Brewing

If you’ve ever ordered an Americano at a specialty coffee shop, you might have noticed “lungo” listed nearby and wondered what makes them different. Both result in larger, black espresso drinks, but the way they’re made creates noticeably different cups. This guide breaks down the difference and shows you how to make each. The Core Difference The key distinction is when the water is added: Lungo: Water passes through the coffee grounds during the espresso pull (more water, same grounds, longer extraction) Americano: Water is added to the shot after it’s pulled (standard espresso + hot water in the cup) This difference in process produces different flavor profiles despite similar serving sizes. ...

Walk into a specialty coffee shop and you might see “double ristretto” on the menu where other places list “double espresso.” The drinks look almost identical in the cup, but to a trained palate they taste noticeably different. This guide explains exactly what ristretto is, how it differs from espresso, and when you’d want to use one over the other. What Is a Ristretto? Ristretto (Italian for “restricted” or “narrow”) is an espresso shot pulled with the same amount of coffee but roughly half the water. The result is a smaller, more concentrated shot. ...