Introduction:Many people think that Americano coffee was invented in the United States, but in fact, its origins are closely tied to Italy. This article delves into how Americano evolved from espresso during World War II and explains the differences between black coffee and Americano in detail. It also provides practical brewing ratios for hot and iced Americanos, milk addition suggestions, and tips on bean selection techniques to help you brew a smooth, sweet, and non-bitter Americano at home with professional-level flavor.

Americano coffee is not the same as black coffee, nor did it necessarily originate in the United States. In fact, its story begins in Italy. To understand the origins of Americano, one must first learn about the background and evolution of espresso.

As early as the beginning of the 20th century, with the introduction of coffee beans to Italy, local preferences for coffee gradually took shape. The continuous innovation of extraction equipment helped establish the basic form of espresso, which quickly became integrated into everyday Italian life. Later, as espresso machines improved, this beverage gradually spread across Europe and even gained worldwide popularity.

Regarding the name "Americano," it actually does not originate from the United States itself. Legend has it that during World War II, when American soldiers were stationed in Europe, they found the local espresso too strong and noticeably bitter, making it hard to adapt to. To make the coffee more palatable, they began diluting the espresso with hot water, and this adjusted beverage gradually gained popularity and came to be known as "Americano"—the Americano we know today.

Within the large family of espresso-based drinks, in addition to Americano, there are also various variations such as latte, cappuccino, flat white, and Dirty. Although their appearances and flavors differ, they all stem from the fundamental techniques of espresso.

A standard cup of Americano mainly consists of two parts: espresso and hot water. Since espresso itself is highly concentrated with intense flavors, the primary purpose of adding water is to appropriately dilute it to achieve a more balanced overall taste. Therefore, the key to Americano does not lie in the brewing method itself, but in the precision of bean selection and extraction.

For making hot Americano, it is recommended to use a 1:4.5 ratio—that is, using about 20 grams of coffee grounds, extracting for approximately 30 seconds to yield around 40 grams of double espresso, and then adding 180 grams of hot water at about 80°C. This ratio brings out multi-layered flavors such as vanilla, cream, berries, caramel, and fermentation notes in the coffee, resulting in a smooth taste with a distinct aftertaste.

As for iced Americano, it is suggested to prepare it at a 1:2.5:3 ratio—that is, using 20 grams of coffee grounds to extract 40 grams of espresso, then adding about 100 grams of large ice cubes and 120 grams of cold water. This combination maintains a moderate concentration while highlighting a refreshing sweet-and-sour taste, making it perfect for hot weather.

If you find the bitterness of Americano too pronounced, you might consider adding fresh milk to balance it. It is generally recommended to adjust the coffee-to-hot-water ratio to 1:4—first pour 160 milliliters of hot water into the cup, then add 40 milliliters of espresso, and follow up by adding fresh milk at about 15 milliliters per 100 milliliters of black coffee. For example, adding 30 milliliters of fresh milk can make the overall taste smoother and add layers of creaminess and caramel flavor.

Additionally, if you want the Americano itself to have a soft and non-bitter profile, you can choose medium or medium-light roasted coffee beans. For instance, using honey-processed Costa Rican Tarrazú beans paired with Ethiopian beans and a small amount of Colombian beans can bring out a distinctly sweet-and-sour tone reminiscent of strawberry soft candy, while creating fine crema and a smooth mouthfeel during extraction, giving the entire cup of Americano greater complexity and depth of flavor.

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