If you're a coffee lover, it's likely that your first sip of coffee was an Americano. If you want to know how to make an Americano, you have to first understand what it is.
An Americano describes a shot of coffee that is topped up with hot water. It might have an Italian name, but you can also call it a "black coffee" or even a "cup of joe"! It's one of the most simple types of coffee drinks, but with effort and time, you'll be able to make one like a skilled barista.
History of the Americano
"Americano" is an Italian word that simply means "American coffee". According to beliefs, it was invented by American soldiers during World War II. The soldiers were based in Italy and found that the simple espresso was too strong for their tastes. To combat this, they added water.
The new drink quickly caught on, spreading to the rest of Europe and North America.
Another side to the argument of the origin of this drink is that it was invented in a coffee shop in Seattle. Coffee drinkers wanted their espressos to last longer, so cafe owners worked out how to make an Americano to satisfy this demand.
Since its beginnings, the Americano hasn't changed much. It has stayed consistent because people like it that way! However, you may notice subtle differences depending on the coffee beans that are in there. Depending on the bean's climate and location, your Americano could offer completely new flavors.
Who Likes to Drink an Americano?
The Americano is the second most popular coffee drink in the world. The only thing that beats the Americano is the Italian espresso.
The main reason the Americano is so popular could be down to its contents. It offers a good level of caffeine because it uses 1-2 shots of espresso, without the strong taste. An Americano releases the same subtle scent of an espresso, but is less bitter with a lighter body.
If the story about the soldiers inventing the Americano is true, then it's safe to say that the US is a huge fan of this drink! American coffee drinkers actually consume 3.2 cups of espresso-based drinks per day on average. A large portion of these cups is likely to be an Americano.
Countries around the world have their own staple coffee drinks. Turkey has Turkish coffee that is famous for its chunk of sludge that's left after drinking. Cuba has Cuban coffee that is so sweet because it's brewed with sugar. But where can you order an Americano?
It's likely that any coffee shop you step into in most places around the world, will offer a simple Americano.
However, in Korea, they take it to a whole new level. The Starbucks in Korea said that the Americano is their best selling drink. In 2013, they sold 30.7 mills cups of it!
How to Make an Americano
What is an Americano? Isn't it just a simple black coffee? That should be easy to make! This is true, but the key is in the shot of espresso. You have to get that right and the rest will follow. Use freshly roasted coffee beans and grind them yourself if you want to control the whole process.
The shot of espresso should be rich and creamy, with a thin layer of crema on top. With this Americano recipe, you'll know how to make an Americano by getting its espresso base just right. Generally, we use the ratio 1:1 of water and espresso. If you'd like the drink weaker, just use a higher volume of water.
You will need:
- Freshly ground coffee (enough for 1 or 2 shots)
- Hot filtered water
- Espresso machine
- Mug
- Milk (optional)
- Sugar (optional)
| The Method |
|---|---|
1. | Pre-heat your mug if you choose to, by filling it with hot water. |
2. | Grind your coffee beans right before brewing. Ensure the grind is a similar texture to sugar. If it's too fine, the shot will be over-extracted. If it's too coarse, the coffee will be under-extracted and weak. |
3. | Choose your dose. If you'd like a double shot, use 14-18 grams of coffee. |
4. | Add the coffee to the portafilter. Tamp it lightly to level it up and get the extraction even. Tamping ensures that the water that passes through the coffee does so evenly. |
5. | Twist the portafilter back into the espresso machine and place your mug underneath. Push the button to pull the shot. If you've prepared it properly, the coffee will come out dark and gradually turn into a golden brown color. It should take 20-30 seconds to completely pour. |
6. | Add water to your espresso base. If you like sugar, then you can add that. You can also turn your Americano into a white coffee by adding a dash of milk.  |
Nutritional Information
The great thing about an Americano is that it provides the benefits of coffee, without the extra unhealthy elements. Coffee is full of antioxidants and it offers mental benefits. Not only does it give you energy for cognitive tasks, it can also improve memory.
When drinking particular varieties of coffee, you may pile on extra calories without noticing. Whipped cream, full-fat milk, syrup, and sugar all make your coffee a little more unhealthy. The classic Americano doesn't require any of these extras.
Let's check out the nutritional information you need to know. The following information is based on one mug (8 fl oz.)
Caffeine in Americano | 77 mg |
Calories in Americano | 2 |
Fat | 0.05g |
Carbs | 0.09g |
Protein | 0.28g |
Cholesterol | 0mg |
Sodium | 5mg |
Potassium | 110g |
Different Types of Americano
You can personalize your Americano to suit your taste. Whether you want more coffee and less water, or more water and less coffee, there's an Americano for you! Let's take a look at some other espresso-based drinks, that combine espresso and water only.
Espresso (short black)
Need a complete coffee hit that isn't watered down? You can just order the espresso. It will be served in a miniature mug (or demitasse) and should be a golden brown color with some fine crema.
Double espresso (doppio)
A double espresso is your best friend when you need some extra caffeine. It is exactly how it sounds, and consists of two shots of espresso in one cup. Again, you don't add water to the double espresso.
Ristretto
A ristretto consists of one shot of coffee and uses half the water of an Americano. This gives a more concentrated, darker espresso.
Long black (Americano)
The standard Americano will use the same amount of water as espresso. For those that like it weaker, you can use 2/3 of water for 1/3 of coffee.
The Bottom Line
If you feel like making some changes to your Americano, why not try a cold version? For an iced Americano, simply use cold water instead of hot water and add ice cubes. It's a perfect beverage for the summer, without the added calories of an iced latte or iced mocha!
An Americano is not the same as a regular drip coffee, and you can taste the difference when you drink it.
