Guide · Espresso machines
What is a lungo? The long shot explained
A lungo is a long espresso: more water runs through the coffee for a bigger, milder cup. Here's how it compares with espresso and an americano, with machine sizes.
What is a lungo? It’s a “long” espresso. Instead of stopping the shot at espresso size, the machine keeps running water through the same coffee, so you get a bigger, milder cup. You’ll see a lungo button on many pod and bean-to-cup machines. This guide explains how a lungo differs from an espresso and an americano, and what size it is on popular machines. We haven’t tested this in person. Our facts come from De’Longhi’s published instructions and Currys’ machine listings. Read how we compare.
What is a lungo? The basics
With a lungo, all the water goes through the coffee grounds, rather than being added afterwards. That’s the key difference from an americano, where hot water is added to a finished espresso.
De’Longhi’s instructions for its ECAM35X.75 bean-to-cup machine show the gap clearly. The default sizes are:
| Drink | Default size on De’Longhi ECAM35X.75 |
|---|---|
| Ristretto | about 30ml (adjustable from about 20 to 40ml) |
| Espresso | about 40ml |
| Espresso lungo | about 120ml (adjustable from about 80 to 180ml) |
So on that machine, a lungo is about three times the volume of an espresso.
Who it isn’t for: anyone who wants the full intensity of an espresso. A lungo is milder, because the same coffee meets more water.
Lungo sizes on Nespresso machines
Nespresso machines are where most people meet the lungo button. Currys’ listings give these cup sizes:
- Nespresso CitiZ (EN167.B): espresso 40ml and lungo 110ml. It was £175 at Currys, checked 3 Oct 2026. See our Nespresso CitiZ review. See it at Currys.
- Nespresso Vertuo Pop (ENV90.B): sizes from a 25ml ristretto and 40ml espresso up to a 150ml “Gran Lungo”, a 230ml mug and a 355ml large mug. It was £99 at Currys, checked 3 Oct 2026. See it at Currys.
Capsules are sold for different cup sizes. Morrisons, for example, sells lungo and ristretto pods as separate products. Check the capsule pack for the cup size it’s designed for, and match it to the button you press. For more on the two systems, see our Nespresso guide.
Lungo pods we found at Morrisons on 3 Oct 2026 included:
- L’OR Espresso Lungo Profondo, 10 pods for £4.25 at Morrisons, checked 3 Oct 2026, or 40 for £10.00 at Morrisons, checked 3 Oct 2026
- Morrisons The Best Fairtrade Lungo, 10 pods for £3.25 at Morrisons, checked 3 Oct 2026
Check that any pods fit your machine before you buy.
Lungo vs espresso vs americano
| Espresso | Lungo | Americano | |
|---|---|---|---|
| How it’s made | Short shot | Longer shot, more water through the coffee | Espresso with hot water added |
| Typical size | About 40ml | About 110 to 120ml on the machines above | Medium cup |
| Taste | Most concentrated | Milder, longer | Milder, longer |
The americano and the lungo can end up a similar size, but they’re made differently. De’Longhi UK’s americano method puts hot water in the cup first and adds the espresso on top, so the extra water never goes through the coffee. With a lungo, it does. For more on the americano, see espresso vs americano.
Does a lungo have more caffeine?
De’Longhi says caffeine increases with the water quantity, in its explanation of why a ristretto has less caffeine than an espresso. On that explanation, a lungo, which runs more water through the coffee, would contain more caffeine than a ristretto. We haven’t found a published caffeine figure for a lungo specifically, so we won’t put a number on it.
How to make a lungo at home
- Pod machine: use a lungo capsule and press the lungo or large-cup button.
- Bean-to-cup machine: choose the lungo or “long” option if your machine has one. De’Longhi says the length of the coffee can be programmed on its bean-to-cup machines. On the ECAM35X.75, you can adjust the lungo from about 80 to 180ml.
- Manual espresso machine: let the shot run longer than you would for an espresso. See how to make espresso at home for the basics of pulling a shot.
Who it isn’t for: anyone who likes a big mug of black coffee. A lungo is longer than an espresso, but still smaller than a typical mug.
FAQ
What is the difference between a lungo and an espresso? A lungo runs more water through the coffee, so it’s bigger and milder. On De’Longhi’s ECAM35X.75, the defaults are about 120ml for a lungo and about 40ml for an espresso.
How big is a lungo? Currys lists 110ml for the lungo on a Nespresso CitiZ. De’Longhi’s ECAM35X.75 makes about 120ml by default.
Is a lungo the same as an americano? No. A lungo runs all the water through the coffee. An americano adds hot water to an espresso.
Can you use any capsule for a lungo? It’s best to use capsules designed for lungo-sized cups, and check the pack for the size it’s meant for.