Starbucks long shot vs regular shot: which one is stronger?

We all love a cup of coffee to boost energy and stay alert and awake. Since I am a frequent Starbucks customer, I have come to know the different terms used when making coffee drinks. While most people go for a regular espresso shot, I ask for a long shot when I want an extra caffeine kick. If you do not already know the difference between Starbucks long shot and regular shot, keep reading to learn how they differ.

What are the differences between Starbucks long shot vs regular shot?

Features/Starbucks Shot	Starbucks long shot	Starbucks regular shot
Ingredients	Espresso, water	Brewed Espresso
Taste Profile	A rich, bitter flavor and a mild caramelly sweetness	A rich flavor and caramelly sweetness
Accessibility/Availability	Easily accessible in all Starbucks stores throughout the year	Easily accessible in all Starbucks stores throughout the year
Roast Level	Dark Roast	Dark Roast

Starbucks long shot vs regular shot – How They Compare

Ingredients

The Starbucks long shot is prepared using espresso and hot water. The outcome is a shot with a rich, bitter flavor and a mild caramelly sweetness. 

On the other hand, the Starbucks regular shot is prepared by steeping the Starbucks signature espresso roast slowly in cool water for about twenty hours. The outcome is a shot with a rich flavor and caramelly sweetness. 

The Starbucks espresso wins in this category because it is sweeter than the Starbucks long shot.  

Taste Profile 

The Starbucks long shot has a rich, bitter flavor with a mild caramelly sweetness. When extracting the long shot, hot water is passed through coffee grounds for an extended period. As a result, all compounds dissolve into the hot water resulting in a dilute but bitter shot. 

On the other side, the Starbucks regular shot is prepared by steeping coffee grounds in cool water for not less than 20 hours. The final product is an espresso shot with a rich flavor and caramelly sweetness. 

The Starbucks regular shot wins in this category because it is sweeter than the Starbucks long shot.

Accessibility/Availability

The Starbucks long shot is easily accessible and available in a Starbucks shop near you all year round. 

Similarly, the Starbucks regular shot is easily accessible and available in a Starbucks shop near you all year round.

This category is a draw because both shots are easily accessible and available in a Starbucks shop near you all year round.

Roast Level

The roast level determines a shot’s flavor and texture. Dark roast coffees are rich, bold, and have a caramelly sweetness. 

Both shots are prepared with Starbucks’ signature espresso roast, a dark roast. However, the difference between the two shots is in their preparation method. 

The Starbucks long shot is created by passing hot water through coffee grounds for an extended period. Conversely, the Starbucks regular shot is created by steeping coffee grounds in cool water for 20 hours. 

The Starbucks regular shot wins in this category because it is sweeter than the Starbucks long shot. 

Starbucks long shot vs. regular shot: A comparison overview

Starbucks long shot- Overview

The Starbucks long shot is the best if you crave a shot with high caffeine content. Extraction over an extended period results in a dilute but full-bodied shot. 

I like the Starbucks long shot’s rich, bitter flavor with a mild caramelly sweetness, but I’m not too fond of the shot’s extremely high caffeine content. It is suitable for strong coffee lovers. 

What I liked;

• It rich flavor 
• Its caramelly sweetness 

What I didn’t like;

• The shot’s high caffeine content. 

Who it’s best suited for.

• Best suited for strong coffee lovers. 

Starbucks regular shot- Overview

The Starbucks regular shot is the best option if you want a shot with a rich flavor. It is prepared by steeping coffee in cool water for 20 hours. 

I like its rich flavor and caramelly sweetness, but I’m not too fond of its high caffeine content. It is suitable for strong coffee lovers. 

What I liked;

• Its rich flavor and caramelly sweetness 

What I didn’t like;

• The shot’s high caffeine content. 

Who it’s best suited for.

• Best suited for strong coffee lovers. 

Final Verdict: So, Which is Better? – Starbucks long shot vs. regular shot

Starbucks’ long shot is better. This is because even though a long shot uses the same amount of ground coffee as a regular shot, it has slightly more caffeine, thus, is stronger. Additionally, since more hot water is passed through the coffee grounds, the drink dissolves more flavors, and the drink has more depth of flavor with more nutty and chocolate notes.

FAQ Section

Is Starbucks long shot stronger than a regular shot?

Starbucks long shot has a less full coffee flavor since it uses more water, but its longer extraction time means more caffeine than a regular shot; thus, it is stronger.

Which one is healthier between Starbucks regular shot and a long shot?

Both the long shot and the regular shot use the same amount of coffee grounds, and the only difference is a slight difference in caffeine content, with a long shot having a little bit more caffeine due to the longer extraction time. Thus, both are equally healthy.