What Is a Red Eye Coffee?

This drink is one of those cases where the name is more of a warning.

The Red Eye coffee has gained a reputation for fueling collegiate all-nighters, but don’t overlook its standing as a delightfully balanced pick-me-up. Consider the Red Eye and Americano as two close-knit siblings of the beverage world. Beloved among both coffee connoisseurs and creatives burning the midnight oil, these no-nonsense orders serve a quick shot of caffeine in a straightforward format.

What is a Red Eye coffee?

The primary distinction between the Red Eye and similar caffeinated drinks lies within the base. A Red Eye combines roughly eight ounces of brewed drip coffee with a standard shot, which is why it shouldn't be a surprise to learn that it also packs more of a kick than an Americano, and has an extra 80 to 100 milligrams of caffeine, per the Food and Drug Administration.

Related: How to Make 6 Barista-Quality Espresso Drinks at Home

How do you make a Red Eye coffee?

Jon Freihofer, Director of Coffee Services at New York-based Joe Coffee Company, recommends choosing the same coffee for both the espresso shot and drip coffee when making a Red Eye coffee at home. (This might be more tricky when ordering at a cafe, as coffee bars typically use different roasts for espresso and brewed coffee.) The result? A smoother flavor profile with distinct, expressive notes.

“If you’re using two different coffees — which, most of the time, is what you’re going to get with a Red Eye — you’re going to get a muddied flavor profile and a sort of strong coffee taste,” he explains.

When should I order a Red Eye versus an Americano coffee?

It’s all a matter of preference — both on flavor profile and caffeine content. (A Red Eye usually isn’t ideal for anyone with caffeine sensitivities.) For those seeking a nuanced flavor profile, Freihofer says a concentrated five-ounce Americano is the way to go.

The Red Eye also arrives with a slightly heavier body than your standard Americano, though that's not necessarily a bad thing. "Some people do like that extra viscosity added to your average drip coffee,” Freihofer notes.

“The espresso is going to be even more balanced in an Americano, because you’re softening the flavors by diluting it,” he adds. “If it’s the right proportion, it behaves like a whiskey diluted with a bit of water. The flavors open up.”

No matter how you package it, a strong kick of espresso remains a classic for a reason.

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