Introduction:Many people think that Americano is bitter and hard to drink, but in fact, by choosing the right beans and brewing method, it can also showcase delightful sweetness and layers of flavor. This article delves into the origins of the Americano, debunks the myth of adding sugar, and recommends several espresso beans ideal for crafting sweet and prominent iced Americanos. It also provides practical extraction parameters and steps to help you easily make a refreshing, smooth, and flavorful iced Americano.

When many people try Americano for the first time, they are often put off by its strong bitterness, even thinking it’s unbearable without sugar. But in truth, this bitterness isn’t an inherent trait of Americano. With the right beans and brewing technique, you can enjoy a sweet and smooth black coffee. So why is Americano often considered bitter? Is adding sugar really seen as unrefined? And if you want to brew an Americano with noticeable sweetness, how should you choose your coffee beans and adjust the parameters? The following will take you on an in-depth exploration.

Regarding the origin of Americano, it’s widely believed to be related to the dietary habits of soldiers during World War II. At that time, American soldiers were accustomed to filtered coffee and were quite unaccustomed to the intense, bitter flavor of the espresso commonly found in Italy. To make it more acceptable to the troops, local baristas diluted the espresso with hot water, creating a black coffee similar in taste to what Americans were used to. Over time, this brewing method made its way back to the United States, becoming the familiar form of black coffee we know today. In countries like the UK, “black coffee” usually refers to pure coffee without milk, but in places like Taiwan and Hong Kong, “Americano” is almost synonymous with black coffee.

Many consumers believe that adding sugar to Americano is a sign of poor taste, but in reality, flavor preference is highly personal, with no inherent hierarchy. The key lies in whether one can bring out the coffee’s natural sweetness and layers through appropriate bean selection and brewing techniques, so that even without sugar, the coffee remains enjoyable.

If you want to make an iced Americano with pronounced sweetness, selecting the right espresso beans is crucial. The degree of roast often greatly affects the final flavor. Generally speaking, medium-dark roasts and darker tend to bring out charred and smoky notes, while medium roasts strike a balance between acidity and bitterness, and can highlight distinct caramel and nutty tones—making them suitable for those seeking sweetness.

Below are several recommended espresso beans ideal for crafting iced Americanos with standout sweetness, each with its unique flavor profile:

1. Classic Blend Coffee Beans, priced at about 33 RMB / 100g, combines Brazilian semi-washed, Indonesian Mandheling, and Vietnamese beans. It has a rich mouthfeel and ample crema, suitable for those who enjoy bold flavors.
2. Strawberry Sugar Espresso, priced at about 43 RMB / 100g, is a blend of Costa Rican, Panamanian, and Ethiopian beans. It offers aromas of rose, strawberry candy, and glucose, with distinct sweet and fruity tones, making for a very likable flavor.
3. Premium Blend Coffee Beans, priced at about 75 RMB / 454g, consists of Colombian washed and Brazilian semi-washed beans. It presents aromas of nuts, dark chocolate, and caramel, with rich layers.
4. Commercial Blend Coffee Beans, priced at about 60 RMB / 454g, mixes Robusta washed, Colombian, and Brazilian beans. Its flavor leans toward nuts, cocoa, and caramel, offering stability and suitability for everyday drinking.
5. Black Cocoa Blend Coffee Beans, priced at about 50 RMB / 454g, blends Yunnan washed small beans with Brazilian semi-washed beans. It has a gentle flavor with fruity acidity, caramel, and nutty tones, beloved by many baristas.

To make an iced Americano with prominent sweetness, aside from bean selection, the extraction and blending steps are equally vital. Below is a practical iced Americano preparation process and set of parameters that can help enhance overall flavor performance:

1. Begin with the extraction of the espresso. It is recommended to use a Galileo Q18 grinder, set to a grind size of 2.0, maintaining a grinding pressure of 9 bar, with water temperature controlled between 92–96°C. Use 20 grams of coffee (for a double shot), with an extraction time suggested to be around 25–33 seconds, yielding approximately 40 ml of total extraction.

2. Prepare about 280 ml of ice water mixture, which can be adjusted according to personal taste preferences.

3. Pour the freshly extracted double shot of espresso directly into the ice water, gently stir to mix evenly, and it’s ready to enjoy. This method rapidly reduces the temperature while preserving the coffee’s aroma and layers, highlighting its sweetness.

Taking the Strawberry Sugar Espresso as an example, when mixed with ice water, its flavor layers become even clearer. You can often detect notes of strawberry jam, rose, berries, grapes, and almonds, with a lasting chocolatey aftertaste. The overall mouthfeel is refreshing and smooth, making it perfect for summer consumption.

The above content is compiled by CoffeeHunters, a coffee news website.