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What is an Americano Coffee?
We’ve all heard of the Americano coffee, haven’t we? Sometimes known as a caffé americano or American coffee, this coffee drink is a popular choice for coffee lovers around the world.
If you’re wondering exactly what is an Americano coffee, you’re about to find out all about the drink’s origins as well as what is in an Americano coffee and the exact definition.
Definition of Americano
The word Americano means ‘American’ in Italian. Often, the beverage is called an “American” and is an abbreviation of the term ‘Caffé Americano’, the name given to the popular coffee drink, which translates to mean ‘American coffee’ in English.
What is an Americano?
An Americano consists of a single shot of espresso mixed with around 120-180ml of hot water. It is similar to its Australian counterpart, the ‘long black’.
Origin of the Americano Coffee
One popular belief is that during World War II, the American soldiers in Italy diluted espresso with hot water to create a drink which bore resemblance to their beloved drip coffee they were used to drinking back at home.
Tips and Tricks
Alongside the traditional Americano, there are a few variations of this classic beverage that might suit you better than the original.
Americano Cocktail
Confusingly, the popular Americano cocktail that shares its name with the coffee beverage contains zero coffee and is in fact made up of a mix of campari, vermouth and soda water. If you’re looking for a coffee-based cocktail, however, there are plenty of other options, such as a Black Russian or an Espresso Martini.
Iced Americano
The iced Americano is a popular cold alternative to the hot beverage. This refreshing drink is simply made by pouring a shot of espresso over ice and topping it off with cold water.
White Americano
Straight black coffee, like the Americano or long black, can be quite a bold and acquired taste for some. Adding a splash of milk to your Americano may make it more palatable, and this is unsurprisingly known as a ‘White Americano.’
