The coffee world is full of mysterious terms that you practically need to be a barista to understand. But if you just want to be able to understand the menu at your local coffee shop, you don’t need to sign up for barista training!
Here’s what you need to know about short black coffee, including where the name comes from and what separates it from long black coffee. After that, we will show you how to make a short black coffee. Let’s get started!
What is a short black coffee?
If you order a short black coffee at a coffee shop, you’ll enjoy a simple shot of espresso. Short black coffees contain roughly 30 milliliters, or 1 ounce, of water and about 7 grams of coffee.
The name actually comes from this drink’s opposite, the long black coffee. A long black is a single or double shot of espresso poured over 4 to 6 ounces of water. This makes it similar to an Americano — a drink closer to classic American drip coffee.
What does a short black coffee taste like?
Above all, short blacks are strong, concentrated cups of coffee. This drink features rich, complex flavors that vary depending on the coffee beans you use. If you love intense espresso, you’ll enjoy the short black. However, if you’re more of a drip coffee drinker, you may want to try a long black instead.
How to Make a Short Black Coffee
Equipment
- Espresso machine
- Espresso cup
Ingredients
- 7 grams fresh coffee beans
- 30 milliliters filtered water about 1 ounce
Instructions
- Grind your coffee beans finely. Use approximately one part coffee for every two parts of water, or about 7 grams of coffee per shot. Tamp the grounds tightly into your espresso machine’s portafilter.
- Put the portafilter into your espresso machine and place an espresso cup beneath the brew head. Start pulling the shot and start a timer at the same time.
- Allow 30 milliliters of water to flow through your grounds for 25 to 30 seconds. Stop brewing once you hit the water amount and time frame.
- Enjoy your short black coffee plain or with a sugar cube!
Nutrition
Final Thoughts
Now that you understand the short black coffee, why not give it a try? Pull a perfect shot of espresso or turn it into a long black by adding extra water. This drink is delicious, rich, and simple! In other words, it is time to start brewing!
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Featured Image Credit By: Fatima Akram, Pixabay
