Is American coffee the same as an Americano?

An Americano is espresso diluted with hot water, and because it contains only espresso and water, it counts as black coffee. A Long Black reverses the order: hot water goes into the cup first, then espresso is poured over it, so the crema and aroma stay more intact. Iced Americano is still black coffee as long as no milk or syrup is added.

The drink traces back to World War II, when U.S. soldiers stationed in Italy found straight espresso too bitter and added water to soften it. Italian-run cafes in the United States later served the same mixture, and the name Americano stuck. The main practical difference from a Long Black comes down to water ratio and pour order, which change how sharp or mellow the cup tastes.

When ordering at a coffee shop, Americano is often the most prominent item on the menu. It not only serves the function of daily refreshment but is also favored by health-conscious people. But is Americano actually considered black coffee? And how does it differ from the increasingly popular Long Black? In this article, Front Street will sort through historical origins, brewing methods, water ratios, and other angles, while also sharing specific recipes for Americano and iced Americano, and recommending Front Street coffee beans suitable for making Americano, helping coffee enthusiasts make a balanced, satisfying cup of Americano at home.

When walking into a coffee shop to order, the first drink that catches your eye is usually Americano. Nowadays, more and more people in China drink coffee, and Americano has become both a good helper for daily refreshment and a favorite among people pursuing a healthy lifestyle. This time, Front Street will talk with everyone about Americano.

Is Americano a type of black coffee?

From the name, one can roughly infer that espresso originates from Italy, while Americano is related to the United States. The popularity of Americano can be traced back to the eighteenth century. At that time, the American public was extremely dissatisfied with the British government's high import tax on tea. In 1773, the "Boston Tea Party" broke out as a result, and afterward people began advocating coffee drinking instead. As time went on, the number of American coffee shops continued to grow, and the coffee industry rapidly expanded there. By the 1880s, about one-third of the world's coffee beans were shipped to the United States. During World War II, U.S. troops consumed large amounts of coffee every day, both to spice up dull life and to help soldiers stay alert.

However, Italians have always preferred strongly flavored espresso, while American soldiers found that heavy bitterness hard to accept, so they added water to espresso to dilute it to a concentration they could tolerate. Later, when Italians ran coffee shops in the United States, they also went along with the trend and introduced a coffee drink based on espresso diluted with water, which turned out to be very popular with locals. This "watered-down coffee" later came to be called "Americano." Because it contains only water and espresso, with no other additives, Americano belongs to the category of black coffee.

What is the difference between Americano and Long Black?

Besides Americano, another drink called Long Black has also begun appearing on the menus of many coffee shops, usually translated in China as "Aohei." In the 1980s, a large number of Italians emigrated to Australia and brought espresso machines to New Zealand, Australia, Melbourne, and other places. Australians prefer coffee with a thicker mouthfeel, and crisp Americano clearly did not suit their taste. So Italians adjusted the espresso base and brewing ratio to cater to Australians' pursuit of "bold flavors." In Australia, people are used to using Black Coffee to refer to black coffee and White Coffee to refer to coffee with milk. Long Black is made by adding a small amount of water to reduce concentration while highlighting the aroma of black coffee.

After consulting relevant materials, Front Street noticed that the most intuitive difference between Americano and Long Black is the amount of water added. Americano is made by first extracting espresso and then diluting it with water, and the ratio of espresso to water is usually between 1:5 and 1:8. Long Black, however, has a stronger coffee taste than Americano and a smaller cup size. A barista extracts two shots of espresso (40g) into a cup containing 100-120ml of water, and the surface retains a rich Crema. Therefore, the first sip of Long Black is the most intense and full-bodied, and the subsequent flavor expression is relatively clear and clean.

The brewing ratio of Americano

At present, there is no unified standard for the ratio of coffee to water. In other words, the Americano made by every coffee shop may be different, and the shop decides based on the flavor characteristics of the coffee beans used and the cup size.

If you want to make a rich and aromatic Americano, you can use Front Street. Black Cocoa—this is an espresso moka pot coffee bean recommended by many baristas. Under ideal extraction conditions, it can present flavors of cocoa, cookies, cream, and nuts, with moderate crema and a balanced mouthfeel, making it very suitable for home use. To highlight these advantages, Front Street conducted multiple comparisons and finally settled on a ratio of 1:4.5, which means adding 180g of hot water to 40g of espresso.

If you prefer a fresher taste, you can choose Front Street. Strawberry Candy espresso. This is an espresso recipe launched specifically for people who prefer floral and fruity aromas. It blends three major origins—Costa Rica, Colombia, and Ethiopia—and carries aromas of roses, citrus, grapes, and dried blueberries. When made into Americano, it has a clear, sweet flavor like fruit gummies.

When making iced Americano, it is necessary to take into account the effect of chilling the coffee and the melting of the ice cubes, so Front Street uses sturdy large ice cubes. Generally, the ice cubes are taken out in advance and then stored under refrigeration to form large ice cubes, which can slow down the melting speed of the ice and keep the flavor of the iced coffee for longer.

Each ice cube at Front Street weighs about 25g. The ratio for a cup of Front Street iced Americano is 40g of espresso, which means adding 4g of ice cubes and 120g of water, that is, 1:2.5:3. The iced Americano made this way will not be unpleasant at first because it is too strong, nor will it become too weak because of dilution by the ice cubes.

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