What could be better than a strong, invigorating espresso? It would seem that the classics of the genre do not require improvement, but coffee lovers try to diversify recipes in order to try something new and unusual. Baristas surprise customers with fresh inventions in cooking technology. One such successful experiment with the classics was Long Black.
Long black coffee: what is it?
Long black coffee has two important differences from Americano, which make it possible to distinguish it as a separate drink:
- Using two espresso shots instead of one;
- Pouring coffee into hot water, and not vice versa, like an Americano.
The Americano recipe is to brew espresso and dilute it with water. In the long black coffee recipe, water is poured first, followed by coffee. This way the foam does not crack, but remains dense and uniform. A double shot of espresso not only makes the “diluted” Americano stronger and richer, but also creates a denser, more beautiful crema in which the aromatic substances are concentrated. The entire palette of espresso flavors in one sip!
Since the drink is quite new, and many people prepare it in their own way, there are options for preparing long black coffee with one shot of espresso, and not everyone knows about the importance of the order in which the ingredients are added. However, the popular option is double espresso and pouring coffee into water. If you want to get a classic long black in a coffee shop, ask the barista what recipe they use.
The difference between Americano and other types of coffee
The drink reveals the flavor nuances of the raw materials used in cooking. It can have a chocolate, caramel, floral or smoky flavor.
The difference between the drink and other types of coffee:
- From espresso. Strong coffee has a more bitter taste and is made from medium-ground coffee. There is always foam on its surface. For Americano, you can use medium-ground beans. The presence of foam is optional.
- From Lungo. As this coffee brews, the liquid slowly passes through a layer of ground beans, resulting in a rich flavor. The finished lungo is distinguished by its high strength, strong and persistent aroma.
- From cappuccino. When making cappuccino, frothed milk is added to espresso. It has a low strength and a soft creamy taste. If you combine milk foam and Americano, the product will be more aromatic and stronger.
Long black coffee recipe
To make long black coffee, you will need a coffee machine to get quality espresso.
Baristas also recommend warming the glass before pouring the drink into it. So, you will need:
- Ground coffee, espresso mixture – 2 heaped teaspoons;
- Purified water;
- Sugar - optional.
Pour 120 ml of water into the coffee machine, boil and pour 60 ml into a heated glass. Using the remaining 60 ml of water, make a double espresso and pour the coffee directly into the glass of hot water. You can add sugar.
Chocolate Americano
Coffee mixes well with chocolate, so try making a chocolate Americano at home, served cold.
Grate a few cloves of chocolate on a small grater and dissolve the resulting mass in hot water. Prepare an Americano and combine it with hot chocolate in equal proportions. You can add sugar, fruit syrup or a little milk to the drink to taste. Place in the refrigerator for an hour and serve chilled.
Other noteworthy drinks can be prepared using Americano. You will be amazed at how many different recipes there are. Be sure to get to know him better so that every day brings satisfaction and new emotions.
Americano coffee - varieties and production.
How and with what to serve long black coffee
Some bars may serve long black in cappuccino cups. The volume of the drink is 120 ml, so universal cappuccino cups with a volume of 140 ml are suitable.
In Australia and New Zealand, long black coffee is served in small coffee glasses, usually made of heat-resistant glass.
The classic taste of long black coffee is complemented by various mint and caramel syrups, cream liqueurs, and you can additionally serve heated milk or cream. Fans of new flavors can add traditional coffee spices (nutmeg, cloves, cardamom, star anise) or alcohol.
DeLonghi's feature of programming drink volumes
This feature of programming recipes on Delonghi coffee machines only applies to models with electronic control (push-button or touch, not with mechanical knobs) without remote control from a smartphone.
To maintain your volumes, you can only rely on the volume of liquid poured into the cup.
No precise parameters such as milliliters or seconds appear anywhere. The scale on the screen in programming mode says absolutely nothing, and every time you reprogram, you need to start the full-scale dispensing of the drink and monitor the cup/measurement. Do you want to increase the programmed volume for a certain drink? Start cooking, place the desired cup.
Many competitors are guilty of this; DeLonghi does not particularly stand out in this case; for example, almost all Philips Saeco are now programmed in the same way. Look, in Siemens EQ.6 Plus younger versions, the coffee/milk proportions cannot even be adjusted, only the total volume.
At the same time, with Delonga with mechanical knobs (ESAM 2200/2600/2800/3000/3200/4000/4200), the volume adjustment, in my opinion, is much more clear - just set the knob where you need it, and you're done. Yes, you still need to know how the position of the knob on the panel relates to the volume being poured, but this is understood once and for all.
In addition, new models with remote control from a smartphone (for example, Delonghi ECAM 510.55/550.xx/650.xx) allow you to customize recipes with an accuracy of milliliters without natural spills just through the mobile application, there are simple intuitive sliders.
