What Is Dead Eye Coffee? Answered

Dead eye coffee is a regularly brewed coffee added with three espresso shots. We’ll cover what is dead eye coffee and how much caffeine to expect.  

 what is dead eye coffee
Dead eye coffee is the strongest among the three variations of coffee drink

Dead eye coffee gained popularity over the years – especially for people looking for a drink that will keep them up all night. If you need a boost in caffeine, a cup of regularly brewed coffee added with three shots of espresso is just what you need!  

The amount of caffeine in dead eye coffee can add up quickly, so pay attention and not go beyond the daily limit that is considered healthy. This coffee drink has three variations – red eye, black eye, and dead eye coffee. Dead eye coffee is undoubtedly the strongest among the three. 

A red eye, black eye, and dead eye coffee simply mean how much caffeine you want in your cup of joe. The dead eye coffee has three espresso shots added, black eye coffee has two shots, and red eye coffee only has one shot. We don’t recommend drinking more than one cup of dead eye coffee a day, as its caffeine content can go over the recommended daily intake.

Why Is It Called Dead Eye Coffee?

There’s no exact answer to this question, but the “eye” coffee drinks started from the red eye coffee. It’s a coffee drink to help people stay awake, especially on red-eye flights.

Dead eye coffee is the intense version of red-eye coffee because it requires not one, not two, but three shots of espresso – the triple red-eye coffee!

Dead eye is not the only name of this strong coffee drink. It is also called the green eye coffee, particularly at Starbucks.

Dead Eye Coffee Caffeine Content

The caffeine content of a regularly brewed coffee is about 95 mg of caffeine, which is just a quarter of the recommended daily intake. An espresso shot contains around 65 mg of caffeine. 

Try making a dead eye coffee if you’re looking for a drink that will help you stay awake. It packs a punch with 290 mg of caffeine. If you think that it’s still not enough, you might want to try the strongest coffee in the world.

What Does Dead Eye Coffee Taste Like?

The taste of dead eye coffee varies greatly, and the same goes for red-eye coffee and black eye coffee. It depends on the roasting process and the number of espresso shots you will add to your cup of coffee to make red-eye, black-eye, or dead eye coffee. 

When a darker coffee roast is used, it will probably have a more bitter and smoky taste. On the other hand, a lighter coffee roast often packs more acidity and robust flavor.

Most “eye” coffees are made using a medium coffee roast, which blends the flavor profiles of other coffee roasts. Combining this with a shot of espresso will make the taste even better. When drinking an “eye” coffee, the flavors you will probably taste are nutty, flowery, spicy, and slightly acidic.

These flavors can be overwhelming for some people. You can use add-ons to tone down its strong taste like milk, cream, and sugar.

How To Make Dead Eye Coffee

What is dead eye coffee and how do you make one?
Remember that multiple espresso shots in one cup have a strong bitter taste

To make dead eye coffee, all you need to do is mix three espresso shots with the coffee you prefer – it could be a black coffee, latte, cappuccino, or any drink you like. You will also need an espresso machine to make the main ingredient of this coffee drink, which is espresso. You can’t make dead eye coffee without it – the same goes for red and black eye coffee.

You might find our guide on picking the best coffee for espresso useful. 

Equipment:

  • Coffee maker
  • Espresso machine
  • Coffee mug
  • Spoon

Ingredients:

  • Medium-ground coffee beans
  • Finely-ground coffee beans
  • Water
  • Milk, creamer, and sugar (optional)

Step 1: Brew The Coffee

 Brew one eight-ounce cup of coffee.

Step 2: Brew The Espresso

Using your espresso machine, pull three shots of espresso (one for red-eye coffee, two for black eye coffee, and three for dead eye coffee.)

Step 3: Mix The Drinks

Add the three espresso shots to your freshly brewed coffee, and enjoy your drink!

Remember that multiple espresso shots in one cup have a strong bitter taste. That’s why you have the option to add milk, creamer, or sugar to make your dead eye coffee taste better. 

Author

  • Cian Murray

    Cian Murray is an experienced writer and editor, who graduated from Cardiff University’s esteemed School of Journalism, Media and Culture. His work has been featured in both local and national media, and he has also produced content for multinational brands and agencies. Find Cian on muckrack.com.