What is Lungo Coffee?

If espresso feels too small, lungo coffee could be just what you need. Originating in Italy, it is known in Spain as ""café largo."" It uses the same coffee amount as an espresso but with double the water, producing a more generous cup.

It's important not to mix up lungo with an Americano. Though both are longer coffees, they're made differently. In a lungo, more water flows through the coffee grounds during extraction, giving it that extended, smoother taste. With the Americano, hot water is added after brewing, creating a unique and smoother flavour experience. Looking for an easy way to enjoy both Lungo and Americano coffees at home? Explore our range of NESCAFÉ® Dolce Gusto® coffee machines designed to effortlessly brew these styles with just the touch of a button.

The unique brewing method also brings out extra bitterness as the water extracts compounds that wouldn’t appear in shorter coffee types.

Want to know how to make a lungo coffee and how it differs from other styles? Keep going!

If you're someone passionate about coffee and curious about how much caffeine you consume, this is definitely a topic that might pique your interest. Let’s explore it together.

A lungo, known for its extended brewing time and increased volume, does in fact contain more caffeine than a typical shot of espresso. However, when compared to a regular cup of coffee—like standard drip or filter—it becomes a bit more nuanced.

A lungo coffee, which is produced by prolonging the extraction process of an espresso, usually measures around 85–110 ml (about 3–4 fl oz). This type of lungo drink generally includes 65–80 mg of caffeine. On the flip side, a regular serving of brewed coffee, approximately 240 ml (8 fl oz), typically has about 95 mg of caffeine.

So, although a lungo packs more caffeine than an espresso, it still delivers slightly less caffeine than a standard coffee in total volume. Keep in mind, however, that a lungo coffee is not as concentrated as espresso but offers more richness than regular drip coffee—making it a wonderful compromise. It's all about finding the ideal match for both your flavor preferences and your caffeine requirements.

The next time you’re deciding on your cup, think about what suits your craving more: the bold and smooth taste of a lungo, or the familiar strength of a traditional brewed coffee. Either way, it's bound to be a satisfying experience!

Imagine this: you’ve just brewed a perfect lungo coffee. Its deep and fragrant aroma is already enticing, but maybe you're in the mood for something silkier and more mellow. This is where milk can come into play.

Adding milk to a lungo isn’t just possible—it can be incredibly enjoyable. Because a lungo drink is made with a longer brewing time, it brings out more nuanced notes from the coffee. Milk can enhance these flavors wonderfully. Whether you just want a small splash to soften the profile, or prefer to add more for a creamier consistency, it's all about tailoring your cup to fit your taste.

Some coffee lovers even like to recreate drinks similar to regular coffee with milk (like our Latte Macchiato and Cappuccino pods) by adding steamed milk with a touch of foam on top of their lungo coffee. It’s like crafting a café-style experience from the comfort of home.

So next time you're making a lungo, don't hesitate to try it with milk. It might just become your new go-to way of enjoying it. Yes, milk can definitely be added to a lungo coffee.

Coffee has become an essential part of many people’s daily rituals. But do we truly understand what’s meant by a short, medium, or long coffee? While we often refer to short and long variations, sometimes the term ""medium coffee"" is used to describe an espresso, to distinguish it from a Ristretto. In simple terms, the primary difference between these types is the volume, which depends on the amount of water used during preparation. For example, an espresso uses about 30 ml of water, a lungo around 180 ml, and a Ristretto roughly 15 ml.

What else differentiates these styles? Let’s explore!

Let's talk about flavor profiles! The longer coffee is brewed, the more bitterness develops. This is why a lungo tends to have a more pronounced bitter taste compared to a Ristretto.

Regarding caffeine, the amount extracted depends heavily on how long the coffee grounds are in contact with water. Since lungo takes longer to brew, it generally has a higher caffeine content—even though it has a milder flavor—because more compounds are drawn from the grounds.

Timing is key—Ristretto is the most concentrated. As it's the earliest part of the extraction, its flavor is more intense.

It's time to channel your inner barista! Try preparing a lungo coffee at home.

Using an automatic machine?
1) Just insert the NESCAFÉ® Dolce Gusto® lungo coffee capsule:
2) Set the dispenser to level 4 and use the “hot drinks” option
3) Sit back and enjoy


Prefer a manual coffee maker?
1) Place the NESCAFÉ® Dolce Gusto® lungo coffee capsule in the holder
2) Choose the “hot drinks” function
3) Let the brew run until it reaches around 120 ml
4) Relax and savor

And now, you’ve got yourself a bold and delightful cup of lungo coffee, perfect for enjoying solo or with company, all in the comfort of your own space.

Whether you’re a seasoned coffee lover or a newcomer, understanding the differences between espresso vs lungo can enrich your coffee experience.

Espresso:
- Made by pushing near-boiling water through finely ground coffee.
- Takes roughly 25–30 seconds.
- Results in a small, concentrated coffee shot—about 30 ml.


Lungo:
- Uses the same coffee amount as espresso but with more water.
- Brew time is longer—up to 60 seconds.
- Produces a lungo coffee size of about 60–90 ml.

Espresso:
- Espresso delivers a rich, bold flavor with an intense and robust profile.
- Thanks to its quick brewing method, it captures a strong coffee essence with a thick texture and a layer of crema.


Lungo:
- A lungo has a less intense taste than an espresso. The longer brewing allows water to flow through the grounds more slowly, extracting more of the coffee’s soluble elements.
- This leads to a flavor that may be slightly more bitter but also more layered. Compared to espresso, a lungo coffee is more diluted, offering a milder, extended tasting experience.

