Comparing ‘Americano’ and ‘Long Black’ – Are They the Same?

The world of coffee for the uninitiated can be a daunting one.

There are so many different coffee drinks out there with all sorts of fancy names – Espresso, Americano, Long Black, Cappuccino, Latte, Macchiato… the list goes on and on. What is one to order if they are craving a simple ‘Kopi O’?

At a cafe, the two most common options for black coffee are an Americano and a Long Black. Some places offer both options, while others only have one or the other on the menu.

To add to the confusion, there are people who use the two terms interchangeably.

Are these two drinks the same thing after all?

VERDICT:

FALSE

Americano and Long Black are two different drinks with very different origins.

While they may look and taste very similar – both are made with espresso and water, after all – there is a specific method behind each drink.

The Americano originated during the World War II era. It is said that American soldiers found Italian coffee far too strong for their liking and would dilute it with water for a milder taste. This may also have helped soldiers stretch out their limited coffee rations.

Modern Americanos are made by pouring hot water over espresso. This means the espresso is poured into a cup first before it is diluted with water.

Long Blacks, on the other hand, originated in the Australasian region.

The minor, but crucial, difference between the two drinks is the order in which water and espresso are added to each other.

The order is reversed in a Long Black – water is poured into a cup first before espresso is added to it. This leaves the espresso crema intact. Espresso crema is essentially the frothy stuff you find floating on top of a freshly-brewed shot of espresso.

Some coffee lovers claim the Long Black tastes stronger due to the espresso sitting ‘on top’ of the water.

Others, however, would say that black coffee is black coffee!

Check out our handy graphic of common coffee drinks to expand your dictionary of caffeine terminology even further:

Referrences:

1. https://coffeeaffection.com/americano-vs-long-black/

2. https://www.alliancecoffee.sg/long-black-vs-americano/

3. https://americanolounge.com/the-history-of-the-americano