Iced Americano vs Iced Long Black: Learn the Differences Now

Do you like iced coffee drinks? If so, this post is for you!

In it, we will be discussing the differences between iced americano vs iced long black. We’ll start by explaining what americanos and long blacks are, and then move on to the differences between their iced versions. Finally, we’ll provide easy recipes on how to make them at home, including tips on how to make them taste as good as possible.

So whether you’re a coffee lover or just looking for a refreshing summer drink, stay tuned – this post has everything you need!

Let’s get started!

An americano is a coffee drink that is made by diluting espresso with hot water.

It originated in Italy, and its name comes from the fact that it was originally made for American soldiers stationed in Italy during World War II. The espresso drink Italians drank was too bitter for American soldiers, so they diluted it with hot water.

So Italian soldiers started to refer to these diluted espresso drinks as caffè americano.

Nowadays, americano is a popular choice for coffee lovers who want a strong, bold flavor while minimizing the espresso bitterness. It is also one of the healthiest coffee drinks as traditionally it does not have sugar or milk.

So what exactly is an Americano?

At its most basic, it’s 1 or 2 shots of espresso topped off with hot water.

A long black is an espresso-based coffee drink that originated in Australia and New Zealand. However, beyond this, its origins are a bit nebulous.

The long black contains the same ingredients as an americano: espresso and water.

However, the main difference is in the preparation and proportions.

For a long black, hot water is added to a drinking cup, and then the espresso is poured into the mug containing the hot water.

This results in a coffee drink with a layer of crema at the top.

The proportions of the long black differ from the americano, with the long black containing less water (about 4 oz) and thus being more concentrated.

Iced Americanos and iced long blacks are simply the iced coffee versions of their hot counterparts.

To make an iced americano, espresso is brewed and then cold water and ice are poured over the espresso.

To make an iced long black, cold water and iced are added to a glass and then espresso is poured into the glass containing the ice and water.

Simple, right?

So how do these very similar drinks differ?

Now that we know that iced americanos and iced long blacks are, let’s summarize their key differences.

It is very easy to make an iced americano. You will only need the following:

Ideally, you want to use an espresso machine. If you don’t, try using a type of coffee maker that makes strong coffee. You can use a moka pot, a French Press, or an AeroPress.

And that’s it! Enjoy!

Here’s where you can buy an AeroPress for a cheap and quick way to make delicious espresso at home:

Now let’s go over how to make iced long blacks!

You will need the same ingredients for the iced long black:

As for the Americano, ideally you want to use an espresso machine. Alternatively, make a strong coffee. You can use a moka pot, a French Press, or an AeroPress.

Enjoy!

Although making these two drinks is very easy, observing a few rules of thumb will ensure your drinks are as fresh and delicious as possible.

If you really like iced americanos and iced long blacks, do yourself a favor and buy an espresso machine! Espresso machines are the only way to truly enjoy these two drinks.

“Okay…I’m not rich”, you might think!

But hear us out. You can actually save money if you purchase an espresso machine.

If you like iced americanos or iced long blacks, most likely, you are purchasing these drinks at your local coffee shop.

They might cost you $3 or $4 per day at coffee shops, or $1,095 to $1,460 per year! Yikes!

That is a lot of money (and a lot of single-use plastic cups!). And you have nothing to show for it, except the memories of buying and drinking coffee every day!

Did you know there are many espresso machines under $1,000? That is right, that means you could start saving money within a year of purchase.

Even purchasing higher end automatic espresso machines could save you money if you have more than one coffee addict living with you!

Plus you will be helping the environment by reducing coffee waste!

These two drinks have the same amount of calories. And we are happy to report that they contain almost no calories.

Water contains no calories, so let’s look at the calorie content of espresso coffee. Espresso contains about 20 calories per 8 ounces.

This means if you prepare your drinks with one shot of espresso (1 oz), they would have about 2-3 calories. If you used two shots of espresso (2 oz), they would contain 4-6 calories.

Obviously, if you add milk or sugar, the calories will skyrocket!

Iced americanos and iced long blacks contain about 63 mg of caffeine if prepared with one shot of espresso, or about 126 mg of caffeine if prepared with two shots of espresso.

This is based on data from the US Department of Agriculture.

For reference, the FDA recommends a maximum caffeine intake of 400 mg per day (1).

However, please note that the caffeine content can vary significantly!

This can depend on the types of espresso beans you use.

For example, if your espresso blend contains a higher percentage of beans from the Robusta variety, then your espresso caffeine content will increase.

This is because Robusta coffee beans can contain roughly twice the amount of caffeine than Arabica coffee beans.

Yes, both iced americanos and iced long blacks have health benefits.

These include reducing the risk of heart disease, stroke, and cancer. They also help improve brain function and memory (2).

They are healthier than other coffee drinks because they do not contain milk, sugar or add-ons that typically increase sugar and calorie content.

The key difference is that iced coffee is standard brewed coffee with ice, whereas iced americanos and iced long blacks are made using espresso, water, and ice.

Cold brew coffee is brewed in cold water, as the name implies. Iced americanos are made with espresso, brewed using hot water and high pressure. Then cold water and ice is added to cool it.

No, they are not the same. An americano is made by adding hot water to espresso, whereas a Long Black is made by adding espresso to hot water.

In terms of flavor, an iced americano is typically stronger than iced black coffee because it contains espresso, made with beans of darker roasts. Black coffee is made with drip coffee and can be made with beans of light and medium roast.

Yes they can! Simply purchase decaffeinated whole beans. Note that decaffeinated beans have at least 97% of the caffeine removed. This means they still have a bit of caffeine in them!

Iced americanos and iced long blacks are both delicious coffee drinks that can be made at home using an espresso machine.

They contain the same amount of calories and have health benefits, such as reducing the risk of heart disease, stroke, and cancer.

If you are looking for a delicious thirst-quenching iced coffee drinks that is easy to make at home, try an iced americano or iced long black! You will not be disappointed.

Let us know if you have any questions in the comments!

This article is intended for informational purposes only. It is not meant to replace professional medical advice, treatment or diagnosis. Do not consume any type of coffee, tea or herbal infusion if you are allergic to it. The information in this article is not intended to treat serious medical conditions. Please seek professional medical advice before using home remedies.