How to make a "great" long black?

[Whiteman]

Hi all. Im having a great time with my new Lelit from Jetblack. Every coffee style I like is coming out better than most cafes I have access to and Im still on the bottom end of the learning curve. But ....

The other half wants to start the morning with a long black in one of those transport mugs people use in cars.

My attempts at making a long black have been ordinary. Started with a good shot and added kettle water just off the boil - the Lelit only has a 300ml boiler. Then tried kettle water first then added the shot and still not great.

Is there are foolproof method of making a long black (my least preferred way of drinking coffee)? I need to know things like ideal water temps, coffee shot to added water ratios, anything to improve please!

[Yelta]

Re: How to make a "great" long black?

About 12 years ago when home espresso and my Silvia were new to me my method of making a long black was to grind the beans so I would extract about 150ml in approx 25 seconds with no water added before or after.
Decided to revisit the method a while back and must admit I was quite surprised, opened the burrs on the Mazzer a couple of notches, ground 18 grams of Yirg, dosed and pulled the shot 150ml in 30 seconds, different drink all together than the water added method, much more body, sweeter, great chocolaty taste and mobs of crema.
I continue to use this method and much prefer it to adding hot water to a shot.
Give it a go, you have nothing to lose.

[iaindb]

Re: How to make a "great" long black?

usually in a 100-120mL cup I will 2/3 fill it with hot water and then pour the 30mL espresso shot on top, but I suspect the car mug is a lot larger than a normal cup so you may have to use a double. About 1:2 espresso to water (note thats not half, thats 1/3 espresso, to taste).

Water first or last probably doesnt matter as you wont really see it (adding the espresso on top will preserve the nice crema look in a cup) so long as its not boiling. Really, just make it as hot as the drinker likes, and make sure the cup is clean.

And you have to make sure your espresso flavour is good enough. Black coffee is less forgiving than a milky coffee. How does the espresso taste by itself?

Finally, what is your wife comparing it to? Instant / Maccas?

My machine at work isnt up to making long blacks no matter what I do - I can smell the sourness before I get close, but your Lelit should be, providing your grinding fresh beans just before using them.

HTH

[flynnaus]

Re: How to make a "great" long black?

Is there are foolproof method of making a long black

The best long blacks Ive made for myself have been with an Aeropress. Id suggest giving one of these a try and get the Coava disk rather than use the filter paper as they allow more flavours through.

But dont let the water from the kettle reach boiling point. I find water that is too hot kills off some of the flavour.

[Whiteman]

Re: How to make a "great" long black?

Hmmmm .... food for thought there. I will persist with the Lelit rather than an Aeropress as that is the point of buying an espresso machine. And take the point that a long black is unforgiving. The short black shots are full of flavour with no bitterness so the starting point is good - fresh grind each time. Maybe it will be easier to change partners drinking habits!

[Yelta]

Re: How to make a "great" long black?

Hmmmm .... food for thought there. I will persist with the Lelit rather than an Aeropress as that is the point of buying an espresso machine. And take the point that a long black is unforgiving. The short black shots are full of flavour with no bitterness so the starting point is good - fresh grind each time. Maybe it will be easier to change partners drinking habits!

I tend to agree re the Aeropress Whiteman, I enjoy espresso in my opinion the AP simply doesnt cut it.
Give my method a try, I think your wife will be pleasantly surprised.

[Barry O'Speedwagon]

Re: How to make a "great" long black?

The other half wants to start the morning with a long black in one of those transport mugs people use in cars.

My attempts at making a long black have been ordinary. Started with a good shot and added kettle water just off the boil - the Lelit only has a 300ml boiler. Then tried kettle water first then added the shot and still not great.

Is there are foolproof method of making a long black (my least preferred way of drinking coffee)? I need to know things like ideal water temps, coffee shot to added water ratios, anything to improve please!

Pretty hard to diagnose if you dont identify what is wrong with the coffee you are making. Too strong/weak/bitter/sour/acidic/tastes like fried chicken? What volume are you trying to make (Id get my technique right on a standard cup first). Does your local water have a strong taste? What grinder do you have?
Cheers
BOSW

[flynnaus]

Re: How to make a "great" long black?