Espresso
Espresso is the quintessence of coffee taste, the base of any classic coffee drink. This is not a type of coffee tree, not the name of a coffee mixture, but a method of preparing coffee, which requires compliance with certain conditions. The essence of the method is that water at a temperature of about 90°C is passed through a filter with ground coffee under a pressure of 9 atm. The volume of an espresso serving is 25-30 ml. Many people have the wrong idea about espresso, thinking that it is simply a dark, bitter drink with a burnt coffee taste. This misconception arises due to the fact that espresso often has a strong, rich, concentrated or strong taste. But not bitter at all. Espresso is quick to prepare, has an original aroma and is often referred to as a drink for true gourmets and coffee connoisseurs. Compared to other coffee drinks, espresso gives you the same dose of caffeine in a smaller volume of liquid, which allows you to preserve the original aroma and flavor notes. Espresso, by definition, should be intense and rich. The skill of a good barista is to create a balanced taste of this drink. There are many factors to consider when making espresso: grind size, water temperature, freshness of the beans and pouring time. Doesn't it look a little more complicated than just 30ml of the drink? Drinking a shot of espresso is the best way to appreciate the true taste of coffee, its richness, chocolate or fruity taste and different shades of aromas. You should drink espresso immediately after serving, before the gas layer evaporates and the coffee cools down. Cooled espresso tastes radically different from freshly prepared espresso.
Latte
It's no secret that the basic element of a delicious latte is mastering the art of frothing milk: properly frothed and heated milk plays a major role in creating the perfect drink. After all, first of all, a latte is not coffee with milk, but milk with coffee. Obviously, when served, the drink must be at a suitable drinking temperature. Also important in this drink is the foam on the surface of the cup. When frothing milk, it is impossible to create airy foam without supplying enough air. Surely you remember the “hissing” sound when making a latte in a coffee shop - this is the sound of creating foam. The sound when perfection is born. What is a latte: a shot of espresso, warm milk and about 1 cm of airy, delicate foam on top. And if you ask what is the difference between a latte and a flat white, the answer is obvious - 1 cm of foam.
How did the Lungo coffee drink come about?
There is a myth that explains the appearance of such a drink. For starters, lungo was intended to offend Americans.
After some time, the Italians came up with a slightly different way of preparing lungo.
They started pouring more water. The resulting drink was slightly bitter and had more caffeine.
Origin story
If not for the economic crisis that hit Italy after the end of World War II, lungo might not have been invented. At this time, budget-conscious Italian coffee lovers are faced with the fact that they cannot afford to drink more than 1 cup of espresso for breakfast. 30-35 g of tonic drink is a small portion, especially for breakfast. And to afford doppio or triplo (double or triple dose) - use 2-3 times more grains. Back then, for most Italians, such spending was an unaffordable luxury.
The method, discovered by baristas in the post-war years, is as follows: the volume of espresso increases at least 2 times due to an increase in the amount of water; The preparation time for the drink also increases (hence the name of the coffee: “lungo” - “long”).
Due to this, the effect of maximum concentration of caffeine in the liquid is achieved, i.e. the output is not a diluted espresso, but an almost equally concentrated and more saturated with alkaloids and tannin psychostimulating product.
Affogato
Last on our list for today, but no less interesting is affogato. In terms of the richness of the coffee taste, affogato is very similar to macchiato, but in fact it is not coffee, but a coffee-based dessert. In moments of playful mood, or when you feel a surge of mischief, affogato is the best choice to maintain the mood. But seriously, the recipe is quite simple. A scoop of vanilla ice cream is poured with a shot of hot espresso. Sounds tempting? Have fun! Our baristas at Mamakofe know all about customer service and prepare you the best quality, fresh, home-roasted coffee. We have grown to understand that every person has different likes and dislikes, and the perfect coffee is not as simple as “black and white.” We have encountered so many different questions and wishes over the years that it is hard to surprise us, however, we are ready to surprise and satisfy the most sophisticated requests. So the next time fate brings you to Mamakofe or you order our catering service, do not forget to specify when ordering what kind of coffee you want, what you like and what is best for you, and we will be happy to prepare drinks taking into account your individual wishes .
Cappuccino
The well-known and beloved cappuccino is a traditional Italian drink. I'm sure someone will say that the main difference between a cappuccino is the foam. But no: cappuccino is much cooler than all other drinks based on coffee and milk! Conventionally, it can be divided into three parts: espresso, milk and dense, elastic milk foam with a glossy, polished surface. What makes cappuccino special is precisely the proportions of all components and the harmonious balance of coffee and steamed milk. Well, while enjoying this wonderful drink, you will undoubtedly notice the cool, dense, but delicate foam at the beginning, which smoothly transitions to the rich taste of hot coffee with milk.
