Last Updated on January 29, 2024 by Ibrahim Bat
What’s an Americano, a drink you often find at Starbucks or other coffee places? What’s its story, and how do you make it?
Maybe you want to learn about the Americano before you buy it, or you’re interested in making it yourself.
This Best Coffee at Home article will tell you about the Americano. We’ll cover what it is, its background, how to make it at home, and ways to change it up.
Americano 101
Americano is an espresso-based drink prepared by adding hot water to espresso. Its history dates back to World War II. According to the story, American soldiers stationed in Italy found the Italians’ classic espressos quite strong and intense according to their accustomed tastes during WWII.
That’s why the American soldiers wanted to make the Italians’ espressos resemble the drip coffee they always drank in America, and they added some water to the espresso. The Italians also adopted and included this new mixture in their daily lives. And rightfully so, they named this coffee “Caffè Americano.”
An Americano is basically just a watered-down espresso. However, don’t be fooled by the phrase “espresso with added water” because adding water to espresso doesn’t make the Americano much weaker. In fact, the Americano is stronger than regular drip coffee. It has a bold flavor and higher acidity.
How to Make an Americano?
To make an Americano, you start with espresso. Usually, espresso comes from espresso machines, but lately, there are new methods to make it.
You can prepare your espresso in your Nespresso machine or portable espresso machines. Besides these, you can also use a stovetop espresso maker.
After preparing the espresso, you only need to add some water. So, what is the ideal temperature of the water needed to make an Americano, and what is the espresso-water ratio?
Ideal Water Temperature and Espresso-Water Ratio for Americano
Mix 1 part espresso with 3 to 6 parts hot water to make an Americano. You can experiment to see what mix you like best. For a stronger taste, use a 1:3 ratio; for a lighter taste, try 1:6.
There’s no perfect water temperature, but the best temperature for hot drinks is between 170-185°F (76-85°C).
Finally, if you are determined to prepare your Americano at home, you can read our article “How to Make an Americano?” which includes Starbucks Americano recipes.
Caffeine Content of Americano
The caffeine in an Americano comes from how many espresso shots you use. Each espresso shot has 50-60 mg of caffeine. So, an Americano with one shot has 50-60 mg of caffeine.
Add filtered coffee instead of hot water to the espresso if you want more caffeine. This drink is known as red-eye coffee. Red-eye coffee is made simply by mixing filtered coffee with espresso.
Can Milk be Added to Americano?
An Americano is usually made by adding hot water to espresso. It doesn’t have milk or syrup, just hot water and espresso. So, if you don’t ask for milk, the barista will make your Americano without it.
But if you prefer coffee with milk, try a latte instead of an Americano. A latte is made by adding steamed milk to espresso, and it tastes much smoother than an Americano.
What is Iced Americano?
The only difference in Iced Americano is the use of cold water instead of hot water, and the coffee is served with plenty of ice. It’s a delicious cold coffee alternative when you want to drink a richer, stronger, and more bitter coffee than a cold brew.
Americano vs Long Black
Americano | Long Black |
An Americano is prepared by adding hot water to espresso. | A Long Black is prepared by adding espresso to hot water. |
The coffee that results from adding hot water to espresso is called an Americano in many parts of the world, including America and Europe. | The coffee that results from adding espresso to hot water is called a Long Black in Australia and New Zealand. |
As the hot water is added to the espresso, the crema of the espresso may disperse and be lost. | Since espresso is added after the water, the crema of the espresso is preserved. |
So, Americano and Long Black are actually the same coffee.
As the table above mentions, the main difference between an Americano and a Long Black is when the water is added to the coffee. When making an Americano, hot water is poured over the espresso. In a Long Black, the espresso is added to the hot water. So, if you add water to your cup before the espresso, you’ve made a Long Black. If you add espresso first and then water, you’ve made an Americano.
Final Thoughts on Americano
The Americano is one of the simplest coffee drinks to prepare, easier than others like latte, macchiato, and cappuccino. It tastes rich, deep, and strong.
Espresso is tasty, but it’s a quick drink. Mixing in some hot water can make it into an Americano, making your coffee last longer. Also, if you like your Americano cold, the steps to make it are still easy and useful.
