tags: [] - coffee/brewing aliases: - Shot in the dark - Red eye coffee - Black eye coffee

Depth Charge¶

Tags: #coffee/brewing Aliases: Shot in the dark, Red eye coffee, Black eye coffee Related: Coffee Brewing MOC | Espresso | Drip Coffee | Caffeine Status: ✅ Complete

Overview¶

A depth charge is a brewed coffee — typically drip or filter — with one or more shots of espresso added, significantly increasing both caffeine content and flavour intensity. The drink combines the large volume of a brewed coffee with the concentrated strength and extraction characteristics of espresso. It is associated primarily with American coffee shop culture and is known by several regional names depending on the number of espresso shots added.

Names by Shot Count¶

Name	Espresso shots added	Notes
Red eye	1 shot	Most common single-shot name; "shot in the dark" is also used
Black eye	2 shots	Double-shot variant
Dead eye / Lazy eye	3 shots	Triple-shot variant
Depth charge	1 or more shots	General term; usage varies by region

These names are not standardised and vary between cafés and regions.

Preparation¶

A depth charge is prepared by brewing a standard cup of drip or filter coffee, then adding one or more freshly pulled espresso shots directly into the cup. The espresso integrates with the brewed coffee, producing a drink with characteristics of both — the volume and temperature of filter coffee with the intensity and body contribution of espresso.

Flavour and Caffeine¶

The flavour profile reflects the combination of two extraction methods: the clarity and acidity of filter extraction alongside the concentrated roast character and body of espresso. The result is typically full-bodied, intense, and complex. The caffeine content is high — a standard red eye contains approximately 120–150 mg from the brewed coffee plus 60–75 mg from the espresso shot, totalling 180–225 mg.

Key Facts¶

A depth charge is brewed coffee with one or more espresso shots added; also called red eye (1 shot), black eye (2 shots), or dead eye (3 shots)
Associated with American coffee shop culture; names are not standardised across regions
Produces a high-caffeine, full-bodied drink combining filter and espresso extraction characteristics
A single-shot red eye contains approximately 180–225 mg caffeine depending on brew strength and shot size

Coffee Brewing MOC
Espresso
Drip Coffee
Caffeine
Americano

References¶

Changelog¶

Date	Change
2026-05-02	Compliance review: full rewrite — removed one-sentence stub with inline Wikipedia citation marker; rebuilt as encyclopedic article with names-by-shot-count table, preparation description, flavour and caffeine notes; added frontmatter, metadata block, Overview, Key Facts, References, Changelog, copyright

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