Chances are you've enjoyed a cappuccino, a latte , or an Americano at some point, but lungo? You don't see it on most menus. Let's take a look at what lungo is, how to prepare it, and what makes it so popular.

The coffee drink originates from Italy. Italians are known for their love of their coffee. This hot cup of coffee is consumed not only at breakfast, but throughout the day. When you think of Italian coffee, espresso is usually the first thing that comes to mind. Just like espressos, the secret of lungos lies as much in the beans you choose as in how the coffee is prepared.

How is lungo coffee made?

The amount of water used for an espresso shot is typically 18 to 30 seconds with approximately 30 ml of water. An important step is that a lungo requires twice as much water. It may take a few minutes longer to brew due to the excess water.

There's a significantly larger draw due to the amount of water. Once in the cup, a lungo is roughly the size of a doppio or double espresso cocktail.

Many espresso machines have presets for making one at home. Nespresso even has Lungo capsules that can be used for the drink. But if you have an espresso machine that doesn't have preset settings, make sure you can change the extraction time and the amount of water you'll use. If these two settings can be adjusted, then you can make a lungo without a problem.

All the other elements are the same as for espresso, including temperature and grounds. Then, you'll just need to increase and adjust the water and extraction time until you reach the optimal point, just before over-extraction.

Lungo vs Americano: What's the difference?

Both lungos and americanos are made with an espresso machine and water. That's why it's so common to ask, "Is a lungo an americano?" The method for making these two coffees sounds the same, but there's a big difference. When you make a lungo, all the water is brewed, and it generally comes out shorter than an americano.

When you make an Americano, you add the water after the espresso has been extracted from the espresso machine. Americanos also typically come in larger cups so you can add as much water as you want to the coffee .

Lungs should be served in a slightly smaller cup because you don't need to add water after preparing them. But it depends on how you prefer it.

Both coffees are made with ground coffee and roughly the same amount of water. So, you'd expect them to taste the same, but that's not exactly the case. Adding the water after the espresso has been extracted will give you a milder-tasting coffee. Passing the water through the ground coffee granules, as they do in a Lungo, gives the coffee a much stronger flavor. This is perfect for those who like a strong, dark coffee to start their day.

What does a lungo taste like?

The flavor of a lungo is much more subdued than that of espresso or ristretto (a shot with half the amount of water). But although the drink is more diluted, it's also bitter.

Espresso has an intense flavor due to the reduced amount of water being pushed through all the coffee grounds. Espresso has an intense flavor, and the crema can be argued as the most enjoyable part of an espresso shot. Because a lungo shot takes longer to pull than a regular espresso shot, it alters the extraction time and can produce a more bitter taste. Lungo shots also have less crema.

For some, bitter-tasting coffee may sound delicious, but for others, it will literally leave a bitter taste in their mouths.

Above all, it's important to keep in mind that a lungo isn't a half-strength shot, and that the flavor change goes beyond simply diluting it with water. This is because its production involves several different chemical processes. A lungo will have more smoky and burnt notes compared to other drinks in the espresso family.

The next time you're craving an espresso or an Americano, you might want to give the Lungo a try. Any good barista can make it, even if it's not on the menu. So, dare to ask for it at your local coffee shop and experience the Italian experience without traveling.