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Author:
Franco Salzillo
The history of the Americano is quite interesting. Basically, we’re talking about a watered-down espresso, in a way, but what a delicious coffee it is!
When the US Military set up shop in Europe during WWII, they found the Italian coffee too strong and small. At the time, drip coffee was the norm in the US and was enjoyed in large cups.
The idea of serving an oversized coffee was preposterous for the Italians, but you know what they say, the customer is king. Coffee shops started serving American-style coffee. The Americano was born.
The answer is simple. Espresso and hot water. I make my Americano with two shots of espresso because, why not, right? Ideally, to make an Americano, you need an espresso machine that jets steam through the ground coffee, leaching out its flavor.
The difference here is that you should let the scorching water flow until you fill a large cup.
If you don’t have a steam-powered espresso machine, brew one or two espresso pods and top them with hot water. Alternatively, use an Italian stove-top mocha pot to make the espresso and top it with water.
The secret behind a good Americano, though, is the coffee. You don’t want to use weak coffee since you’re pretty much diluting it. Let me tell you what coffee to use instead.
To make a proper Americano, you want to use a solid Arabica-Robusta blend and make sure it’s a heavy roast. That way, the coffee will taste strong but balanced.
You can always add a splash of creamer, cream or milk to round it out. Then, sweeten it to taste. The Americano is popular for a reason — you can make it your own, so don’t be afraid to customize your cup of Joe to your taste.
That’s what this tall drink is all about! Just remember, the better the beans, the better the coffee.
If using an espresso machine, brew the espresso and keep on adding water until you get a cup of dark Americano.
If you’re using a pod coffee machine, Brew the espresso and heat the water in a coffee pot. Pour the hot water over the espresso and stir.
Optionally, add cream or milk and sweeten to taste. Serve with cookies and enjoy!
