little intense, especially if the espresso is brewed poorly. Over-extracted espresso can add a bitterness that makes the drink a bit harsh.

Red Eye vs. Other Coffee Drinks

The Red Eye is often confused with similar coffee drinks, but here’s how it stacks up:

• Red Eye vs. Americano: A Red Eye is brewed coffee with an espresso shot, while an Americano is simply espresso diluted with hot water. The flavor profiles are different because brewed coffee and espresso are made using different methods.
• Red Eye vs. Black Eye: A Black Eye doubles down on the espresso, with two shots of espresso added to brewed coffee. It’s an even stronger version of the Red Eye for those who need serious caffeine power.

Caffeine Content

It is not shy when it comes to caffeine. A regular cup of brewed coffee contains around 95 milligrams of caffeine, and adding a shot of espresso adds another 63 milligrams. In total, you’re looking at around 158 milligrams of caffeine in one drink. For comparison, that’s more than double the caffeine of a single shot of espresso!

Calories and Macros

It is a simple drink with very few calories unless you add milk, cream, or sugar. It’s basically just coffee with a shot of espresso, so it’s low in calories but high in caffeine.

Interesting Facts

• Not on the Menu, But Known to All: Despite not being an official menu item at Starbucks, it was well-known to customers who wanted that extra caffeine boost. We just charged them extra for the shot and carried on!
• Secret Variations: The Black Eye (two shots of espresso) and the Dead Eye (three shots of espresso) are variations of the Red Eye for those who need even more caffeine. But fair warning: those drinks are not for the faint-hearted!
• Great for Busy Days: It was a popular order for customers who needed a quick boost, especially during the morning rush. It’s simple, powerful, and effective for long days or pulling all-nighters.

Conclusion

The Red Eye may not have been an official menu item, but it was a favorite among customers who knew how to hack the coffee shop system for an extra dose of caffeine. Whether you need to power through a long day or survive a late-night shift, it offers the perfect combination of brewed coffee’s familiar taste and the extra jolt of espresso.

Next time you need something stronger than your usual cup of coffee, try the Red Eye. It’s simple, effective, and a favorite of those who know how to get the most out of their caffeine fix.