Step-by-Step: How to Make an Americano at Home?

Americano, also known as caffe Americano, is one of the classic espresso-based coffees on Starbucks menus. It is believed to have originated during World War II when American soldiers were stationed in Italy.

When the American soldiers first tried the traditional Italian espresso, they found this drink quite strong according to their taste preferences. They added some water to the espresso to make it resemble the drip coffee they were accustomed to, and thus the Americano was born.

So, an Americano is essentially nothing more than espresso with added water. However, when serving an Americano, attention should be paid to details such as the espresso-water ratio and water temperature.

This article by Best Coffee at Home will discuss preparing an Americano at home.

Related: Americano Misto Recipe

Americano Recipe: Step-by-Step Instructions

An Americano is a beverage prepared by adding water to espresso. Espresso is made with an espresso machine because pressure is needed to brew espresso. However, you don’t necessarily need a fully equipped espresso machine to achieve espresso.

I will use an espresso machine in this recipe, but you can also use a Nespresso, portable espresso maker, or stovetop espresso maker (Moka pot).

Note: Making a strong espresso in a Moka pot is challenging, but the other methods are effective.

Related: 10 Years with Moka Pot and Espresso Machine

Besides an espresso maker, you’ll need freshly roasted coffee beans, a burr grinder, and hot water.

Let’s start!

Step 1: Prepare Your Beans and Hot Water

Before you start brewing, determine your espresso-water ratio. An Americano is generally prepared in a 1:3 – 1:6 espresso to hot water ratio. This is subject to personal preferences. For a strong coffee, you can brew in a 1:3 ratio; for a milder coffee, you can brew in a 1:6 ratio.

I like to drink Americano in a 1:5 ratio, but as I said, this completely depends on personal preferences. If you are satisfied with the taste of the Americano you drink at Starbucks, the ratios used by Starbucks for Americano are as follows:

• Shorts: 1:7
• Tall: 1:5
• Grande: 1:4
• Venti: 1:4

Note: These ratios are approximate values. Because the espresso used in Starbucks’ Americano varies not according to a ratio but according to cup sizes. The number of espresso shots used in Starbucks-style Americano according to cup sizes are:

• Shorts (8 fl oz): 1 shot
• Tall (12 fl oz): 2 shots
• Grande (16 fl oz): 3 shots
• Venti (20 fl oz): 4 shots

As a result, for example, I will make an Americano in a 1:5 espresso-to-water ratio. In this case, I should use 5 fl oz (150 ml) of hot water for 1 shot of espresso (1 fl oz, 30 ml). If you want to drink more coffee, you can multiply these ratios by 2.

Step 2) Grind Your Beans

Weigh 15 grams of coffee beans and grind them to be suitable for an espresso machine. Medium or dark roast coffee beans are more suitable for Americano.

Step 3) Pull Your Espresso Shot

Put the portafilter into the espresso machine and extract a single or double shot of espresso (depending on your preferred ratio).

Related: White Americano 101

Step 4) Add Hot Water and Serve

Instead of pouring hot water over the espresso, pour the espresso over the hot water. This way, you will preserve the espresso crema and get a coffee with a more appealing appearance. (The coffee prepared by adding espresso over hot water is called a Long Black.)

Don’t use boiling water in your Americano. The ideal serving temperature for hot drinks is 170-185°F (76-85°C). Buying a food thermometer will make it much easier for you to reach these values.

Related: Understanding Americano with Milk

Serving Tips for Homemade Americano

Traditionally, Americano is served without milk or sugar. However, there’s no one right way when it comes to coffee. You can add milk, sugar, and various flavored syrups according to your taste. I especially recommend giving a chance to combine milk and caramel syrup.

On the other hand, if you want to drink your Americano cold, you can dilute your espresso with cold water instead of hot water and then add ice. You can check out our “Iced Americano Recipe” article for a more detailed recipe.

Iced Americano is a cold coffee that I often turn to when I want to drink a stronger, richer, and more intense coffee than a cold brew. I consume both according to my instant coffee desire. You can find a comprehensive guide to comparing cold brew and iced Americano here.

Finally, for an unusual Americano experience, you can try Fat Americano. The iced Americano recipe must use cold soda instead of cold water. I admit it sounds a bit strange. But it’s definitely worth a try.

Conclusion for Homemade Americano Recipe

With this recipe, you can prepare a delicious cup of Americano at home and personalize the recipe with serving tips. Americano is usually preferred by those who want to soften the strong taste of espresso or want a longer drink.

But if you ask me, adding water doesn’t reduce the strength of an Americano by much. However, if you’re one of the few who enjoys strong coffee, I’m sure you’ll find Red Eye coffee intriguing.

Finally, if you consume your Americano cold, there’s another alternative besides the iced Americano recipe. If you like drinking coffee with a thick foam layer, I recommend looking at our Aerocano recipe.

Related Recipes

• Iced Americano vs Iced Coffee
• Americano vs. Espresso