One of the most famous and favorite drinks for coffee lovers is the espresso. This coffee drink is different and unique in the way it is prepared and served. While you can make a cup of espresso at home, it requires specific gear to make. The resulting coffee however is the best tasting rich in flavor and taste making the espresso one of the best types of coffee in the world. That’s why we have decided to explain lungo vs espresso in detail.
Most people know about the espresso but have you ever heard of lungo? There is a difference between these two but they are also similar in a way. The similarity comes from being prepared using the espresso machine while the differences are immense and they vary. Below is a description of each of these types of coffee and a comparison of the same. Dive in and let us know which is your favorite.
Espresso
This is a rejuvenating coffee drink made using the espresso machine. The drink is intensely flavored with 1-2 oz. of coffee per shot. Remember espresso is served in shots put in small espresso cups. When an espresso machine pulls the shots, it forces hot water through the packed coffee grounds extracting bold espresso flavors loved by many.
One shot takes about 20-30 seconds but the length of one shot varies depending on the machine and the calibrations. For some machines, this decision is left to the user. The espresso shot consists of three parts, the bottom darker part called the body, the middle part called the heart and the top which is light and foamy called the crema.
The true espresso is made of no additions but some people choose to take more than just one single shot and use other additives like milk, chocolate sprinkles and such.
Lungo
Made from the same espresso machine, it is a different way of pulling an espresso giving it a whole new flavor. This coffee drink is made by pulling a shot from the espresso machine but it takes longer than the espresso shot. The outcome is a less intense coffee flavor than the one that took a shorter time to pull.
The difference in the coffee is that it adds more water to the grounds to push through during the brewing process. As a result, the lungo shot has more ounces as compared to the espresso. The rich flavor in the espresso is absent in the lungo and the lungo develops a bitter taste because the shot took longer to pull than the espresso.
Just like the espresso, the lungo has three parts but less crema.
Lungo vs espresso differences
- Taste
The normal espresso is made to have a rich taste and flavor. That is one reason why the espresso is loved by many. To most people, it is not only a morning drink but it is also a rejuvenating or stimulating drink.
The taste is different between the two because of the difference in pull times of the shots. Extraction in a lungo takes longer and it releases a harsher and more bitter taste than the espresso. The lungo is also lacking in flavor as compared to the espresso. Reason being, there is much more water used in the brewing so it is less concentrated.
The espresso on the other hand has a strong and rich flavor and a thicker crema which is the best and most enjoyable part of the beverage. During its extraction, smaller amount of water is used hence the rich taste.
- Quantity
The quantity of an espresso is smaller as compared to the lungo. In the lungo, more water was used during extraction. The normal shot for an espresso is about 1oz while the lungo shot is about 1.5 oz. making it dilute. Think of a lungo as a diluted espresso.
- Caffeine Levels
Caffeine as we all know has a bitter taste. When it comes to the lungo and espresso, the one that takes longer time to extract has more caffeine and is the lungo. The espresso has a strong and rich flavor but the amount of caffeine is a bit less. The lungo takes time to extract so it naturally extracts more caffeine from the coffee grounds.
There is a misconception that the lungo and espresso are the same in taste as well as flavor. This is not true. If this was true, then there would be no difference between the espresso and the lungo. Despite the differences in quantity, the flavors would be the same but that’s not the case.
Logically, the espresso and the lungo are different right from the preparation. The similarities are using the same machine and preparation method but one takes more time and is more in quantity so there is bound to be a difference in the taste and constituents of the beverage. Hope this lungo vs espresso guide has answered most of your questions.
