This coffee variety earned the name Americano (American style) over time, as Americans, finding the taste of Italian espresso too strong, requested hot water to be added to their espresso. In its simplest definition, an Americano is made by adding hot water to espresso. The difference between Americano coffee and espresso is that, being more diluted, it offers a less intense coffee flavor with the possibility of longer consumption; it is a coffee choice suitable for those who prefer to drink a hot coffee for a longer period rather than a quickly consumed one.
How to Make an Americano?
Ingredients:
- 20-25 ml espresso
- Hot water (preferably heated with a steam wand instead of a kettle)
Preparation:
- For an Americano recipe, you must first obtain espresso. From 7g of ground coffee, obtain 25-30 ml of espresso by allowing 90°C hot water to flow at 9 bar (atmosphere) pressure for 35 seconds.
- Heat drinking water using your machine's heating wand or another source (like a kettle).
- Add the heated water to the espresso, up to a maximum of 100ml.
- Your Americano coffee is ready.
Warnings:
- Do not add boiling hot water directly to the espresso; make sure the water you use has rested for one or two minutes after boiling.
- You can ask the person who will drink the Americano how much hot water they prefer to add to the espresso, leaving the quantity adjustment to them.
- It is recommended to add a maximum of 100ml of hot water to a single espresso.
How to Make an Americano in Capsule Machines?
Using iperespresso medium roast capsules in Francis Francis or some Hotpoint machines; illy MPS medium roast capsules in some Mitaca machines; illy E.S.E. Pod medium roast coffee in machines working with ESE Pods; if you adjust the machine's water flow setting to dispense 20-25 ml of espresso, you can obtain a perfect illy espresso every time. You can then add your desired amount of hot water to this espresso to make an Americano.
Tips for Preparing an Americano
When making an Americano, the order of water and coffee is as important as their ratio. Adding boiling water directly to the espresso can cause the coffee to have a burnt and bitter taste. Therefore, the water needs to be allowed to rest for a few minutes after being heated. Furthermore, pouring the water into the cup first and then adding the espresso helps preserve the crema layer, providing a more balanced drink. The espresso aroma spreads homogeneously in the water, resulting in a smoother drinking experience. Since the Americano taste can be adjusted according to personal preferences, you can increase or decrease the amount of water to suit your palate. An Americano is an ideal option for those who want a less intense but aromatic coffee.
In this content, we have provided answers to questions such as how to make an Americano. Also, don't forget to check out the coffee syrups available within our brand.