Long Black

Hot water topped with a double espresso, the reverse of an americano. The crema survives the pour and the drink is stronger because less water is used.

EspressoServed hotFrom Australia

Volume
180ml6.1 US fl oz
Espresso
2shots
Caffeine
127mgderived, USDA FDC
Coffee to water
1:2.0

The build

Watch it made, step by step
Tulip cup, 200 ml. Layers in pouring order from the bottom, drawn by volume.
  1. Water120 ml67%
  2. Espresso60 ml33%
Volume
180ml
Caffeine
127mg
Espresso
2shots

Scales every component together, so the ratio holds; caffeine scales with the coffee.

Roughly 1:2 espresso to water, smaller and stronger than a typical americano; the pour order keeps the crema intact.

Caffeine

Derived
127mg

in a 180 ml long black

USDA FoodData Central SR Legacy caffeine per 100 g scaled to the coffee volume in components, assuming 1 g per ml. FDC 171891 (Beverages, coffee, brewed, espresso, restaurant-prepared) 212.0 mg/100 g x 60 ml.

USDA FoodData Central record 171891 · read 2026-10-26

A derived figure: the reference food's caffeine per 100 g scaled to the coffee in this build. Real cups vary with the coffee, the dose and the shot.

Variants by country

1
NameCountryHow it differs
americanoUnited StatesSame ingredients in reverse order, usually more water.

History

A fixture of Australian and New Zealand espresso culture since the late twentieth century, now exported alongside the flat white. Wikidata describes it as an Australian and New Zealand style.

Australia and New Zealand café style.

Related drinks

Espresso Caffè Americano 150 ml · 64 mg

Espresso lengthened with hot water to filter-coffee strength and volume. Adding the water after extraction keeps the shot's flavour profile while lowering intensity.

 Espresso Verlängerter 120 ml · 64 mg

Vienna's lengthened espresso, between a lungo and an americano, usually with a jug of milk on the side.

 Espresso Abatanado 90 ml · 64 mg

Portugal's long coffee: an espresso stretched with hot water to a medium cup.

 Espresso Café Allongé 90 ml · 64 mg

A French lengthened espresso, between a lungo and an americano in size. Ordering 'un allongé' gets a milder cup than the default espresso.

 Espresso Caffè Crema 150 ml · 64 mg

A long coffee brewed on an espresso machine with a coarser grind, topped with crema. The everyday café coffee of Switzerland and much of Germany.

 Espresso Colada 120 ml · 254 mg

A shareable cup of several sweetened Cuban espressos handed out in tiny cups. Miami's communal coffee break.