Espresso:
- Even though it's small in size, espresso packs significant caffeine because of its concentrated brew.


Lungo:
- With its longer brewing time, a lungo typically delivers more caffeine than espresso. The added water volume extracts a greater amount of caffeine from the grounds.

Espresso:
- Usually served in a small demitasse cup, espresso is a quick, energizing coffee, ideal for a fast caffeine hit.

Lungo:
- Presented in a slightly bigger cup, lungo coffee size allows for a more relaxed drinking experience, giving you more volume to enjoy.

To sum it up, if you enjoy a powerful, concentrated coffee shot, espresso is your best choice. If you’re more into a lengthier, smoother coffee moment with less intensity, a lungo is a great fit. Each has its own appeal—try both and discover your favorite!

Let’s begin with the brewing methods.

Lungo uses the same amount of coffee as espresso, but with a longer brew time and more water. This results in a larger drink—about 2–3 ounces (60–90 ml).

Ristretto, meaning ""restricted"" or ""short"" in Italian, also uses the same amount of coffee but with less water and a shorter extraction—around 15–20 seconds. The final volume is smaller, around 0.5–0.75 ounces (15–22 ml).

When it comes to flavor, lungo and ristretto offer distinct profiles.

Lungo has a gentler taste than a typical espresso. The longer brew draws more compounds, resulting in a slightly bitter but complex flavor. Since it’s less concentrated than a ristretto, it’s great for sipping slowly.

Ristretto is all about boldness. Because of its shorter brew, fewer bitter notes are extracted, giving it a sweeter, more potent taste. It offers a strong flavor punch in a compact form—perfect for fans of robust types of black coffee.

Curious about caffeine levels?

Lungo usually contains more caffeine than a ristretto since more water passes through the grounds and extracts additional caffeine. Ristretto has less caffeine per serving, but the flavor is highly concentrated, delivering a powerful shot with lower total caffeine.

Now let’s look at how they’re served.

Lungo comes in a larger cup, offering more coffee to enjoy over time. It’s ideal for slow sippers.

Ristretto is served in a compact espresso cup, giving you an intense flavor hit in a short session.

If you’re into a longer, nuanced lungo coffee experience, choose lungo. If you want something short, strong, and impactful, ristretto is the way to go. Each has a charm of its own—feel free to try both!

This is where we explore two coffee classics—lungo and Americano. Whether you're a seasoned fan or just discovering what is lungo, these comparisons can help refine your coffee choices.

First, let's examine how these two classic coffee beverages are made, as their brewing method is what truly differentiates them.

Lungo begins with the same quantity of ground coffee as a standard espresso. The main distinction lies in the water volume and brewing duration. For a lungo coffee, more hot water is pushed through the grounds over a longer period—usually up to a minute. This prolonged extraction produces a larger coffee yield, typically around 2–3 ounces (60–90 ml), making it a signature lungo coffee size.

Americano, by contrast, is created using a different method. It starts with a traditional espresso shot. Once that's prepared, hot water is poured into the espresso. The proportion of water to coffee can differ, but the result usually resembles a typical black coffee in volume—approximately 6–8 ounces (180–240 ml). This added water dilutes the espresso, resulting in a milder and smoother lungo drink alternative.

Now let’s talk about taste and intensity—this is where these two styles diverge significantly.

Lungo has a distinctive flavor profile. The longer extraction period allows more of the coffee's soluble elements to be drawn out, which can produce a slightly more bitter flavor than a regular espresso. Still, this bitterness is balanced by a layered and complex flavor, making every sip engaging. Though less concentrated than an espresso or ristretto, a lungo coffee still offers a deep and bold taste that stands out among the types of black coffee.

Americano, due to its dilution, delivers a very different experience. The extra hot water tempers the espresso’s strength, creating a gentler, more subdued flavor. This brings it closer to traditional drip coffee, yet it maintains the espresso’s rich undertones and aroma. It’s an excellent choice for those who appreciate espresso’s essence but favor a smoother, lighter cup.

You might be wondering about how much caffeine each of these drinks contains.

Lungo usually contains more caffeine than a regular espresso shot. This is due to its extended extraction time and the greater amount of water running through the coffee grounds. The longer brewing duration allows more caffeine to be drawn out, making a lungo coffee a higher-caffeine option within the types of black coffee.

Americano, on the other hand, contains a caffeine level that depends on how many espresso shots are used—typically a single or double. The added water doesn’t change the caffeine content; it only dilutes the flavor strength. So while the taste is milder, the caffeine remains consistent with its espresso base.

Let’s now consider the serving sizes of these two coffees.

A lungo is presented in a slightly larger cup compared to espresso, providing a greater quantity of coffee to savor slowly. It’s a perfect choice for those who enjoy stretching out their coffee moment.

An Americano is served in a standard coffee mug—similar to the kind used for drip coffee. This makes it ideal for those looking for a full cup of coffee with the complex flavors of espresso, but in a less concentrated form. This difference in volume is one of the key factors in the americano vs lungo comparison.

To summarize: if your preference leans toward a bold and concentrated coffee shot, go for espresso. But if you’re after a more extended and relaxed coffee experience with a gentler taste, lungo coffee is likely your best pick. Both options have their charm, so why not give both a try and discover which suits your taste better? Get familiar with our coffee capsules varieties to pick up something to experience at home