You might come across a “caffè lungo” around Italy or a “long shot” in cafes around the U.S. I only recently learned the difference between a short espresso, known as a ristretto, and the opposite order: a lungo. The difference between variations of an espresso shot depends on the water-to-coffee ground ratio, leaving each shot of espresso with a different volume and taste. Now that I know the difference between these espresso shots, it makes ordering espresso even more fun. If you’ve also wondered: “What is lungo?” when reading a coffee shop menu, here’s what you should know.
What is lungo?
A lungo is a shot of espresso that contains more water than a standard espresso shot. Its name is derived from the Italian word “long” (which seems fitting if you ask me). Lungo espresso shots use the same amount of ground coffee beans as traditional espresso shots. However, twice as much hot water is used.
The process of coffee extraction first extracts fruit acids, followed by sugars, and lastly, the bittering components. As a result of a more prolonged extraction and more water used, the final product is a higher-volume drink milder than a regular shot of espresso. Although the taste of a lungo shot is milder, the flavor also tends to be more bitter. The increased bitterness comes from the longer extraction time. Lungo shots also have less crema than a standard shot of espresso.
Origins of the lungo
While you might come across a “lungo” at some specialty coffee shops in the US, you’re more likely to hear this shot described as a “long shot.” As Italian coffee shops experimented with new ways to brew espresso, many tried pulling longer shots and using more water than used in traditional espresso shots.
The exact origins of the lungo are not entirely known, but somewhere along the way, someone attempted a “long pull,” which began the lungo. Some coffee enthusiasts believe that the Lungo emerged in the mid-20th century as a way to stretch out the limited supply of coffee during times of scarcity.
Double espresso shot vs. lungo
What’s the difference between lungo, ristretto, and espresso?
Part of understanding “What is lungo?” is understanding its “opposite” order: the ristretto. A ristretto is the opposite of the lungo, made with less water than a traditional shot of espresso. The water-to-coffee ratio in a lungo is 1:3 or 1:4, whereas a ristretto is made with a 1:1 water ratio. Tomo Laca of European Coffee Trip does an excellent job explaining and depicting the visual differences between these different-sized espresso shots.
“When you think about the main differences between ristretto, espresso, and lungo, it is the drinks’ volume and strength. They range from very strong and small, like ristretto, to weaker and larger, lungo and espresso are somewhere in the middle. The easiest way to define the strength is by brew ratio, which is the correlation between how much coffee grounds we use and how much liquid we get in the cup,” explained Laca. If you want to understand what a lungo is, I recommend watching the entire video. It’s helped me better understand the value of ordering each of these shots.
Do you add milk to a lungo?
A lungo does not come with milk, but it can be enhanced. While a lungo shot is traditionally enjoyed black, adding milk can enhance it’s flavor and create a smoother, creamier drink. Lungo shots can be used in some espresso drinks. However, they’re often not the best choice for creamy espresso drinks like lattes or cappuccinos. The diluted and milder taste of lungo shots is not strong enough to pull through large amounts of milk or cream. For this reason, traditional or ristretto shots are used in espresso drinks that use milk.
