WHAT IS AN AMERICANO?
Nowadays, when we want to order a specialty coffee, we don’t know where to start because of the wide range coffee shops have, unless you’re a walking encyclopedia.
It’s easy to get lost and lose track of the newest niches they have. If that’s the case for coffee-lovers like us, what should new coffee-lovers say about this? Have you tried an Americano or you would like some extra information about this coffee?
We at Golden Sin will cover this topic for you in-depth.
See also: best cheap espresso machine.
See also: best espresso beans.
WHAT IS AMERICANO?
Americano is an espresso-based coffee beverage that’s made with hot water. It’s one of the most basic and popular coffee drinks out there.
It’s brewed using a little bit of water and mixing it with expresso. Then, milk or cream is usually added to the mixture to make it creamy. This gives the Americano coffee a unique, creamy, and fragrant taste. The smell of fresh ground beans is also very nice and beneficial for a great coffee experience. Usually, the Americano coffee is served in a big cup.
One of the best things about this coffee is the low cost. Since it already contains ground beans, usually it costs less than other types of coffee drinks. It also saves time for people who want to have a hot drink but still rush to their office or school.
WHAT IS THE STORY BEHIND AMERICANO?
In some countries, Americano coffee is also called ‘ristretto ‘. But, the taste and method of making it are the same.
In Italy, during World War II, this drink was first created when soldiers got tired of drinking expresso. They wanted something less strong so they mixed some water with the expresso to create a unique taste of coffee. They wanted to get the same effect of their coffee in the United States.
This is why we say that there’s a European version and one outside Europe: Americano.
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN REGULAR COFFEE AND AMERICANO COFFEE?
Many people think that Americano coffee is a regular cup of brewed coffee. But, in fact, the difference is not that big. The most important difference is it uses less water and is only brewed with expresso.
Because of the different proportions of ingredients (coffee-water ratio) used, the drink will have different tastes despite using the same types of beans for both drinks.
HOW TO MAKE AN AMERICANO?
The easiest and fastest way to get a cup of Americano coffee is by using an espresso machine. You need a standard-size cup, water, and ground beans.
The most important part is the ratio of ingredients used. Normally, for one shot of espresso, you should use only 1 oz (3 tablespoons) of water with 2 oz (2-1/3 tablespoons) of ground beans. This will not make your cup too strong or bitter because it contains only 10 % brew which was made from 30 grams of coffee.
To complete the process you just put your mixture in the heated glass, then add milk or cream until you get the desired taste. As said before, americano has a texture different from other drinks because it contains less water and more ground beans. So it is thicker than you think.
You can adjust this ratio on the go and try multiple times with different roasts or specialty beans. The journey on the way is what it makes so interesting right?
Step by step:
- Pour 1 or 2 shots of espresso into your cup
- Add hot water and pour it over the espresso in your cup(s)
Adjust this ratio and play with it to get it right. You only learn by doing. - You can add sugar, honey or something else to sweeten it up. Some people like to add milk, whipped cream or half of both. Other people add water to it to make it less strong.
WHAT ABOUT THE CREMA?
Italian people usually use one shot of espresso and 6-8 ounces of water. This will give your drink a lot of crema which equals bold flavors.
Crema is a thin layer of foam on top of your espresso and makes the coffee thick and smooth so it will be easier to dissolve in the mouth.
Americanos are not made with crema because they contain more ground beans than other coffees. Guarino Coffee even recommends using double water than espresso. This will give a little bit of bitter taste to your drink. Water is added after pulling the shot of espresso, this process mixes the crema into your cup and is the more traditional way.
We won’t debate here if the crema is improving the taste or not. We think both ways are nice, crema is more than just taste, it adds visual experience and the more traditional way is good because of the strong flavor of the Americano. It all depends on what’s used from beans and so on. Try different things.
The bottom line is: if you want the crema, you should add water first to your coffee. Doing this will save the natural flavors of the coffee bean.
BENEFITS OF DRINKING AN AMERICANO?
1. BUDGET
Budget is always one of the important benefits we like at Golden Sin, we like a good price-quality ratio.
As we’ve said before, one of the best things about this coffee is the low cost. It contains basic ingredients and is usually sold in large quantities.
You can easily save a lot of time when homebrewing your Americano coffee.
2. POPULARITY
Most people like drinking coffee if it’s espresso or something else.
We’ve heard many stories about people who have health issues when drinking coffee.
You can drink it easily with your breakfast as it benefits people who don’t have enough time to have breakfast.
The americano is less strong but still rich in taste!
3. EFFICIENT
This one goes together with the 2 benefits above as it’s easy and quick to make. This contributes to the low cost and high popularity.
This is also good for people who want something tasty but easy to get. All they have to do is just walk into a coffee shop and order what they want.
4. TRADITIONAL
Classic and traditional are words that are related to culture, style, and so on. The same goes for drinking Americano we think.
Less is more, we like to keep it simple but good. No special brewing or added syrups and so on, just old school and good.
HOW TO IMPROVE YOUR AMERICANO?
Americanos are great alternatives for people who want something less strong but still great in taste.
You can increase this drink by adding sugar, milk, whipped cream to it.
Some people do half milk and half cream for a great effect.
You can also add water to it, to make it less strong.
Our favorite is just an old-school Americano, but we do like to drink one with whipped cream and a bit of cinnamon, but mostly we drink it in the traditional sense.
CONCLUSION
This coffee drink will ease and simplify your morning routine, whether you’re buying it in a coffee shop or brewing it at home. This coffee is simple and good and doesn’t require extra sugar or other sweeteners. This americano is a drink that does the job, simple and great, the best of both worlds!
F.A.Q.
IS AN AMERICANO JUST BLACK COFFEE?
Americanos are black coffees with about a quarter of water added to it. While Americanos mostly do have the same caffeine as regular coffee, they taste different because of how much hot water is mixed in. You can always add sweeteners like sugar, honey, milk, cream as with any coffee.
IS AMERICANO STRONGER THAN BLACK COFFEE?
The answer is no. Americanos are made with mostly hot water added to the coffee. A lot of people think it has a lot more caffeine than regular coffee but they aren’t aware of the addition of water in the process.
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN AN AMERICANO AND ESPRESSO?
An Americano and espresso are made from the same resources. The brewing process and beans can be the same. The only difference is the water to espresso ratio. The Americano has more water added than the espresso. The espresso is more the European version and the Americano outside Europe.
Enjoy your coffee!