Last Updated on January 27, 2024 by Ibrahim Bat
Coffee is increasingly taking a significant place in our lives, with countless brewing methods and different recipes. At first glance, coffee names seem a bit complicated. This confusion is even more increased, especially in coffees that resemble each other in appearance and preparation.
In this article, Best Coffee at Home, we will examine Long Black coffee, similar to Americano. Although it resembles Americano, it has a different recipe, flavor profile, and popularity areas.
When you finish reading this article, you will learn what long black coffee is, how it is made, and what the differences are from Americano. In the end, you will be able to make a more accurate decision when ordering in a cafe, and if you wish, you will be able to make long black at home.
What is a Long Black Coffee?
Long black coffee is an espresso-based drink that dilutes a double ristretto with water. In some recipes, espresso can also be used instead of ristretto.
Ristretto
The word “ristretto” comes from the Italian language, meaning “restricted” or “limited.” It refers to a shorter and more concentrated shot of espresso, where less water is used to extract the flavors from the coffee grounds than a regular espresso shot.
How To Make Long Black Coffee?
Long black coffee is one of the easily prepared espresso-based drinks. You only need to pour espresso over a cup of hot water.
For best results, I recommend preparing the espresso with an espresso machine. However, you can also obtain espresso-like coffee with a Nespresso machine, Aeropress, or Moka pot.
In this recipe, I will use an espresso machine to make the espresso. But you can use any of the methods I mentioned earlier to prepare it.
Although long black coffee is one of the practical espresso-based coffees, it has some details. I will give all the details that will improve your coffee experience in the recipe.
Before we move on to these details, let’s look at the materials needed to make a delicious long black coffee.
Related Articles: Iced Long Black Recipe
What Do You Need for Homemade Long Black Coffee?
- Freshly roasted coffee beans
- Filtered water
- Espresso machine, Nespresso, moka pot or Aeropress
- Grinder
- Kettle or pot to heat water
Step 1) Prepare Your Beans and Hot Water
Long black coffee is usually prepared at a 1:3 or 1:4 espresso to hot-water ratio. You should use 3 or 4 units of hot water for every 1 unit of espresso. For example, you should use 90-120 ml (3-4 fl oz) of hot water for 30 ml (1 fl oz) of espresso.
Consider these ratios, consider these ratios to prepare your coffee beans and hot water according to the amount of coffee you want to prepare.
Step 2) Grind Your Beans
Medium or dark roast coffee beans are more compatible with long black coffees. Grind the beans that are most suitable for your taste to suit your espresso machine.
Step 3) Pull Your Espresso Shot
Place the portafilter in your espresso machine and pull double shot espresso (depending on your ratio).
Step 4) Add Hot Water and Serve
Pour hot water into your mug. Then slowly pour the espresso over the hot water. Pouring hot water first and then espresso will help preserve the espresso’s crema.
Instead of boiling water, use water at 160 °F (70 °C). This way, you won’t have to wait for it to cool down before drinking your coffee.
Long Black vs. Americano
If you previously read my article “A Guide on Creating an Americano,” you likely observed that the long black and Americano are nearly identical and crafted using identical components.
Even though they seem similar, there are certain differences between them. These differences are as follows:
- Long black coffee is more popular today in Australia and New Zealand, while Americano, the cousin of long black coffee, is more popular in Europe and the US.
- Long black coffee is prepared with less water than Americano. Therefore, it is a more concentrated beverage that contains more espresso flavor.
- In long black coffee, hot water is added to the cup first, then espresso. In Americano, espresso is added first and then hot water. Since espresso is added last in long black, more crema remains on the drink.
| Aspect | Long Black Coffee | Americano |
|---|---|---|
| Popularity | Australia and New Zealand | Europe and the US |
| Water-to-Espresso Ratio | Less water | More water |
| Concentration | More concentrated | Diluted |
| Preparation Order | Water first, then espresso | Espresso first, then water |
| Crema Preservation | More crema retained | Less crema retained |
What About Lungo?
Another coffee often confused with long black coffee is lungo. The word “lungo” comes from the Italian language and translates to “long” or “lengthened.”
Lungo refers to a longer espresso shot with more water passing through the coffee grounds than a regular espresso shot. This extended extraction time allows for a larger volume of coffee to be brewed, resulting in a milder and more diluted cup than regular espresso. From this, it can be seen that lungo has nothing to do with long black coffee.
Conclusion on Long Black Coffee
Long black coffee is one of the practical ones to prepare among espresso-based coffees. You don’t need to specialize in frothing milk like latte or cappuccino. Prepare your espresso shot and dilute it with water; that’s it!
As you can see in this article, there is no significant difference between Americano and Long black coffee. Only long black coffee is more intense and aromatic compared to Americano. It also contains more crema.
I hope you have found answers to all your questions about long black in this article. However, if you think there’s a part I skipped, you can leave a comment.
Related Recipes
Long Black Coffee Recipe
Equipment
- 1 Espresso machine, Nespresso, Keurig, moka pot or aeropress
- 1 Grinder
- 1 Kettle or pot to heat water
Ingredients
- 2 Shot Espresso
- 180 ml Hot Water
Instructions
- Prepare Your Beans and Hot WaterLong black coffee is usually prepared at a 1:3 or 1:4 espresso to hot-water ratio. You should use 3 or 4 units of hot water for every 1 unit of espresso. For example, you should use 90-120 ml (3-4 fl oz) of hot water for 30 ml (1 fl oz) of espresso.Consider these ratios, consider these ratios to prepare your coffee beans and hot water according to the amount of coffee you want to prepare.
- Grind Your BeansMedium or dark roast coffee beans are more compatible with long black coffees. Grind the beans that are most suitable for your taste to suit your espresso machine.
- Pull Your Espresso ShotPlace the portafilter in your espresso machine and pull double shot espresso (depending on your ratio).
- Add Hot Water and ServePour hot water into your mug. Then slowly pour the espresso over the hot water. Pouring hot water first and then espresso will help preserve the espresso’s crema.Instead of boiling water, use water at 160 °F (70 °C). This way, you won’t have to wait for it to cool down before drinking your coffee.
