What is lungo

So extending the amount of time needed to pull the shot, allows for more time for these to be incorporated into the brew. However, it is important to note that a lungo is not simply a half strength shot. Because brewing involves several chemical processes, the flavor profile does actually change beyond being diluted by the water. At the end of the day, a lungo will have additional smokier, roasted notes as compared to its other espresso companions.

The amount of caffeine in a lungo is debatable. Some say that there is more caffeine in a lungo than in a normal espresso shot. Plus, both beverages use the same amount of grounds, and caffeine is one of the first components to incorporate into your coffee.

Not exactly. With an Americano , the barista is simply pulling a normal espresso shot, then adding water. Or, in the case of the long black, adding a shot of espresso to an equal part of water. Either way, the barista adds the water after the brewing process. Thus, while the drinks are weaker in strength, they are different in flavor. The smokey notes we discussed earlier will be found in a lungo but not in an Americano, which is closer in flavor to your typical drip coffee.

While a lungo is still considered a variant of espresso, it is prepared differently and is vastly set apart by its taste. While both of these drinks involve altering the amount of water used to pull a shot of espresso, the ristretto decreases that amount while the lungo increases it. So, to put it more simply the coffee to water ratio for the different espresso shots are for ristretto, for espresso, and for lungo.

This mix up is due to the names rather than similarities between the drinks themselves. A latte is an espresso and milk based drink that involves pouring steamed milk and milk foam over a shot or two of espresso. Meanwhile, a lungo is an espresso variant. So, while these are typically two separate drinks, you could potentially replace the typical shot with a lungo IN a latte if you wanted to explore a different flavor profile.

Also, if your go-to is an Americano, replacing the usual shot or shots with a lungo might suit your tastes. However, if you are still interested to try it in some capacity, try using it to replace the espresso in another drink, such as a cappuccino or a latte macchiato NOT an espresso macchiato. Some people prefer lungos since they like the additional tasting notes you get with a longer shot.

You can order any espresso drink as a lungo at Starbucks. The espresso machines have a button for long shots so that more water goes through, filling the cup with more coffee.

You can order a lungo shot on its own, or you can replace any of the espresso shots in a drink like Iced Caramel Macchiato with lungo shots. For full ingredients and instructions, scroll down to the recipe. The lungo just needs to be bigger than an espresso shot. Nespresso has a line of capsules that are specifically designed to be pulled as lungo shots.

An Americano is espresso, with hot water added after the shot has been pulled. A lungo is a shot of espresso in which water is allowed to run through for longer.

A lungo is a smaller drink than an Americano. The same amount of coffee is used to make ristretto, espresso, and lungo. The only difference is in how much water runs through the espresso machine to make the drink.

Want to save this lungo guide for later? Pin this to your Pinterest board now! Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Lungo vs. Americano vs. Affiliate Disclosure: When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no cost to you. Table of Contents What is Lungo? What Does a Lungo Taste Like? Long Black Lungo is often confused with two other popular coffee types due to the appearance.

How to Make a Lungo. Photo: rs-online. What You Need. An espresso machine Finely ground coffee Filtered water Tamper. Step 2: Heat Machine Heating your espresso machine is an important step that is often overlooked but is still crucial.

Step 3: Add Coffee Grounds Next step is to add coffee grounds to the portafilter and because the Lungo is an espresso-based beverage, you will still need to use finely ground coffee. Step 4: Push Button to Brew Most modern espresso machines will have a "Lungo" button, and so once everything is set up, you will only need to push it to make the brew. Step 5: Serve and Enjoy Many Lungo lovers will prefer to take it just as it is as most of its fanatics love it because of the bitterness, but like any other coffee type, you can still lighten it with a little milk or cream and even add some sugar to sweeten things.

Other Ways of Taking a Lungo No matter how much you love your Lungo, at some point, it can get boring. Make the "Shot in the Dark" To make your Lungo beverage even more caffeinated, you should try the "shot in the dark" variant. Conclusion If you are yet to try out a Lungo, then you are missing out on a very interesting coffee type that you can easily make on your espresso machine by pushing the right button.

Coffee Basics. Was this page helpful? Related Posts. What Is A Macchiato? Macchiato vs. What Is An Americano? Drip Coffee, Long Black.