Key Takeaways:
- Lungo coffee offers a longer, milder espresso experience with about half the concentration of a standard shot.
- Its gentler flavor and lower caffeine per ounce make it ideal for coffee lovers sensitive to jitters.
- With simple adjustments—grind size, dose ratio, and extraction time—you can perfect your home-brewed lungo.
What helps you wake up in the morning? For some people, it’s the sound of their alarm blaring in the background. For others, it’s the thought of starting their day with a hot cup of coffee. And then some can’t function without both!
You surely have your favorite coffee drink to help you stay productive throughout the day. But have you ever tried lungo coffee?
Lungo Coffee: What is It?
Lungo coffee is a type of espresso made with twice the amount of water, resulting in a less concentrated and more diluted drink. You can read lungo coffee as lung-go. Lungo translates to long, which is why it is also known as “long coffee.”
The word lungo already gives a hint of what the baseline is of the drink. This means you get to enjoy a shot of espresso pulled longer with twice the water amount/
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The Origins of Lungo Coffee
Lungo coffee first came about in the early 1900s when people began experimenting with espresso. At the time, espresso was a relatively new invention, and people were still trying to figure out how they could use it.
One of the ways they came up with was to pull a double shot of espresso and add twice the amount of water. This resulted in a less concentrated and more diluted drink, which we now know as lungo coffee.
Lungo coffee became popular in Italy and spread to other European countries. Today, it is enjoyed by coffee lovers all over the world.
What Are the Benefits of Drinking Lungo Coffee?
There are a few benefits of drinking lungo coffee, especially if you’re sensitive to caffeine. Since lungo coffee has double the water content of your regular espresso, it has less caffeine per serving than a regular espresso. This means you can enjoy the taste of espresso without getting the jitters or feeling anxious.
However, because of the longer extraction time (30–50 seconds), a single lungo can contain slightly more total caffeine than a standard shot—up to 85 mg per serving—while still tasting milder (Food & Hotel Asia, 2025).
Lungo is also a good option for coffeenatics who want to enjoy a longer cup of coffee without drinking an entire pot. A single shot of espresso can go a long way when diluted with water and can be an excellent way to get your caffeine fix without having to drink too much coffee.
Lungo coffee is also a great choice if you’re looking for a lighter coffee option. Since it’s less concentrated, it has a lighter taste and body than a regular espresso. This can be a great choice if you’re after an easy-to-drink coffee without too much richness.
If you’re looking for a bolder and more robust flavor, then you can try adding more coffee grounds to your lungo. This will result in a stronge, bolder, and more flavorful cup of coffee.
Ristretto vs. Espresso vs. Lungo
These three types of coffee have distinct differences in taste, caffeine content, and texture. Here’s how different a lungo is from a ristretto and an espresso.
| Ristretto | Espresso | Lungo | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shot Time | 15–20 seconds | 25–30 seconds | 30–35 seconds (up to 60 s) |
| Drink Size | 1–1.5 oz | 2 oz | 4 oz |
| Caffeine | 50–60 mg | 60–80 mg | 40–85 mg |
| Texture | Creamy, intense | Thick, balanced | Thin, milder |
| Flavor | Rich, concentrated | Bold, full-bodied | Smooth, diluted |
Flavor
Espresso has the boldest flavor with the highest caffeine content. Ristretto is somewhere in the middle, as it has a less watery texture than espresso but still packs a lot of flavors. Finally, lungo coffee is on the opposite end of the spectrum with a more watery texture and a less intense flavor.
Caffeine Content
In terms of caffeine content, espresso has the most caffeine, with approximately 60-80 mg per shot. Ristretto has a bit less caffeine, with 50-60 mg per shot. And lungo coffee has the least amount of caffeine, with 40-50 mg per shot.
Shot Time
The shot time is the amount of time it takes to pull a shot of espresso. For espresso, the shot time is 25-30 seconds, while for ristretto, it is 15-20 seconds. As for the lungo coffee’s shot time is 30-35 seconds.
Drink Size
Espresso is typically served in a 2 oz. cup while ristretto in a 1-1.5 oz. cup. Most baristas serve lungo coffee in a 4 oz. cup.
Texture
Espresso has the thickest and creamiest texture because it contains the least water. Lungo coffee has the thinnest texture because it contains the most water. Ristretto has a slightly thinner texture than espresso but is still creamy.
How to Make Lungo Coffee
Now that you know what lungo coffee is and how it differs from other types of coffee, you might be curious about how to make this drink at home.
Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to make lungo coffee:
- Start by heating your water to around 200 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Next, grind your coffee beans. Aim for a medium-fine grind.
- Insert the coffee filter into the coffee machine and add the ground coffee.
- After that, slowly pour in hot water until the filter is full.
- Start the brewing process and wait for your lungo coffee to be ready.
Pro Tip: If your lungo tastes too bitter, try coarsening the grind by one notch or lowering brew temperature by 2–3 °C.
Lungo vs. Americano
- Technique: An Americano is a standard espresso topped with hot water, whereas a lungo is extracted directly with more water for a continuous pull.
- Flavor: Americanos can taste slightly more diluted and often cooler, while lungos retain a bit more espresso crema and body.
- Ideal for: Choose an Americano if you prefer a drip-like cup; pick a lungo when you want that lingering crema and a more nuanced extraction.
Expert Insight
“Variations in water volume and extraction time—key to the lungo—dramatically affect flavor intensity. As Hoffmann (2018) explains, the lungo sits at the intersection of espresso chemistry and sensory experience, delivering both complexity and drinkability.”
“Pendergrast (2010) highlights the lungo’s role in espresso culture, noting that its evolution reflects broader shifts in how consumers value longer, more nuanced coffee experiences.”
Troubleshooting Your Lungo
- Too weak? Increase dose by 1–2 g or extend shot time by 3–5 seconds.
- Too sour? Use a finer grind or raise water temperature by a few degrees.
- No crema? Ensure fresh beans (roasted within 4 weeks) and proper machine pressure.
Final Thoughts
And there you have it! A simple guide on how to make lungo coffee at home. So, the next time you feel like a change from your usual espresso or Americano, give lungo coffee a try. You might just like this less intense and more diluted coffee drink.
References:
Food & Hotel Asia (2025). Lungo Coffee: A Guide to Flavor, Brewing, and Benefits. https://foodnhotelasia.com/glossary/horeca/lungo-coffee-guide/
Hoffmann, J. (2018). The World Atlas of Coffee: From Beans to Brewing – Coffees Explored, Explained and Enjoyed. Mitchell Beazley.
Pendergrast, M. (2010). Uncommon Grounds: The History of Coffee and How It Transformed Our World. Basic Books.
