Do your irises dilate when you feel the smell of fresh-made coffee or you just ignore it? Some people can’t wake up without this black fuel and some can’t stand the smell of it; while the others are almost addicted. What’s your variant?
Americano, Espresso, Latte, Cappuccino, etc. – it’s not the full list of existing coffee drinks. Americano seems to be one of the most popular. It is not as strong as a classic espresso, and you can enjoy your cup of joe much longer. Let’s find out what’s an Americano coffee and its peculiarities.
What Is An Americano Coffee
Americano coffee is a classical espresso diluted with hot water. Sounds not really attractive, right? But due to this fact, its taste is softer, less concentrated and has less bitterness, comparing to espresso.
The Americano drink appeared almost accidentally in Italy. During WWII when Americans came on its territories they tried espresso drink which was popular there. For foreign soldiers that drink was too concentrated so they asked barmen to add some water in it. Italian barmen were negatively surprised by such a request but anyway followed it. Baristas added hot water onto a shot of espresso, dispersing the crema, and making the body and appearance of a drip-brewed, black coffee. “Americano” (from Italian – “Americans”) – just said Italians when they saw the soldiers. So, there is no doubt that the name of the drink comes just from the name of nationality.
As time passed Americano coffee became an extremely popular drink all around the world, including Europe and the USA. What’s remarkable – in America, it became popular only in 1990 in ‘Starbucks’.
People have this coffee drink at any time or part of the day. Coffee lovers have their own rituals of drinking it.
Nowadays there are three types of Americano coffee and they are widely spread:
- European – ready-made espresso and hot water are served separately (120 ml);
- Italian (classical) – hot water is added into espresso (120 ml);
- Scandinavian – espresso is added into hot water (120 ml).
There is foam on the top of the Americano drink, it isn’t so rich as in espresso.
So, now you may be curious about its taste. If to compare Americano and black coffee/brewed coffee they are different. The preparation of them looks the same – put hot water in coffee. Brewed coffee is always made beforehand, there is no proportion between water and coffee, so the taste is too diluted. Americano has a rich, soft, smooth taste and wins this battle (but, of course, it depends on your taste).
Usually, it can be served as a ready-made coffee drink in a small cup with a glass of water. By the way, milk, sugar can be added.
Also, you can drink it with some desserts if you like. The great coffee fans chose this “black fuel” without any sweets just to taste its pure and bitter taste.
How To Make An Americano
Well, now we know a lot about Americano drink. So, it’s high time to prepare it together. Of course, you can do it on a coffee machine. Also, you can make it manually feeling like a barista. Use special ware like an ibrik or a cezve put all the necessary ingredients and heat them.
Here is the process:
- Take freshly grounded coffee of any type you like (15-16 g);
- Make an espresso (30 ml);
- Add hot water (not more than 92°C) to it (90-120 ml);
- Pour the ready-made drink in a big cup.
Important: heat water and a coffee maximum of 25 seconds and not much.
Enjoy the process of making the drink. And don’t be in a hurry while preparing the tasty Americano not to spoil it. What’s more, you can make some experiments adding extra ingredients to it, so that it will become more special.
Do you feel the smell of flavored ready-made coffee right now? Would you like to try “black fuel” – Americano? If yes, choose the way of preparing this drink, take some sweets or taste the pure taste without sugar. Anyway, it is worth trying. Enjoy!
