What Are Red Eye And Black Eye Coffee Orders?

Sometimes you just need a little boost. And sometimes you need a little (or a lot) more than that. There are, after all, some levels of tiredness that require an extra dose of caffeine. That's where red eye and black eye coffee come in, and knowing what they are can help you to better navigate the coffee counter and your morning. As their names imply, both red eye and black eye coffees give you an extra dose of caffeine. However, they vary in their intensity.

A red eye coffee is named after the red eye flight, which is a flight that takes off at night and lands the next morning. They are named as such for the red, groggy eyes of the flight's exhausted passengers. A red eye coffee offers a solution for those sleepy passengers through an extra dose of concentrated caffeine. Essentially, a red eye coffee is a cup of coffee that has an added shot of espresso for an extra kick.

A black eye coffee, on the other hand, offers even more caffeine, for those who really need to get going. A black eye coffee has not one, but two shots of espresso added to regular drip coffee. Supposedly, it's called black eye coffee because of the dark color of the coffee once the two espresso shots are poured in. However, it also might come from the fact that the shots of espresso pack — well, a bit of a punch. But regardless of how they got their names, both offer something beyond a plain old cup of coffee.

But exactly how much caffeine is in a red eye coffee? Well, it depends on several factors, such as the strength of your coffee and the ounces in your pour. However, a typical eight-ounce red eye coffee will have about 200 milligrams of caffeine. This is much higher than a regular cup of coffee, which has about 10 to 100 milligrams of caffeine per serving. But how much caffeine does a black eye have? After all, an extra shot should significantly elevate your coffee. As with any coffee beverage, the caffeine content in a black eye coffee varies. However, it typically has a minimum of 221 milligrams of caffeine per serving, which is only slightly higher than a red eye.

But it's not all about caffeine, after all. You must also consider taste. A red eye, for example, has a bold flavor thanks to the added shot of espresso, which also brings a fuller body to your regular drip coffee. A black eye takes the intensity of your beverage up a notch, bringing the rich flavor of your espresso to the forefront of the coffee's flavor profile. But be warned, the punch of a black eye coffee might be a bit much for a casual coffee drinker.

Espresso-infused cups of coffee don't stop at the black eye. In fact, there is a drink even stronger than a black eye — called a green eye coffee — that includes three shots of espresso in coffee. This drink is a part of the Starbucks secret menu, and most likely takes its name from the green color of the Starbucks logo. However, the drink is not exclusive to the coffee chain. That being said, you might want to clarify your order to your local barista if they aren't familiar.

But what kind of caffeine does the green eye pack, exactly? Well, like black eye and red eye coffee, it depends. However, it typically has between 300 to 540 milligrams of caffeine, which is beyond the daily recommended caffeine limit of 400 milligrams per day for healthy adults. Of course, this doesn't factor in certain health conditions or personal caffeine intolerances. So, drink your green eye with caution, or stick to the red eye or black eye if you don't want to feel too jittery.