Learn how to make an Americano with this simple step-by-step guide! This classic espresso drink takes just minutes to make at home.
When it comes to espresso drinks, the one I reach for most often is the classic Americano. A shot of bitter and dark espresso tastes incredible, but smooth it out with water as a Caffe Americano and it smooths the bitter flavor into something altogether new!
I’ve made hundreds of coffee drinks at home, and after months of testing I’ve perfected the perfect Americano. If you’ve ever ordered one at a coffee shop and thought “I could make this myself,” you’re absolutely right. Here’s everything you need to know for how to make an Americano at home!
What’s an Americano?
An Americano is an espresso drink made with hot water and espresso, also called a Caffe Americano. The drink can be made with either one or two shots of espresso, and varying ratios of water.
Diluting the strong dark espresso roast brings the flavor closer to a drip coffee, which might be where the name originated! “Americano” means American in Italian or Spanish, referring to the coffee’s strength being closer to an American-style drip coffee.
Does an Americano have milk? Never. A true Americano does not include milk like a latte, cappuccino, or macchiato. You can add milk if you like, but then it’s not the true form of this drink.
The Water-to-Espresso Ratio
How much water is an Americano? Great question, and one that has more than one answer. There are various ratios that are considered acceptable:
- The typical Caffe Americano ratio is 2:1. That’s 2 parts hot water to 1 part espresso. This ratio makes the drink still taste dark and bitter, like a lightened form of espresso.
- Use 3:1 for a smoother, milder coffee with more volume. This ratio makes the Americano taste like a bitter drip coffee. (If you order an Americano at Starbucks, it will taste like this ratio. I personally prefer 2:1.)
- You can customize the water to taste. Every barista and coffee shop makes an Americano differently.
What You Need to Make an Americano
How to make an Americano? You’ll need the following:
- Espresso roast coffee: This is important to get the right dark, bitter flavor. Look for espresso roast or dark roast coffee for the most bold, classic flavor. Buy whole beans and grind them right before brewing.
- Espresso machine or espresso maker: There are several ways to make an espresso! We use an espresso machine, which sits on a countertop. You can use a small manual espresso maker too: it’s cheaper and portable. You can also make French Press espresso (which has great flavor). For more details, go to my guide on How to Make Espresso (5 Ways).
How to Make an Americano: Step by Step
Once you know about the water ratio and espresso technique: there’s not much to know about this coffee drink! Here are the basic steps for how to make an Americano:
- Decide on your drink size. A 1-shot Americano can mostly fit in an espresso mug. A 2-shot drink is best suited in a latte mug.
- Make the espresso. Use espresso roast coffee to make espresso using your favorite method: with an automated espresso machine, manual espresso maker, or French press. Go to How to Make Espresso (5 Ways) for details. (The linked espresso machine is the one I use every day and it works wonderfully.)
- Boil the water. Use a regular or electric teapot to boil the water, or use the hot water spout or steam wand on your espresso maker. The standard ratio is 2:1 water to espresso, but you can go up to as much as 3:1.
- Mix the two and enjoy. Pour the boiling water into the espresso. Instant Caffe Americano!
Americano Variations to Try
Once you’ve mastered the classic, here’s where it gets fun:
- Iced Americano: Pull your espresso, let it cool briefly, then pour over a glass of ice. Add cold water. Go to my Iced Americano recipe.
- Long Black: This is an Australian/New Zealand spin where the water goes in the cup first, then the espresso is poured over. It preserves the crema topping .
- Americano with a splash of milk: It’s technically not a “true” Americano, but adding about 1 tablespoon cold milk softens the bitterness.
- Red Eye: A red eye is brewed drip coffee with a shot of espresso poured in. See my Red Eye Coffee recipe. (Personally, I like an Americano much better.)
If you’re wondering, the Americano Cocktail is not related to the coffee drink at all: it’s a bitter and bubbly Campari drink!
Serving Suggestions
An Americano pairs well with any type of breakfast food, but here are a few of my favorites:
- A slice of toasted sourdough bread with butter
- A simple breakfast pastry or blueberry muffin
- As a mid-afternoon pick-me-up before something sweet
- In place of a pour over coffee when you want something quicker but equally satisfying
- After dinner with a chocolate dessert like flourless chocolate cake
Frequently Asked Questions
They can taste similar, but they’re made completely differently. Drip coffee is brewed by slowly passing hot water through ground coffee. An Americano is espresso diluted with hot water. The Americano typically has a slightly darker, more bitter concentrated flavor.
A standard 2:1 Americano made with a double shot is similar in caffeine to an 8-ounce cup of drip coffee.
Yes! A Moka pot, French press, or manual espresso maker all work. The flavor won’t be identical to machine espresso, but the drink is still delicious. I cover all four methods in my How to Make Espresso guide.
A lungo is a type of espresso shot pulled with more water. An Americano adds the water after pulling the espresso shot. The flavor is slightly different: a lungo can taste more bitter, and an Americano tends to be smoother.
How to Make an Americano
Pin RecipeHere’s how to make an Americano, aka Caffe Americano! This popular coffee drink smooths the bitterness of espresso with hot water.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 1 drink 1x
- Category: Coffee
- Method: Espresso
- Cuisine: Coffee
- Diet: Vegan
Ingredients
- 2 ounces (2 shots) espresso*
- 4 ounces hot water
Instructions
- Make the espresso: Make the espresso using an espresso machine, manual espresso maker, French press, or Moka Pot. Go to How to Make Espresso for instructions.
- Add hot water: Heat water using your espresso machine or in a tea pot to about 190 degrees Fahrenheit. Pour it into the espresso. Enjoy!
Notes
*If desired, you can adjust the level of boiling water to your tastes. Go up to 6 ounces boiling water for a flavor that’s closer to drip coffee than espresso.
More Espresso Drinks to Master
This is another post in my Barista Series: how to make all your favorite coffee drinks at home! Here are a few espresso drinks and tea lattes to master:
from A Couple Cooks https://ift.tt/FrvO7GK
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