Let’s Talk About – ‘What is an Americano Coffee Drink?’

If you are one of those people who gets confused by the menu cards in coffee shops, we are here to the rescue. Do not panic when you’re handed a black cup of coffee. What is it? An Americano? So what is an Americano coffee drink then?

Cafe Americano which is also known as American or just Americano is literally an American coffee in the espresso category. It is a kind of coffee beverage made by diluting an espresso with warm water. Giving it a strength similar to, but flavor-wise different from, any traditionally brewed coffee. The strength of an Americano coffee can vary with the number of espresso shots and the quantity of water added. The name itself has also been spelled with different capitalizations as well as the use of diacritics café americano.

An Americano coffee drink is made up of espresso and hot water. It originated in Italy and has become a popular coffee choice for Americans. There are many variations to the recipe, but the traditional Americano is simple and delicious. If you’re looking for a caffeine boost, this is the drink for you!

In Italy, cafe americano could mean either filtered coffee also known as caffè all’americana, or espresso with hot water.

The Americano coffee is simple in construction and is made of just water and espresso. The ratio of these elements is typically either 1:2 or 1:3 of espresso (1 to 2 shots). Meanwhile, the rest is water. Generally, chain coffee shops will have more water than espresso. Because many Americans still find hard espresso difficult to their palate. This is one of the reasons that the popularity of drinks over time such as a latte or cappuccino peaked. 

An Americano offers a bolder espresso drink. Perfect for those who like to get their caffeine charge from a source that is more concentrated. An Americano is mostly a popular choice in North America. The Americano coffee stands out amongst its other espresso cousins because it does not require milk in it.

The story goes back to the World War II era. American soldiers who were stationed in Italy were not exactly affectionate about the shockingly strong espresso that the Italians liked to drink. So, in an effort to recreate their drip-style coffee back home, soldiers started to add water to this iconic Italian espresso shot. And voila! The Americano coffee emanated.

With its origin story that straightforward, it looks like there should not be much debate around or even variations for this drink. Well, you will be wrong! In the upcoming sections of this article, we’ll discuss the basics of this drink’s making process and its variations. And finally some differences with other espresso drinks and controversy around the americano.

Looking for a fun way to shake up your morning coffee routine? Why not go for an Americano?

Making an Americano at home consists of really simple steps. You will require two things. Boiling/hot water and an espresso machine.

Instead of steamed or frothed milk and espresso, you need to go on mixing equal parts or a 1:2 ratio of espresso and water. The result will be a drink that still has that wonderful espresso feature, but might also feel a bit more refreshing. It is less heavy than a conventional cappuccino or latte as well.

Here’s how you can make an Americano in 5 easy steps:

1. Have a coffee mug, or latte mug ready first. Optional move: preheat your mug by adding water. Then boil it in your microwave
2. Pull a 3-ounce or more espresso shot into a separate glass if you like to have your coffee drink turn out stronger
3. Take about 3-6 ounces or so of warm water and pour it into the mug you want to drink from. Simply warm up the water in your microwave or you can even use an espresso wand also
4. Pour the espresso shot into your mug. Many will suggest pouring the water into the espresso shot. But it will break apart the espresso shot. But again, if you want to experiment, go ahead
5. Finally, now you can enjoy your Americano coffee! You can add other condiments like sugar, honey, cinnamon, etc. Or, just acquire the “classic” taste with no added condiment!

Note: Try to equal the quantity of water per shot (1:1 mixture) if you are looking to have something more powerful.

Gather the ingredients below for making an iced Americano at home:

A double espresso shot. A triple shot in case you like a bolder taste, water, ice cubes, and a tall glass.

Here are the three steps on how to make an iced Americano.

• Prepare your glass and fill the tall glass of yours with ice cubes
• From the previous recipe, either follow the steps of pulling the espresso or apply an espresso pod for brewing your desired quantity of espresso
• Now to combine the ingredients, add your espresso to the tall glass of ice. Fill the rest of that glass with chilly water. Blend to your coveted consistency and just enjoy!

The great side to consider about Americano coffee is that its taste profile grants itself to manual brewing processes. While not every one of us home baristas can afford a precious semi/automatic espresso machine, most people can at least go for an Aeropress, Moka Pot, or French Press.

While these techniques of making espresso aren’t perfect for straight shots. But they’re ideal for drinks that are purposefully diluted. And meanwhile, the espresso taste might be lost in a milk-based macchiato or latte, it’s relatively uncomplicated to strike a nice parity with the water-based Americano in just a couple of trials and errors.

Crema is a tan, thin layer of foam. It forms on top of an espresso shot. While some people assume it has relatively inconsequential to do with the resulting savor of the drink, there is also a faction that thinks it does really have an impact. Whether that’s a bad or a good one is another different debate for another day.

Nonetheless, the crema is an aftermath of the mixing of carbon dioxide and oils that naturally happens during the pulling process of the shot. The crema mixes into your drink if the barista puts water into your drink after pulling the shot. This is usually the preferred result. As it matures the flavor of your drink, makes it even more kindred to a conventional “American” cup of joe.

You could be sipping a black coffee and yet have no real idea about what it is. Maybe it is a drip coffee? Or, maybe a long black? Or, is it an espresso? That’s confusing, right? Let’s once and for all dive in and clear up the differences. So next time you will know exactly what to order!

So you know that the Americano is brewed using an espresso shot. A drip-style coffee is a filtration. But apart from their brewing methods, you might be thinking, what is the actual difference?

Let’s see through some points below. It’s easier to see and dissect this way.

The difference between an Americano and a long black lies in what you pour first into the cup.

Pouring hot water first into your cup and then adding espresso is how a long black is made.

An Americano is made on the other hand by pouring espresso first into the cup and then the hot water.

But when you spout the hot water over your espresso, you’ll break the crema layer. In reality, there is no distinction. The Long Black is what they coined in Australia. Enough said about it, right?!

Caffè Americano vs Espresso: If you are reading this part, we must warn you that, we have talked about Americano in detail throughout this article. And this should help you understand the difference between these two easier. An espresso shot is just a form of pressurized coffee. It forms the base of Americano itself as well as many other popular coffee drinks.

Caffè Americano vs Latte: A latte is another type of espresso topped with foamed, creamy milk. It’s a totally different, milk-based, and creamy drink.

If your typical morning routine includes drip style and you are looking for a chance to up your coffee game but also not interested in a bunch of sugar and milk, the Americano is a great pick to add to your go-to cuppa. You can order it at most coffee shops or even easily brew it at home. This is a simple, classic drink either way which is not going to let you down.

Enjoy Your Coffee!