One of the more popular types of black coffee drinks is a long black. Amongst the other choices, you have short black, ristretto and Americano. But if you’ve ever wondered what a long black is or how to make is at home, then keep on reading.

How to make a long black coffee at home

If you want to make a long black, you will need:

Coffee Beans (Or your preferred coffee choice)
Coffee grinder
Coffee machine
Glass or cup

Preparation

Step 1. Fill your glass or cup with hot water - we recommend around 100-120ml water
Step 2. Weight out enough coffee beans to brew two espresso (18 to 22 grams)
Step 3. Grind your coffee beans, add the grounds in the filter basket and tamp
Step 4. Using your coffee machine, extract your espresso double shot directly into your glass of hot water
Step 5. Give it a stir to ensure the coffee is fully integrated and the flavours balanced
Step 6. Enjoy your long black coffee!

Tips

If instead of an espresso machine you have an A Modo Mio Machine then repeat the steps above modifying only step 2:

Step 2. Choose your favourite long black pod/capsule

If instead of an espresso machine you have a moka pot then, after step 4, follow the following step:

Step 5. prepare the moka with the coffee you ground and obtain 60ml
Step 6. add 60ml of coffee to the hot water and enjoy your long black coffee

What is a long black coffee?

The long black coffee is a drink often served in both Australia and New Zealand. It is typically made by pouring a double shot of espresso into hot water. It can also be made with a single shot.

Black coffee vs espresso

Wondering what makes black coffee different from espresso? Well, espresso is much thicker and provides a much more intense flavour than black coffee. This is due to the smaller ratio of coffee grounds to water.

Often black coffee is made by adding a double shot of espresso to the water. This creates a beverage with a lighter body and soft aftertaste.

Difference between long black coffee and americano

The Americano, also known as the Caffé Americano or an American, is the older sister of the long black coffee drink.

The key difference between the two drinks is:

As we now know, a long black is made by pouring a shot of espresso into a cup of hot water, however to make the Americano, you reverse the process and pour hot water straight into your espresso. The main difference is that American coffee was created to dilute the espresso with hot water and make it lighter. In fact, the origins seem to date back to the times of the war when American soldiers arrived in Italy. The long black, on the other hand, is generally prepared by adding a double shot of espresso to water, making it a more popular coffee drink internationally.

Another difference is that an Americano can be ordered with a splash of milk, whereas the long black is only ever served without milk.