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!

What Is an Americano?

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It originated in Italy, and its name comes from the fact that it was originally made for American soldiers stationed in Italy during World War II.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.

What Is a Long Black?

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.

What Are Iced Americanos and Iced Long Blacks?

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?

What Is the Difference Between Iced Americano vs Iced Long Black?

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

• Preparation: You add cold water and ice on top of the espresso when making an iced americano. When making an iced long black, you add the espresso on top of the cold water and ice.
  
  
• Proportions: The iced americano has more water than the iced long black. The iced americano typically has around 6 or more ounces of water, whereas the iced long black contains about 4 oz of water.
  
  
• Taste: The iced americano has strong and bold coffee flavors. It tastes like something in-between espresso and drip coffee. An iced long black is even stronger and more similar to espresso than an americano. This is because less water is used, and by pouring the espresso over the water, the crema ends up top and is not mixed with the water.
  
  
• Looks: Iced americanos and iced long blacks look very similar, but there are some differences. The iced long black should have a layer of crema on top, and should be a smaller drink (i.e. less water).

How Do You Make Iced Americanos?

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

• 1-2 shots of espresso
  
  
• 6 oz of Cold filtered water
  
  
• Iced cubes

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.

1. Pour 1-2 shots of espresso into an espresso cup. Transfer the shots into your drinking glass. You can directly pour the espresso shots into your drinking glass provided it's heat proof!
   
   
2. Add about 6 oz of cold water onto your drinking glass containing the espresso.
   
   
3. Add the ice cubes.

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!

How Do You Make Iced Long Blacks?

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

• 1-2 shots of espresso
  
  
• 4 oz of cold filtered water
  
  
• Iced cubes

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.

1. Add about 4 oz of cold water and ice cubes to your drinking cup.
   
   
2. Pour 1-2 shots of espresso into an espresso shot glass.
   
   
3. Slowly pour the espresso over the cold water with ice, while avoiding the ice cubes. Do not mix!

Enjoy!

What Are Some Tips To Make Iced Americanos and Iced Long Blacks?

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.

• Use espresso whole beans! Ground coffee is not nearly as fresh and this will be reflected in your drink's taste! If you don’t have a grinder, we recommend you purchase a manual grinder or even an electric grinder!
  
  
• Although some people cool the espresso by putting it in the fridge, we recommend against doing so. It should be enjoyed immediately. After pouring your espresso shots, oxidation will continue taking place. Within 15 to 30 minutes, your espresso shot won't taste as good as it used to!
  
  
• Play with the proportions! Find the amount of ice and cold water YOU like. The coffee police will not get you if you use more or less water or deviate from these coffee recipes!

Should I Get an Espresso Machine?

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!

How Many Calories Do These Two Drinks Have?

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!

How Much Caffeine Do These Two Drinks Have?

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.

Do Iced Americanos and Iced Long Blacks Have Any Health Benefits?

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

Bottom Line

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!