How to Make an Americano

How to Make an Americano

Making an Americano is a straight forward process.

You mix espresso with hot water.

There are several variations, but from a barista’s standpoint, it’s a very simple drink to make. There are some nuances. Basically:

• • Either you add hot water to espresso shots or
  • You add espresso to hot water.

Here’s How To Make an Americano

• fill a cup about 2/3 full with hot water
• pull espresso shot(s)
• add the shot(s) to the top of the water
• you can leave “room for cream” if you like cream in your coffee – by adding less water to start

That’s pretty much it.

When You Add Espresso to Hot Water…

When you add the espresso shots to hot water, you don’t dilute the crema as much, so the flavor of the crema is more pronounced in the drink.

In case you are not familiar with the term “crema” here is a definition found in the search engines (and since I can’t think of a better definition, I’ll use theirs):

Crema is one of the most prized components of a well-made espresso. Caramel-colored and creamy in texture, the foamy puff is created when hot water emulsifies coffee bean oils and floats atop the espresso with smooth little bubbles. – Food and Wine

Some people don’t like the taste of the crema. Most likely that’s from a prior history of tasting poorly extracted espresso. When an espresso is properly extracted with fresh beans, it is delicious.

Espresso Is an Acquired Taste

But espresso is an acquired taste. The development of the acquired taste takes time and the taste of crema even more so. Notice in the definition above it specifies: “well-made espresso”.

So the point is if you like the flavor of the crema, you want make sure that you add the espresso to the water and not the other way around.

When You Add the Hot Water to the Espresso Shots…

If you put the espresso shots in the bottom of the cup and then add hot water to that, the crema immerses in the water and will taste different.

The only way to know which one you prefer is to try both methods.

When You’re Experimenting, Try It Both Ways

Try it making it both ways so you can decide what you like better.

If you add the water into the espresso shots, it will dilute and somewhat dissolve the crema into the drink. You might find that you like that combination better than adding espresso “on top” of the hot water.

Unless you specifically try both methods knowing which is which, you might not notice a difference. But it exists.

And that difference might actually explain why you like one cafe’s Americano better than another’s.

More about the Crema

In the coffee nerd world, there is an ongoing discussion about crema. Here is the basis of the discussion:

Should The Crema Be Removed from Espresso Prior to Serving It – or not ?

The argument is that it makes the coffee smoother and less bitter when you scrape the crema.

So the options in the nerd discussion include:

1. Scrape the crema off the espresso after it is extracted or
2. Stir it in.

Variations of an Americano

• Double Americano
• Double Short Americano
• The Long Black
• Single Americano
• Drip Coffee with Espresso Shots

Double Americano

A double is a drink with two shots of espresso. You can make it in a 16 oz cup (tall) or in a small cup (short).

Most people who drink an Americano have a “double shot of espresso” in their drink, mainly because this is probably what they are accustomed to from their local cafe.

The 16 oz drink lasts longer and the flavor is less intense than a double short drink.

Single Americano

You can make a single in  tall or a short cup. Not many people order a single tall in an espresso cafe because the flavor of the espresso is diminished by a large water to espresso ratio.

Drip Coffee with Espresso Shots

You can add espresso shots to drip or pour over coffee – instead of adding them to water.

This combination is most common early in the morning at an espresso cafe. People order this drink at a cafe who are on the fly, sleepy and want more caffeine. Sometimes the drink is called the “eye opener”.

The only times I have ordered one of these drinks is on a road trip with a long drive ahead.

It’s kind of “overkill” when you are sitting down for a morning coffee at home.

Long Black

A popular drink in Australian cafes, the long black is an americano-like drink that’s made by filling the cup with water and pouring the shots on top.

Let’s Take a Look the History of the “Americano”…

Apparently, the drink was created in Italy during World War 2. American GI’s in Italy thought espresso was bitter. They didn’t like the flavor of “espresso” so they added water to espresso shots. By adding water, it did two other things:

1. It made the “cup of coffee” larger so it would last longer.
2. It tasted more like the coffee back home in America.

Here’s an interesting tidbit…

More about the origin of the Americano:

Most accounts tie the creation of this coffee drink to World War II. In truth, the name may have originated even earlier; in the late 1920s, the author Somerset Maugham wrote about characters drinking an “americano,” although he never offered details on how it was made.

What is the correct Americano ratio?

Typically, a standard cafe americano follows a 2-to-1 or 3-to-1 ratio of water to espresso.

This means that for every ounce of espresso you put in your americano, you should add 2 or 3 ounces of water.

The traditional way to make a Caffè Americano is with 1-2 shots of espresso, and up to six ounces of hot water. Of course, there’s no law against adding another espresso shot (or two), and many people do.

But because everyone’s tastes are different, this ratio can be adjusted to suit your personal preferences.

Conclusion about Americanos

Americanos are espresso shots combined with hot water.

If you want the drink to have a more intense flavor, make it smaller cup with less water.