This coffee variety, requested by Americans who found the Italian espresso too strong, involves adding hot water to espresso, and over time, it came to be known as Americano (American style). In its simplest recipe, an Americano is made by adding hot water to espresso. The difference between an Americano and an espresso is that, being more diluted, it offers a less intense coffee flavor that can be enjoyed for a longer period; it's a coffee type that can be preferred by those who want to drink hot coffee for a longer time instead of a coffee consumed quickly.
How to Make an Americano?
Ingredients:
- 20-25 ml espresso
- Hot water (preferably heated with a steam wand instead of a kettle)
Preparation:
- To make an Americano, you must first prepare espresso. Use 7g of ground coffee, with 90°C water at 9 bar (atmosphere) pressure, flowing for 35 seconds to obtain 25-30 ml of espresso.
- Heat drinking water using your machine's steam wand or another source (like a kettle).
- Add the heated water, up to a maximum of 100ml, to the espresso.
- Your Americano coffee is ready.
Warnings:
- Do not add boiling hot water directly to the espresso; make sure the water has rested for one to two minutes after boiling.
- You can ask the person who wants to drink an Americano how much hot water they prefer to add to the espresso and let them adjust the quantity.
- It is recommended to add a maximum of 100ml of hot water to a single espresso.
How to Make Americano with Capsule Machines?
Using iperespresso medium roast capsules in Francis Francis or some Hotpoint brand machines; illy MPS medium roast capsules in some Mitaca brand machines; illy E.S.E. Pod medium roast coffee in ESE Pod compatible machines, and adjusting the machine's water flow setting to dispense 20-25 ml of espresso, you can achieve 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 Americano
When making an Americano, the order is as important as the water-to-coffee ratio. Adding boiling water directly to the espresso can result in a burnt and bitter taste. Therefore, the water should 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, offering a more balanced drinking experience. The espresso aroma disperses homogeneously in the water, resulting in a smoother drinking experience. Since Americano can be adjusted to personal preferences, you can increase or decrease the amount of water to suit your taste. For those who desire a low-intensity but aromatic coffee, an Americano is an ideal choice.
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.