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☕ Coffee Drinks · 2026

What Is a Lungo? The Long Shot, and How It Differs From an Americano

A lungo is a long espresso shot: the same dose of coffee with roughly twice the water run through it, commonly 50-70 ml from a machine and closer to 110 ml from pod systems. How it differs from an americano, a ristretto, and a regular shot.

Written and reviewed by the CoffeeLabAdvisor editorial team · Published 2 September 2026 · Last updated 10 September 2026

6 facts, each with a source below 6 questions answered 6 reviewed machines that make it

A lungo - Italian for long - is an espresso shot with more water run through the same dose of coffee: commonly 50-70 ml from an espresso machine against a standard shot's 25-30 ml, with pod systems programming theirs closer to 110 ml. The crucial distinction: the extra water passes through the coffee, extracting more from it - which is why a lungo tastes more bitter and lighter-bodied than a shot, and why it is a different drink from an americano, where water is added after the shot.

NameItalian lungo = long - the opposite of ristretto (restricted)
Machine lungoCommonly 50-70 ml from the same single dose
Pod lungoProgrammed around 110 ml on pod systems
vs a standard shotSame coffee, roughly double the water through it
vs an americanoLungo extracts with the water; americano dilutes after
TasteLighter-bodied, more bitter - more of the coffee is extracted

The long shot, precisely

Espresso recipes have three classical lengths from one dose of ground coffee: the ristretto (restricted - about half the water), the standard shot, and the lungo (long - roughly double). Our shot size guide documents the volumes with their sources: a standard single around 25-30 ml, the machine lungo commonly 50-70 ml, and pod systems programming their lungo buttons near 110 ml. Nothing else changes - same basket, same grind, same dose. The water does the redefining.

Why more water through coffee changes the taste

Extraction is sequential: the first water through a puck pulls the sugars and bright acids, the later water pulls progressively more bitter compounds. A ristretto stops early and tastes sweet and dense; a lungo keeps going and picks up the later, more bitter range with a lighter body. That is not a defect - lungo drinkers want a longer, more coffee-forward cup without dilution - but it explains the classic mistake: running a lungo to fill a mug produces harshness that an americano avoids entirely.

Lungo vs americano: the distinction that matters

Both drinks are longer than an espresso; the route differs completely. The lungo extracts more - all its water passes through the coffee bed. The americano dilutes - a normal shot is pulled, then hot water is added on top, so the extraction stays standard and only the strength drops. Result: an americano tastes like a gentler espresso at any length you like; a lungo tastes like more espresso, edges included, at a fixed modest length. Menus and pod buttons blur the two constantly, which is most of why this page exists.

Making one at home

On a machine: pull your normal dose and simply run the shot longer, targeting roughly double your usual volume - and taste critically, because many coffees turn harsh past that point; the grind can go slightly coarser to soften it. On pod systems, the lungo button does the programming for you. If what you actually want is a large, smooth cup, combine the two ideas honestly: a standard shot plus hot water is the americano, and it scales to any mug without bitterness.

Machines that make it, from our reviews

A lungo needs nothing special - any reviewed espresso machine below runs a longer shot; each card names its published score.

Jura Z10
🏆 2026 Best Bean-to-Cup Machine winner

Jura Z10

Bean-to-Cup · Automatic milk

$4,199.00Live Amazon price · as of 09/11/2026 11:46 PM
Buy on Amazon →

Frequently asked questions

Is a lungo a coffee drink or a way of pulling espresso?

Both, and that is why the name causes confusion. A lungo is a drink you can order, and it is also the method that produces it: the same dose of ground coffee with roughly twice the water run through it, commonly 50 to 70 ml from a machine. Nothing else changes — same basket, same grind, same dose. The extra water is what makes it a lungo rather than a different coffee.

What is a lungo coffee?

A long espresso shot: the same dose of ground coffee with roughly double the water run through it - commonly 50-70 ml from a machine, or about 110 ml as pod systems program it. It tastes lighter-bodied and more bitter than a standard shot because more of the coffee is extracted.

What is the difference between a lungo and an americano?

The route of the water. In a lungo, all the water passes through the coffee, extracting more (including more bitterness). In an americano, a normal shot is diluted with hot water afterward, keeping the extraction standard. Longer and stronger-edged versus longer and gentler.

Is a lungo stronger than an espresso?

It contains marginally more caffeine and dissolved coffee (more water passed through the dose) but tastes less intense per sip - the concentration is lower because the same coffee is spread across double the liquid. Lighter body, more bitterness, more total volume.

What is the difference between a lungo and a ristretto?

They are opposite ends of the same dial: a ristretto restricts the water to about half a standard shot, tasting denser and sweeter; a lungo doubles it, tasting longer and more bitter. Same dose, same machine - the water volume is the whole recipe.

How many ounces is a lungo?

Roughly 1.7-2.4 oz (50-70 ml) from an espresso machine, per the documented conventions on our shot size guide - and about 3.7 oz (110 ml) as pod systems define it. Exact volumes vary by machine and recipe, which is why the ranges carry sources rather than one number.

Sources for this page: Lungo volumes (machine 50-70 ml; pod ~110 ml), the ristretto contrast, and the certified-shot references: the sourced conventions documented on our espresso shot sizes page (Italian Espresso National Institute and manufacturer programming), read 2026-09-01/02 · Americano construction (dilution after the shot): the sources documented on our americano page We have not measured drinks in a lab; where volumes differ between authorities, the page names each authority rather than averaging them, and machine capabilities come from our own published review records.

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