What's the difference between long black and American coffee? Long black

Ask for Long Black in a coffee shop, and at first glance, you get something similar to American coffee. But dig a little deeper and you'll see that there's something different.

Like American coffee, long black is an espresso. Both have the same ingredients: espresso and hot water. But the difference is in preparation.

This is the meaning of long black, unique and how to make it.

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Since long black coffee is the most popular coffee shop drink in Australia and new Zealand, I contacted experts in the region to find out what the drink is and how it is made. Levent Doganay is a coffee specialist at Coffee Brewmasters in Melbourne, Australia.

"Traditionally, in Australia and Australia, 100 to 120 milliliters of hot water is poured from a coffee machine and then a pair of espresso or ristretto is poured to make it black," he said.

The main difference between American and Long Black is the way hot water is mixed with espresso. Americano coffee is made by pouring it over espresso coffee, while long black coffee is the opposite. By pouring espresso into hot water, the drink retains more crema than American coffee can provide.

Usually, long black coffee also uses less water than American coffee. As a result, it is more concentrated, which means that the flavor of espresso is more pronounced. It should not be mistaken for bisque, which is strong coffee extracted with more water than usual.

As the name suggests, long black can usually be enjoyed without milk. "The added water opens up the flavor of the coffee and highlights the characteristics of the beans and the roasting properties…[and you can] enjoy it for a longer time!" Levent said.

Outside of Australia and new Zealand, it is common to advertise the drink under different names on coffee shop menus. Mulia Handayani owns Smile Koffie, a coffee shop in Indonesia's West Java province. He said: "the name of my cafe is kopi hitam (black coffee)......(the name we give customers) when they say they want long black or american coffee." Long black coffee appeals to "anyone who likes black coffee," he said.

At Smile Koffie, Mulia and his team prepare an espresso by adding 160 ml of water heated by an espresso machine to a glass, then pour an espresso on top. Asked how he described the drink's taste, Muria said: "It's similar to American coffee, but with a stronger aroma and taste."

things to consider

Long black is to be considered. Traditionally, it's been drunk with milk and not drunk, which means the bottom espresso blend tastes more compelling than espresso or plain white coffee.

Therefore, it is important to use quality coffee. Levent said he uses Colombia single-source coffee, which is perfect for espresso. Mulia uses two different blends: Arabica coffee and Robusta coffee, both from Indonesia's Temangkung region.

Mulia said he chose coffee from Temangkung because it has "a unique, distinctive coffee aroma with low acidity and has a (soft, soft, floral and fruity) flavor." He described the taste as "penetrating the tongue" and having a "sour taste."

Mulia said he also tried different variations. For example, he explained, when a customer drinks a cool drink, ice cubes are sometimes used to darken it. He said he used to add sugar, syrup and even whipped cream.

In addition to adding other flavors or milk, you can also change the espresso itself to give the beverage a different flavor. One such variation involves adding more concentrated, double ristretto style coffee to the water. By adding stronger coffee, long black coffee becomes thicker, less acidic, and more "syrupy" in taste.

While making Long Black is relatively simple, as with any drink, you need to be careful. Pouring espresso on water that is too hot can affect the blackening taste. It also means customers will have to wait for their drinks to cool down and not be able to enjoy them immediately.

Levent recommends using water heated to around 70°C. This can make the black longer,"taste clearer and the surface cleaner," he said. It also keeps the drink sweet and helps it retain a layer of crema on top. If the water is too hot when espresso is poured into it, the grease dissipates faster.

Long Black seems to be similar to other black espresso drinks, but its unique preparation method gives it a unique body and taste that sets it apart from American coffee.

Knowing what makes it different will help you understand who it appeals to: perhaps drinkers who are after some slightly different black coffee, or people looking for alternatives to American coffee. Either way, this knowledge will help you make or enjoy quality long blacks for years to come.