Mixing relative and absolute coordinates in tikz

Question

The following example uses circuitikz, but the question is about expressing coordinates in generic tikz.

Look at the following code:

\documentclass[border=10pt]{standalone}
\usepackage{circuitikz}
\begin{document}
\begin{circuitikz}[american]
        \draw (0,0) node[npn](Q1){};
        \draw (Q1.E) to[R=$R_E$] (0,-2.5) node[ground]{};
        \draw [gray] (Q1.E) -- ++(2,0) 
            coordinate(tmp) to[C, color=gray] (tmp |- 0, -2.5) 
            node[ground, color=gray]{};
 \end{circuitikz}
\end{document}

where all the grounds are supposed to be at (x, -2.5). The tricky thing is the coordinate (tmp |- 0, -2.5) (hint from here): what I want to express is the concept of a coordinate which is

(the current path x, the absolute y -2.5)

and the solution I found is, as you can see, using a temporary node. Is there an easier way to write that coordinate?

BTW, for easier way I mean something to directly say "move to the coordinate that has the current value of x, and y=-2.5", like for example

\draw [gray] (Q1.E) -- ++(2,0) 
            to[C, color=gray] (\magiccurrentx, -2.5) 
            node[ground, color=gray]{};

...or a similar thing.

Answer 1

If you want to save code characters you simply change coordinate(coordinate_name) for node(node_name){} and use one \draw statement, relative coordinates, and you can use the node ground coordinate named as G to find the coordinate intersection of the named coordinates from the short of the capacitor and the ground; to change the color including the nodes use color=your_fav_color, in my case red.

RESULT:

MWE:

\documentclass[border=10pt]{standalone}
\usepackage{circuitikz}
\begin{document}
    \begin{tikzpicture}[american]
        \draw
        (0,0)
            node[npn](Q1){}
        (Q1.E)
            to [R=$R_E$] ++(0,-2.5)
            node[ground](G){}
        ;
        \draw[color=red]
        (Q1.E)
            to[short,*-] ++ (2,0) node(C){}
            to[C] (C |- G) 
            node[ground]{}
        ;
    \end{tikzpicture}
\end{document}

OPTIONAL:

Using the two nodenames available from the first ground and the second, and drawing from the second ground to the emiter...

\documentclass[border=10pt]{standalone}
\usepackage{circuitikz}
\begin{document}
    \begin{tikzpicture}[american]
        \draw
        (0,0)
            node[npn](Q1){}
        (Q1.E)
            to [R=$R_E$] ++(0,-2.5)
            node[ground](G1){}
        ;
        \draw[color=red]
        (G1)++(2,0)
            node[ground](G2){}
            to[C] (G2 |- Q1.E) 
            to[short,-*] (Q1.E)
        ;
    \end{tikzpicture}
\end{document}

Answer 2

Here is an alternative, but I would not call it simpler.

\documentclass[border=10pt]{standalone}
\usepackage{circuitikz}

\begin{document}
\begin{circuitikz}[american]
        \draw (0,0) node[npn](Q1){};
        \draw (Q1.E) to[R=$R_E$] (0,-2.5) node[ground]{};
        \draw [gray] (Q1.E) -- ++(2,0) \pgfextra{\pgfgetlastxy{\xlast}{\ylast}}
            to[C, color=gray]  (\xlast,-2.5)
            node[ground, color=gray]{};
 \end{circuitikz}
\end{document}

Answer 3

Very similar to John Kormylo's answer but without \pgfextra (which may cause serious trouble). Similar to John, I am not sure this is more elegant.

\documentclass[border=10pt]{standalone}
\usepackage{circuitikz}
\tikzset{magic xy/.code n args={2}{\pgfgetlastxy{#1}{#2}}}
\begin{document}
\begin{circuitikz}[american]
        \draw (0,0) node[npn](Q1){};
        \draw (Q1.E) to[R=$R_E$] (0,-2.5) node[ground]{};
        \draw [gray] (Q1.E) -- ++(2,0) [magic xy={\magicx}{\magicy}]
            to[C, color=gray]  (\magicx,-2.5)
            node[ground, color=gray]{};
\end{circuitikz}
\end{document}

Or with calc. Both reproduce your picture.

\documentclass[border=10pt]{standalone}
\usepackage{circuitikz}
\usetikzlibrary{calc}
\begin{document}
\begin{circuitikz}[american]
        \draw (0,0) node[npn](Q1){};
        \draw (Q1.E) to[R=$R_E$] (0,-2.5) node[ground]{};
        \draw[gray]  let \p1=(Q1.E) in (Q1.E)  -- ++ (2,0) 
             to[C, color=gray]  (\x1+2cm,-2.5)  node[ground, color=gray]{};
            node[ground, color=gray]{};
 \end{circuitikz}
\end{document}