I will persist with the Lelit rather than an Aeropress as that is the point of buying an espresso machine

I have many different equipment for preparing non-milk coffee. The Aeropress has the advantage of portability: it goes on holidays with me. But, a long black prepared with a Ap is much smoother and flavoursome than one from my Giotto.

if you enjoy espresso the AP simply doesnt cut it.

Depends on how well you prepare either. I like espressos and espresso-based long blacks but I find my Aeropress technique consistently provides a superior cup to either.

[Yelta]

Re: How to make a "great" long black?

Depends on how well you prepare either.

Are you suggesting my coffee preparation skills are lacking? to imply I dont enjoy AP coffee because I dont take the appropriate care or dont know what Im doing is drawing a pretty long bow, why is it that if if we express a dislike for a particular type of coffee we always get a percentage of snide remarks telling us our technique must be flawed.
While Im not a self professed expert I do have a pretty fair handle on our dark art.

I have many different equipment

I too have "many different equipment" over the years they have all had their moment in the sun, however my preference is for espresso, thats just the way it is.

[flynnaus]

Re: How to make a "great" long black?

Are you suggesting my coffee preparation skills are lacking?

No, I was merely disputing your claim that the Aeropress doesnt cut it. You are trying to read too much into it. There was nothing "snide" in what I said.

Up until sometime last year when i changed to a Coava disk and used an inverted Ap method, I would have agreed with you. Now, i dont. So yes, technique is important. My best espresso shots are not as good as my usual Ap brews.

[Yelta]

Re: How to make a "great" long black?

[QUOTE=040E1B0C0C031711620 I was merely disputing your claim that the Aeropress doesnt cut it.[/QUOTE]
Fair enough, have modified my post to read "for me the AP simply doesnt cut it."[QUOTE=040E1B0C0C031711620 I was merely disputing your claim that the Aeropress doesnt cut it.[/QUOTE]
Fair enough, have modified my post to read "for me the AP simply doesnt cut it."

My best espresso shots are not as good as my usual Ap brews.

For me the reverse is the case, my worst espresso brews are better than my best Aeropress efforts, once again personal preference.

[Yelta]

Re: How to make a "great" long black?

I was merely disputing your claim that the Aeropress doesnt cut it.

Fair enough, have modified my post to read "in my opinion the AP simply doesnt cut it."

[TC]

Re: How to make a "great" long black?

Agreed,

Different methods produce different long blacks. Both can be great! Its all about personal preference...

I cant stand Aeropress with paper filters. It has to be the Coava for me.

Chris

[KiteStyle3]

Re: How to make a "great" long black?

I do it a bit differently from everyone I know - till I saw jons post... maybe Im not totally alone in the world.

I like a strong sweet long black in the morning - also like latte, espresso, etc, but I want at least 250mls of strong black coffee first thing.

I have a Lelit PLl53 grinder set fairly fine (not super fine I guess).

I have a LaScala Butterfly. I grind into the dual portafilter until its heaped over the top by 1cm. I tamp lightly and if its judged right its still easy to twist on (too much coffee = hard to twist on) but right on the borderline.

Then I fill the mug. (cue gasps from the snobs?) ;D

Dont know numbers but Id guess around 300-500ml in ... 40 seconds to a minute maybe?

Dump in a tablespoon of sugar and thats me happy. Complete philistine? Maybe. But thats how I like it!

[Yelta]

Re: How to make a "great" long black?

I do it a bit differently from everyone I know - till I saw jons post... maybe Im not totally alone in the world.

I like a strong sweet long black in the morning - also like latte, espresso, etc, but I want at least 250mls of strong black coffee first thing.

I have a Lelit PLl53 grinder set fairly fine (not super fine I guess).

I have a LaScala Butterfly. I grind into the dual portafilter until its heaped over the top by 1cm. I tamp lightly and if its judged right its still easy to twist on (too much coffee = hard to twist on) but right on the borderline.

Then I fill the mug. (cue gasps from the snobs?)  ;D

Dont know numbers but Id guess around 300-500ml in ... 40 seconds to a minute maybe?

Dump in a tablespoon of sugar and thats me happy. Complete philistine? Maybe. But thats how I like it! 

GDay KS, was going pretty well reading through your post until we got to the tablespoon of sugar ;D bit much for me, I add a level coffee spoon of sugar, approx 3 grams, and have been roundly chastised for even this miniscule amount.
I have friend who drinks white instant with 6 heaped teaspoons :
It really is all about personal preference isnt it.