Hungry Jack's Short Black

Available from a Jack’s Cafe near you, the short black has a bold flavour profile and offers a more concentrated coffee option than the long black. It is made with a single shot of our award-winning espresso blend, producing a thick crema. Available at selected Jack's Cafe restaurants only. Not available on delivery.

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About the Hungry Jack's Short Black

A Jack's Cafe Short Black is $5.40 and 4 kJ. A double shot of espresso and nothing else, and at four kilojoules it ties with the Long Black as the lightest item on the Hungry Jack's menu.

Espresso on its own is the most honest thing a cafe sells. There is no milk, no water and no sugar to adjust anything, so what arrives is exactly what came out of the machine. A sour shot means it ran too fast; a bitter one means it ran too slow. Neither is hideable.

The crema on top is the emulsified oils and dissolved carbon dioxide from the grounds, and it is the first thing to go. A short black is worth drinking within a minute or two of it being made, since the crema collapses and the drink flattens after that.

At $5.40 it is the same price as the milk coffees despite containing far less, which reflects that the espresso is the expensive part and the milk is not.

The Jack's Cafe loyalty card applies. Earn on full price barista coffees, free coffee valid twelve months, pick up only, and it stacks with a voucher.

Who it suits: anyone who drinks espresso, anyone avoiding dairy entirely, and anyone who wants caffeine without volume.

Compare against the Macchiato at $4.25, which is the same shot with a spot of foam, or see the full cafe menu.

Hungry Jack's Short Black Nutrition

One Short Black is 0% of the 8,700 kJ average adult daily intake. Figures are per serve as published by Hungry Jack's.

4 kJ Energy 0% daily intake

4 g Protein 1% daily intake

1 g Fat 0% daily intake

1 g Saturated fat 0% daily intake

4 g Carbs 0% daily intake

2 g Sugars 0% daily intake

27 mg Sodium 1% daily intake

Data from Hungry Jack's published restaurant information. Updated 18 July 2026.

How to Make the Hungry Jack's Short Black at Home?

Two ingredients and nowhere to hide: coffee and water. The grind is the entire variable. Makes 1 serving.

Prep3 min

Cook1 min

Total4 min

DifficultyMedium

Makes

Quantities as written

Ingredients

18 g coffee beans freshly ground, medium fine

Method

0 of 6 steps

1. Warm the cup. A cold cup takes five degrees off a 36ml shot instantly.
2. Grind 18g of beans. The grind should feel like fine sand rather than powder or granules.
3. Distribute the grounds evenly in the basket and tamp firmly and level. An uneven tamp means water channels through one side and the shot is ruined before it starts.
4. Pull the shot and watch the clock. About 36ml in 25 to 30 seconds.
5. If it runs faster than 25 seconds, grind finer. If it runs slower than 30, grind coarser. That is the only adjustment worth making.
6. Serve immediately, within a minute if you can.

Tips

Time every shot. Twenty five to thirty seconds is the window and it is the difference between sour and bitter.
Level tamp beats hard tamp. Uneven pressure lets water find a path and the rest of the puck never gets used.
Drink it fast. The crema collapses within two minutes and the drink flattens with it.

Variations

Poured over hot water gives a Long Black.
A spot of milk foam on top makes a Macchiato.
A single shot in a small glass with milk is a Piccolo.

Serve immediately in a warmed demitasse. Espresso has a two minute window and no way of extending it.

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The coffee drinker's favourite all over the world. Available from a Jack’s Cafe near you, the Cappuccino features an aromatic shot of espresso and steamed milk with a light, silky froth that’s topped with a delicious sprinkle of chocolate. Featuring more froth than a latte to offer a distinctly layered coffee experience, our cappuccinos are rich, velvety and smooth and crafted by expert baristas using locally roasted and freshly ground beans alongside your choice of full cream, skim, soy, almond, oat or lactose-free milk. Available in Small, Medium or Large.

836kJ Energy

9.7g Protein

24.6g Carbs

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A coffee you'll keep coming back for. Available from a Jack’s Cafe near you, the flat white features an aromatic shot of espresso and freshly steamed milk for a rich, velvety and smooth coffee. Made using locally roasted and freshly ground beans alongside your choice of full cream, skim, soy, almond, oat or lactose-free milk. Available in Small, Medium or Large.

594kJ Energy

6.8g Protein

9.3g Carbs

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The way all lattes should be made. An aromatic espresso made with freshly steamed milk for a rich creamy flavour. Featuring more steamed milk and less froth than its popular counterparts, the cappuccino and flat white, our lattes are rich, velvety and smooth and crafted by expert baristas using locally roasted and freshly ground beans alongside your choice of full cream, skim, soy, almond, oat or lactose-free milk. Available in Small, Medium or Large.

534kJ Energy

6.3g Protein

8.7g Carbs

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Long Black

Available from a Jack’s Cafe near you, the long black features a double shot of our award-winning espresso blend, producing a thick layer of crema with a dash of hot water.

4kJ Energy

4g Protein

4g Carbs

Hungry Jack's Short Black Questions

How much is a Short Black at Hungry Jack's?

$5.40, the same as the milk coffees despite containing far less. The espresso is the expensive part of a coffee rather than the milk.

How many kilojoules are in a Short Black?

4 kJ. It ties with the Long Black as the lightest item on the entire Hungry Jack's menu.

What is a short black?

A double shot of espresso and nothing else. No milk, no water, no sugar, which makes it the most direct read on the quality of the coffee available.

What is the crema?

The layer on top, made of emulsified oils and dissolved carbon dioxide from the grounds. It collapses within about two minutes, which is why espresso is worth drinking quickly.

How much caffeine is in it?

A double shot, which is the same espresso base as every milk coffee on the Jack's Cafe menu. The milk changes the volume rather than the caffeine.

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Hungry Jack's Short Black

About the Hungry Jack's Short Black

Hungry Jack's Short Black Nutrition

How to Make the Hungry Jack's Short Black at Home?

Ingredients

Method

Tips

Variations

More from the Jack's Cafe Menu

Find the Short Black Near You

Hungry Jack's Short Black Questions

Popular Right Now

Comments