As is well known, Americano refers to a cup of black coffee with nothing added except espresso and water. Its taste is relatively light, yet it retains the flavor of the coffee itself. It has a bittersweet and aromatic entry, and the first sip may be somewhat hard to accept; only afterward does one gradually adapt and begin to experience its mellow flavor.

For people who cannot quite accept bitterness, a little sugar is usually added to neutralize it, making the Americano easier to drink. But occasionally, Front Street encounters some customers who like to order this way: "Give me an Americano and add some milk to it."

This kind of "hidden drinking method" not only attracts the attention of some friends, but sometimes also makes some novice baristas subconsciously wonder,Adding milk to an Americanodoesn't that turn it into a latte? Why add milk to an Americano instead of just ordering a latte? How much milk is appropriate to add?

Is an Americano with milk equal to a latte?

As two classic coffees that have long occupied the top spot on menus, Americano and latte differ to some extent in ingredients, production techniques, and taste. Both use a single/double espresso as the base, and the difference is reflected in the taste gap created by the barista's handling and control of the espresso and milk/water.

But in fact, if you explain the concept more plainly, you will find that an Americano is nothing more than espresso plus water, and a latte is espresso plus milk. So adding milk to an Americano is equal to adding a small amount of milk on the basis of "espresso + water." This "new combination" clearly cannot be equated with traditional latte coffee, because it still retains the basic characteristics of an Americano, and the milk here is more like a supporting "supporting role."

Why add milk to an Americano?

If you let a friend who has drunk pure black coffee for years take a sip of "Americano with milk," then he will most likely frown, or even find it unbelievable, and finally say loudly: "Terrible!!" Because in their view, doing this "destroys" the original ratio of the Americano. The coffee is neither refreshing nor rich. With the addition of milk, first, the aroma is weak, and second, the mouthfeel also seems watery.

Since this "hidden method" does not make the coffee taste better, why do some people still like to add milk to an Americano?

1. Increase smooth mouthfeel and enhance dark-roast aroma

Everyone knows that a standard Americano usually has a beautiful golden foam floating on top—crema. Moderate crema not only brings a good mouthfeel to the coffee, but also provides us with some aromatic substances in terms of smell, and it is also one of the important signs of fresh coffee. In order to enhance the richness of crema, many people will preferentially use dark-roasted beans (espresso beans) for production. Their main flavor profile is itself bitter, and once the parameters are not adjusted well, the coffee will also show negative characteristics such as dryness or roughness.

At this time, adding a small amount of milk can not only neutralize the bitter note of the coffee, but the richness of the milk also elevates the entire Americano to a thicker mouthfeel, enriching its caramel and chocolate aromas.

2. Personal taste

Through communication with customers who like to drink "Americano with milk," it was found that some people do this because they do not quite like the sweet and greasy taste of a latte, while drinking an Americano directly feels too "stimulating," so they "improve" it themselves; another group likes to taste the flavor of the beans themselves, but cannot accept even a little bitterness in the coffee, and adding a little milk can weaken the bitterness without affecting its original flavor, simply achieving two goals at once.

3. A "helpless move" for people with lactose intolerance

Different from the second situation, this type of friend does not dislike milk coffee, but because of physical reasons cannot enjoy it. After a cup of latte, they may immediately have to rush to the bathroom. So in order to improve the phenomenon of lactose intolerance, they cannot "freely" gulp down a latte, but instead add a small amount of milk to an Americano, which both allows their gastrointestinal tract to adapt and, to some extent, satisfies their craving.

How should milk be added to an Americano for a better taste?

When it comes to drinking coffee, Front Street has always felt that standards are secondary, and what tastes good to you is the key. So rather than debating whether an Americano can have milk added, we should discuss how to add milk so it tastes good. In order to keep the milk and coffee at a balanced taste, the strength of the Americano can be slightly adjusted during preparation, and whole fresh milk with a higher protein content should be preferred.

Usually, every coffee shop has a fixed ratio for its products. For example, when Front Street uses the medium-dark roasted Warm Sun blend to make a hot Americano, it is served in a 240ml ceramic cup. The coffee is generally 35–40ml, and the hot water is 180ml. The ratio is roughly 1:4.5. The hot Americano made this way has a moderate strength when drunk directly, with a balanced mellow aroma and a slight sweet finish.

For friends who need to add milk separately, Front Street will adjust the ratio of coffee to hot water to 1:4, first add 160ml of hot water to the cup, pour in 40ml of espresso, and then add 15ml of fresh milk per 100ml of black coffee, that is, 30ml of fresh milk. In this way, whether in strength, mouthfeel, or aroma, there is a good effect.

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