The Long Black or Americano as it is also known, offers coffee drinkers a great alternative to the all to common milk based coffee drinks like Latte's & Cappuccino. When made well with quality espresso this can be a very well balanced drink that helps accentuate the nuances and attributes of the coffee blend used.
Let's take a look first at how to brew a great Long Black.
- Using a medium sized cup
- Pour 'off the boil' water into the cup until about 3/4 full
- The quantity of water you use will depend on the strength of coffee you desire.
- Pour a double espresso shot directly into the mug of water
- Serve immediately
By following this technique of pouring the espresso on top of the hot water you will be able to preserve the beautiful crema of the espresso extraction. This allows you to fully benefit from the sweet, aromatic oils that are extracted from the coffee beans.
The long black will really allow the coffee to shine through, without the flavours being masked by milk. It offers a more diluted way to drink espresso and enjoy the qualities of your chosen coffee when compared to that of a short black. A long black is a great preparation to use to appreciate the variety of flavours and aromas offered by the range of different coffee beans and blends available.
With the abundance of boutique coffee shops available now, serving excellent quality coffee it offers you the opportunity to safely try a great long black without the need to have buckets of milk to cover up poor quality coffee of years past. Our Serving suggestion for the Long Black, best enjoyed slowly while digesting the morning newspaper!