Let's take The Red Eye ☕ 👀

Hey there! Grab a steaming cup of coffee and make sure your seat back and tray table are in their full upright position — I’m Michael from Dü Coffee and we’re taking The Red Eye this morning on an epic adventure!

But wait, what’s a Red Eye? Well the Oxford Dictionary defines Red Eye as:

red eye
/ˈredˌī/ — noun

1. an overnight or late-night flight on a commercial airline.

   "she caught the red eye to Paris and nobody’s seen her since"
   

2. brewed coffee with a shot of espresso added for an extra kick.

   "after last night’s party, I’ll need a red eye to take on this day"

(Yep, they go together — grabbing a Red Eye coffee as you walk off your international flight is the perfect antidote to jet lag.)

From wanderlust to wonderment.

After traveling a collective (and staggering) 2 million air miles, we’ve met some incredible folks and had some experiences that have totally rocked our worlds.

And while the people and places may change with every flight, we’ve found coffee on the road to be more than just a morning ritual — it’s a passport to culture.

Whether you're wandering the bustling streets of Istanbul or chilling in the cozy cafes of Prague, coffee is the ultimate connection to locals and their way of life.

The Red Eye is our way of sharing the magic of travel with kindred souls like you. We’re here to inject some wanderlust into your Sunday morning routine with a story or two from the open road, along with some insider tips and tricks we’ve picked up along the way.

We hope this perks you up and inspires you to plan out your next epic journey on the road. Your new lifelong friends are waiting!

YOUR LIFE MUST BE SWEET.

My first Italian Espresso experience.

Wow, those eyes are bloodshot. I’m glancing at myself in the rearview mirror of our cramped little Opel Corsa rental car as we rocket up the A7 Autostrada. A signpost says we have 28 kilometers to the city limits of Milan.

Teresa rides shotgun while her mom Donna entertains Annie, fidgeting in her car seat. She's tired, too. A 6-hour car ride is a lot to ask of a 3-year-old.

It’s Day 12 of our first family trip to Europe, a 3-week adventure starting in London and ending in Rome. We’re stitching together thousands of kilometers via rental car and today is my first day driving in Italy.

We’re on our way to our hotel deep in the heart of bustling Milano, the capital of Italian fashion and finance.

As we penetrate deep into the byzantine streets and boulevards of Milan, Teresa navigates with our old-school Atlante Stradale street map. Directions are flying. "Turn left here!" and "WAIT, NOT THAT WAY!"

Driving in Italy is a full-contact sport. Cars stay in their lanes like rocks in an avalanche.

We're lost, frazzled, and need a break.

KEEP READING…

Ordering coffee in Italy for the first time can be like watching a foreign film with no subtitles. It’s colorful and exciting, but how the heck do you get a cup of coffee around here?

Skip the confusion and just follow these reliable steps — you’ll be slurping coffee like a local in no time:

1. Find a spot with the locals, standing at the coffee bar. If you're a group of people, grab a table and they'll serve you there.

2. For your first coffee order, go with what you know — a cappuccino in the morning, espresso any time of day.

3. To order, just say "vorrei un cappuccino per favore" for a cappuccino, or for an espresso say "vorrei un caffé per favore."

4. Try your coffee with a little sugar, especially with an espresso.

5. It's best to skip a cappuccino after 11 AM; order instead a "caffé macchiato" (espresso marked with milk foam).

6. Order something sweet if you spot something tasty in the pastry case.

7. Settle up your bill with the cashier when you're done. Expect to pay about €1.50 for an espresso and €2.50 for a cappuccino. No need to tip in Italy.

Seasoned travelers know the importance of packing the right tools to make a trip stress-free.

With miles comes wisdom and a desire for comfort and convenience, on the road and at home. That’s why we're sharing our must-have gadgets that make travel and home life easier than ever.

Here are a few of our top picks:

• Let’s face it, hotel-room coffee sucks 👎. When we hit the road, we pack freshly ground coffee beans and this very cool Aeropress Go. No hot pot in the room? Bring along this lightweight travel pot and you’re all set. (We’re writing an article on making coffee-on-the-road and we’ll share in an upcoming edition - stay tuned!)

• Rise and grind! We get this question all the time: “hey, what’s a good burr grinder that won’t blow my budget?” Y’all get bonus points for knowing a burr grinder makes a better and more consistent brew ☕. We like the Capresso Infinity 560 for its grind control, consistency, and decent price. You can step up your grind game with the Baratza Virtuoso+ — it’s professional grade…with a steeper price tag.

• We’re not pod pushers because coffee pods produce a ton of waste, but there’s new research saying coffee pods may have a lower environmental impact than regular brew methods. We think a Moka Pot is a great alternative. 😀 

• Running low on coffee? 😱 We’ve got you covered, and you’ll save 5 bucks, too. Order your next bag of freshly roasted beans right here. Our beans ship daily fast.

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