SimonPeters116
Well-known member
In 2000 I started international work. Italy was my main destination. We used the Frejus Tunnel from France into Italy, because the Mont Blanc Tunnel was still closed after that big fire. This meant using the ASTM (AutoStrada Turin Milan) which passes Novara, where there was a big service station on the bridge, serving both sides of the motorway, so it was busy. The coffee bar on the bridge had a 10 (or 12) font Espresso maker. The barista there usually had 8 of them going, at the same time. The other 2 were the just finished font and the just about to start font. During busy periods he didn't bother pouring beans into the grinder and putting its lid back on. He just up-ended the canister into the top and left it there. When you reached the coffee bar, you had to be on the ball. He'd look around at you, that was your cue, if you wanted anything other than a normale (espresso) you had to pipe up quick, or you were getting a normale. The guy was a maestro.Now you know one of the differences between an 'Americano' and a 'Long Black'
An Americano CAN have milk, but a Long Black cannot!
Also the way they're made is different - so an Americano is hot water poured over an espresso, and a Long Black is an espresso poured into hot water.
...and I'm sure any proper coffeesnoblover on here will tell you a 'Flat White' is also not simply a black coffee with milk!