What is Lungo Coffee? & How to Make it.

Scouring the coffee shop blackboard deciding what to drink, youll undoubtedly see well-known classics like cappuccino, latte and americano. Thats all fair and well. All are delightful. But what is lungo coffee? It might be somewhat rarer, but it is no less delicious. The following article will provide you with the answers, so please keep reading to find out more information.

Perhaps best of all, once you know the facts, you can buy the finest coffee beans right here at the kent and sussex tea and coffee company. These you can use to make your own lungo coffee at home, should you have the appropriate equipment. Whatever you decide, you can count on our family-run business to pack your favourite infusions fresh to order, ensuring quality and consistency.

What is Lungo Coffee?

There is no time like the present, no need for preamble when youre ever keen to know. Allow us to jump in headfirst. Of all the types of coffee drinks available at your local cafe, lungo isnt exactly world-famous.

But it should be. The first thing you should know about it is, what does lungo mean in coffee? The word is italian for long, referring mostly to its size once pulled.

Fundamentally, it is an espresso with extra water to create a unique profile and character. We can be more specific than that, however, as instead of the usual 30ml of water for espresso, lungo boasts double the amount.

Whats more, as opposed to taking 18-30 seconds to make like its singular counterpart, creating it can be up to a minute-long affair. And there you have your basic lungo coffee definition.

Lungo Coffee vs Americano

Is lungo the same as americano by that definition? It might seem so on the surface, although distinctions exist between the two. Most noteworthy is that when you make americano, you add the hot water after pulling the espresso.

On the other hand, when you make lungo coffee, you brew all of the liquid from the start. It is also shorter than an americano and has a different flavour.

The Taste of Lungo Coffee

You have an idea about the size of Lungo Coffee, as well as the origins of Lungo Coffee’s meaning in Italian. You have a grasp, too, of how to differentiate between Lungo Coffee vs Espresso and Americano.

However, unquestionably most crucial of all is discovering what it tastes like! The fact that it uses more water than Espresso means that it has a somewhat subtle taste with bitter undertones and smoky hints. 

Can You Add Milk to Lungo Coffee?

Some people might find that its flavour is such that it requires a little extra something for sweetness or creaminess. Does lungo coffee have milk traditionally, though, or is it not recommended?

The bottom line is that it is your coffee; you can do what you want. But no, the italian way is to have it black. If you need milk in your cuppa, you might be better off with a latte or another type of coffee drink.

How to Make a Lungo Coffee

And there you have it: your answers to, what is a lungo cup of coffee? All thats left, it would seem, is to provide you with the best lungo coffee recipe to try at home.

Creating an authentic version will require an espresso machine, meaning that if you dont have one, youll have to wait until your next cafe visit. Those who do possess such an item can follow these step-by-step instructions:

1. Pour filtered water into the espresso machine reservoir.

2. Grind whole coffee beans or Buy Coffee to our ground espresso fine specifications.

3. Preheat the machine ready for use.

4. Add the ground espresso shot to the machines portafilter.

5. Tamp it down so that the liquid can pour through evenly.

6. Slide the portafilter back into place.

7. Change the extraction time to at least one minute.

8. Start brewing by pressing the button.

9. Pull a long shot into one of your lungo coffee glasses.

10. Serve traditionally black or, if youd like a twist, include milk or sugar.

Summary of What is Lungo Coffee

Anyone who has wondered, “What it was” now has everything they need. Well, not quite everything. Be sure to buy your Coffee Beans from The Kent and Sussex Tea and Coffee Company. Consider, too, trying one (or many!) of our 1,000 types of Loose Leaf Tea. Whether it’s Earl Grey Tea or Colombian Coffee, Rooibos or Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee, start your journey here.