Have you ever walked into a coffee shop, looked at the menu and froze because there were just so many options?
Perhaps you’ve seen a lungo on there. Today, we’ll uncover what a lungo is and I’ll show you how I brew my own cup of extra creamy lungo coffee.
What is a lungo?
A lungo is a variation of an espresso made with more water.
In Italian, lungo means long, which is named so because it is produced with a longer pull time, letting the brewing process continue for longer than a regular espresso, for an additional 30 seconds or so.
The final result is a slightly larger espresso.
Espresso isn’t just the name of a drink. It’s a process. To better understand what a lungo is, let’s discuss the difference between a lungo and an espresso.
Lungo vs Espresso
You’re probably used to seeing a single or double shot of espresso available at a coffee shop.
When you pull a shot of espresso, the coffee is made by adding pressure and forcing water through compact, finely ground coffee, then served in a demitasse cup.
A shot is one ounce of coffee and it is highly concentrated.
Then you may have seen the terms ristretto, lungo and doppio associated with an espresso. These coffee names were given based on how they are being extracted from an espresso machine, using the same ingredients but different processes. For instance, some of these require a longer brewing time, hence it yields more coffee, while some yield less.
A lungo is a variation of an espresso made with more water. As mentioned above, it is produced with a longer pull time, hence the name lungo (long in Italian.)
But wait doesn’t that sound like an americano?
Lungo vs Americano
An americano is made by pulling a shot of espresso, then adding water. Meanwhile a lungo is just made with more water and requires a longer espresso pull time.
This long full cup extraction coffee is similar to an americano, but it is more compact, contains lots of caffeine and tastes quite bitter. You read it right, it’s bitter and some may prefer it more than others.
What does a lungo taste like?
When it comes to taste, bitterness is often considered as an adverse element, especially in black coffee. The research shows that bitterness not only adds a delectable complexity to some food and drinks but is often quite good for health. It also shows that black coffee can have beneficial effects on conditions such as diabetes, mental illness, and depression.
A typical lungo has roughly double the amount of water used in espresso which yields about 3-4 ounces of liquid. In a good balanced extraction, Lungo should have a mixture of bitterness, acidity and sweetness in harmonious proportions.
So how do I make a cup of lungo coffee?
We consume food and drinks with both our mouth and our eyes. So finding an element to enhance both the flavor profile and visual attractiveness of a lungo is important.
Froth is the answer! Froth will enhance and balance the flavors in a lungo, while giving a creamy texture to complement the drink to a different level. Froth will not only add dimension and volume to the lungo, it will also change the color of the coffee slightly to make it more appealing and yummy.
I am going to show you an easy way to froth a lungo and make it less bitter and extra creamy.
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What You’ll Need to Make Lungo Coffee
Tools
- Espresso machine
- Blender
- Coffee glass/cup
Ingredients
- Ground coffee – 18 grams
- Sugar – 1 teaspoon
Step by Step Instructions
Step 1
Extract 4 ounces of lungo coffee with an espresso machine. (If you don’t have an espresso machine, use an alternative brewing method like a Moka Pot, Aeropress, or use a capsule/pod coffee machine.)
Step 2
Add sugar into the lungo.
Step 3
Pour into blender and let it blend for approximately 20 seconds.
Creamy beverages are a delight to drink. What makes this Creamy Lungo somewhat unique is that it has a creamy component you don’t find in a regular lungo, which enhances the overall mouthfeel.
My Creamy Lungo gives a different texture and
This is one easy coffee beverage to make at home and perfect for entertaining guests after dinner. Give this frothy and unique Creamy Lungo a try, it is surprisingly delicious!
This sounds delicious! I am a coffee lover but am often baffled by the huge range of coffee jargon out there. I find it really interesting that we are often so keen on this bitter taste that we should be naturally adverse to but you make a great point about the importance of the coffee being visually appealing too which seems to make it more palatable! Thanks for sharing.