For the uninitiated, the trio of short black, long black, and Americano might look and taste the same. However, these 3 drinks have slight differences which alter their flavour and consistency profile. Continue reading if you want to know more about them!
What Is A Short Black?
A cup of short black is basically a cup of espresso; nothing more and nothing less. It is called a “short” black because it only consists of a single shot of espresso, which is only about 30 ml. It has nothing added to it that can lighten the colour, so it is naturally pitch black in colour.
An excellent short black or espresso shot should have a rich consistency, a silky crema, and a strong flavour profile.
What Is A Long Black?
A crowd – favourite in Australia and New Zealand, you can find ‘long black’ on every single coffee shop menu down under. It is made by adding 2 shots of freshly brewed espresso into a cup of hot water. It has a much smoother crema and a bolder taste compared to the Americano, which is also a mixture of espresso and water.
The most important thing about this drink is the order in which you pour in the ingredients. To make an amazing cup of long black, you must first add hot water into your glass before pouring the two shots of espresso to create that velvety crema on top.
Using a lot of water is suitable if you dislike strong coffee and want to dilute the bitterness a little, while using a little water is recommended if you want to ‘bring out’ more of the coffee’s rich strong flavour profile.
What Is An Americano?
Similar to the long black, a cup of americano consists of 2 shots of espresso that are diluted using hot water. The main difference between brewing Americano and long black is the order you follow to add the ingredients.
In Americano, you will need to pour the two espresso shots first before then adding hot water on top. At a water – to – espresso ratio of 4:1 the Americano is not as bold or strong as the other 2 coffees, and it also has a much thinner crema
This coffee beverage has its roots in Italy. Italian coffee makers would mix water with their espressos to dilute the strength, which is better suited for the tastebuds of Americans visiting the country. Thus, the Americano was born.
Differences Between The 3 Drinks
| Short Black | Long Black | Americano |
| A shot of espresso with nothing added to itVery strong taste and thick crema | 2 shots of espresso poured on top of a cup of hot waterVery bold flavour and thick crema, though it is not as thick as the short black’s | Made by adding hot water on top of 2 shots of espressoThin crema and a weaker flavour profile |
How To Make Long Black, Short Black, And Americano
Making a short black essentially means making an espresso. You can start by grinding your coffee beans (Arabica coffee beans are recommended) before then brewing the ground coffee using the brewing method of choice, such as an espresso machine or French Press.
To make a long black, start by following the steps above and brew 2 shots of short black or espresso first. Then, add hot water into an empty cup before pouring in the two espresso shots on top.
Similarly, you will also need to prepare 2 shots of espresso to make an Americano. After the two espresso shots are brewed you can then add water at a 4:1 ratio on top of the espresso. So if 2 shots of espresso equal 60 ml, you can mix it with 240 ml of hot water.
