What is a black eye coffee?
A black eye coffee (or just black eye) is a cup of drip coffee topped with two shots of espresso. It's a stronger variant of red eye coffee which has one shot of espresso.
A black eye coffee tastes very strong and contains a lot of caffeine. It's consumed more as a stimulant to keep you awake during a long shift than for its taste.
There's also a stronger variant containing three shots of espresso known as a dead eye.
Origins of black eye coffee
Black eye coffee is such a simple variant on red eye coffee that the names and origins are often mixed up. We believe red eye coffee gets its name from red eye gravy — a gravy made of coffee.
It's plausible that black eye coffee gets its name from being a darker drink than red eye — and drinking it is like getting punched in the face.
Black eye coffee ingredients
The ingredients to a black eye coffee are simple…
- One cup of filter coffee (190ml)
- One double shot of espresso (60ml)
How to make a black eye coffee
A black eye coffee in the same way as an americano, but with filter coffee instead of hot water.
- First make a drip coffee, and pour it in a cup — make sure there's enough room left for the espresso.
- Place the cup under the portafilter of the espresso machine, and make a double espresso directly on top of the filter coffee.
- Serve to someone who has a very long night ahead of them.