How do YOU make a Long Black and/or an Americano

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alisam

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#322675 11-Sep-2025 10:48

After making a Long Black for about 23 years on a VBM Domobar, I now wonder what I am making.

It all started when I searched for 'Americano' and it all seemed to get confusing and contradictory.

I make an espresso and then add the hot water on top.

What method do you use to make a Long Black and/or an Americano?

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#3413670 11-Sep-2025 10:51

I don't drink them myself but what you describe is what I understand it to be - espresso + hot water.

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nitro

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#3413671 11-Sep-2025 10:59

to make a long black, i do it the other way around. put hot water in the cup, then the espresso on top. this keeps the crema.

never bothered with americanos, but my understanding is that it's pretty much a longer black, i.e. more water with the espresso shot.

bigreddog

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#3413748 11-Sep-2025 12:53

Long Black = hot water then espresso
Americano = espresso then hot water

So the americano ends up with less crema, supposedly because American consumers can't handle the stronger espresso flavours

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scuwp

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#3413770 11-Sep-2025 13:51

I went to a cafe once that put milk in my 'long black'. They took offence when I pointed out it doesn't have milk and asked them to re-make it. They continued to insist they were making it correctly. Even when I pointed out the name of the drink included 'black' they still dug their toes in. They did begrudgingly make one for me without milk. Needless to say never went there again.

When I can be bothered: Long black = espresso then hot water. Americano = espresso and even more hot water

I am usually just as happy with an instant black coffee (don't shoot me!)

Some places a long black and americano are indistinguishable, they result in the same drink.

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SaltyNZ

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#3413785 11-Sep-2025 14:24

scuwp:

I am usually just as happy with an instant black coffee (don't shoot me!)

Alright but I am side-eyeing you SO. HARD. right now.

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TwoSeven

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#3413842 11-Sep-2025 16:57

I make neither - not my cup of tea :)

Flat white is also out of the question too - it’s just a cappuccino in my book, also excluded.

in England one asks for coffee, you’ll get a cup of coffee with milk and a sugar in it. Otherwise also called a standard coffee. It goes well with a bacon sarnie.

A latte would be the next best thing :)

To me, an americano is a long black with a dash of milk - but in my book, not enough to look like it has milk in it.

In actuality I think a long black is hot water, with a shot or two of coffee pored over it. The Americano is the shot, topped up with water (I think one is also hotter) - it changes the taste.

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#3413866 11-Sep-2025 17:44

"Hey, hows things"

"Good, thank you... what would you like"

"Americano, large, take away please"

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Handle9

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#3413886 11-Sep-2025 19:28

scuwp:

I am usually just as happy with an instant black coffee (don't shoot me!)

You do you. I won't judge.

I promise.

I'm trying really hard here.

It's really difficult.....

RunningMan

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#3413887 11-Sep-2025 19:29

@coffeebaron

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#3413917 11-Sep-2025 20:39

As I understand it, an Americano coffee originated from serving the needs of those who normally drink filter coffee (primarily those from the USA, secondarily those brought up from coffee served by fast-food chains) from an Espresso machine. The user is expected to add the same Krema (powdered milk substitute) that is usually added to filter coffee by Americans, after it is served.

The 'water then espresso' vs 'espresso then water' is an irrelevant invention of those with pretentious affectations.

I only ever encountered an outlet that insisted that Americano was white coffee at the food truck that served cabbies in the taxi/shuttle holding pen at Wellington Airport. 😁

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hsvhel

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#3413920 11-Sep-2025 20:57

RunningMan:

@coffeebaron

I'm so sure today, i got an iced latte from the Z on Cryers Rd, and when i got to the round-a-bout on cryers/Trugood he was there looking as i went through around 10:30ish

@coffeebaron? could it have been?

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#3413928 11-Sep-2025 22:01

hsvhel:

RunningMan:

@coffeebaron

I'm so sure today, i got an iced latte from the Z on Cryers Rd, and when i got to the round-a-bout on cryers/Trugood he was there looking as i went through around 10:30ish

@coffeebaron? could it have been?

24hrs earlier I was driving through that way, but certainly you will not see me stop at any petrol station to buy a coffee.

There are mixed theories and ideas on long blacks vs americanos. But typically long black is 80-100g water in first, then double shot on top. Americano shot first, then the water and more off it. But then it depends on where you go really, the "definition" seems to have changed over the years and either can be he same as the other these days. I mean how many cafes when you ask for a long black, give you a shot and a side of water? How does that not then become an americano?

These days, whatever coffee you get, if your a purist, or fussyist, then it's best just to describe how you'd like your coffee made. These days, theres no real wrong way to have coffee; unless it's instant, or robuster, or you put sugar in it, or you make it with not dairy milk, or, or... hehe

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#3413934 11-Sep-2025 22:19

coffeebaron:

These days, theres no real wrong way to have coffee; unless it's instant, or robuster, or you put sugar in it, or you make it with not dairy milk, or, or... hehe

Targeted much?! Trust me... you don't want to see the aftermath of me drinking a real milk Coffee...

So, in cases like mine it's perfectly acceptable to use alternative milk.

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Senecio

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#3413956 12-Sep-2025 08:21

Shot of espresso, add hot water then tip it down the sink because black coffee is horrible.

gzt

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#3413981 12-Sep-2025 09:42

I have an idea stuck in my mind that Americano is sweet black coffee and if you don't want it sweet you have to add "no sugar" to the order. I have no idea where I picked this up. Some random coffee shop I used to frequent probably.

Anyway my number one takeaway from life's coffee experiences - "never order Americano because you never know what you're going to get" ; ).

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