Mastering The Most Popular Coffee Drinks – Americano

Americano coffee is one of the most popular coffee drinks around the world.

Americano coffee traditionally consists of just two ingredients, an espresso and water, and can be consumed both hot and cold.

But if you want to know more about this coffee drink, and make your own americano at home, this is the right place for you.

What Is Cafe Americano?

Americano coffee is simply a shot of espresso topped with hot water.

Making A Perfect Americano Coffee

When it comes to making an Americano, it seems to be the easiest coffee to make ever.

However, getting the ratios right is always the trick and here is how to make it perfectly at home.

The ratio of espresso and water is 1:2 and that’s single shot (or double if you prefer) espresso, and two parts of water.

While some people do add milk, you will likely never receive an Americano with any form of dairy or dairy-alternative in it unless you specifically ask the barista to add it. 

If you want to start your mornings with an Americano coffee, the good news is that the recipe for making it is really simple.

Follow these simple steps to master your own perfect Americano coffee at home.

STEP #1. MAKE AN ESPRESSO

To make an Americano coffee, you first need to make an espresso. You don’t need to have a fancy coffee machine to make it similar to your favorite coffee shop one. You can also use a moka coffee maker if more convenient for you.

STEP #2. PREPARE A WIDE CUP (around 200 – 300ml)

You need a wide cup because you need more space for the hot water which is added after. Pour the prepared espresso and continue with STEP #3.

STEP #3. POUR ESPRESSO IN THE HOT WATER

Well, there’s nothing much to say here, right?

In addition to this, an Americano can also be iced! The process is still the same, the primary difference being that cold water is used instead of hot, and you can plop a few ice cubes in it to cool it down further. 

Which is first, coffee or water?

There has obviously been a debate between baristas and coffee connoisseurs, though there’s not much difference in the coffee flavor, except for the crema.

What is Crema?

Crema is a thin, tan layer of foam that forms on top of a shot of espresso. It is the result of mixing of the oils and carbon dioxide that naturally occurs during the espresso making process.

If you add water after the espresso, the crema mixes into the drink, and generally it’s the preffered result, as it mellows the flavor of the coffee drink.

History of The Americano Coffee

There’s not much known for the very popular Americano coffee, though. The story goes that when American soldiers were stationed in Italy during WWII, they balked at the strong flavor of the espresso drunk by the natives.

The soldiers found the espresso strong and rich-flavored, so the get to the idea of adding more water to it to get the taste of their original drip black coffee. This was explained by the New York Times:

Legend has it that when soldiers in Italy encountered espresso, they watered it down to make a concoction similar to the coffee they drank at home.

The Popularity of Americano Coffee

Since it can be spotted in almost every coffee shop, it’s easy to say that Americano coffee is pretty popular all around the world

It can be consumed both hot and cold, and milk can be added by taste. It’s very versatile and there are many coffee drinks recipes using Americano coffee.

Is Americano Coffee Good Coffee Drink for You?

If you find the espresso strong and rich in flavor, like the American soldiers, maybe this is a drink or you to try. l

If you haven’t tried it yet, this is a perfect guide for you to do it yourself at home. After all, you can get creative and add your own twist to it.

I hope now you have enough information about how to make or order a prefect Americano coffee and stay tuned for the next blog from Mastering The Most Popular Coffee Drinks series.

Do you like Americano coffee? If you haven’t already, are you willing to give it a try?

Share your thoughts in the comments, I would love to hear from you.

Enjoy Your Coffee!

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