Is Americano Coffee Bitter, and How Should You Drink It?

Americano coffee is espresso diluted with water, so it counts as a black coffee with no additives. Its bitterness depends on the espresso base and the water ratio, and the drink spread during World War II when U.S. soldiers watered down Italian espresso to a strength they could accept.

It differs from a Long Black, where water goes into the cup first and espresso is poured over it, preserving more crema and aroma. Iced Americano has become more popular than the hot version, and coffee shops commonly serve it as a daily caffeine boost and a lighter option for health-conscious drinkers.

Americano is almost a permanent fixture on every coffee shop menu, and for many people it's the go-to choice for a daily caffeine boost and a healthy drink. Is it really a black coffee? How is it different from a Long Black? Is there a standard ratio for making it? And why is iced Americano more popular than hot Americano? This article will explore the origins of Americano, its differences from Long Black, the ratio of espresso to water, and a comparison of iced versus hot flavors, drawing on Front Street's experience at its stores to help coffee lovers gain a more well-rounded understanding of this drink that seems simple but is full of nuances.

When you walk into a coffee shop to order, the first thing that usually catches your eye on the menu is the Americano. Nowadays, more and more people in China are drinking coffee, and Americano isn't just a daily pick-me-up — it's also a common choice for health-conscious crowds. This time, Front Street is here to talk all about Americano.

Is Americano a black coffee?

Judging by the name, espresso obviously comes from Italy, while Americano most likely has ties to America. The popularity of Americano can be traced back to the 18th century. At that time, the American public was extremely unhappy about the high import tax the British government imposed on tea. In 1773, the "Boston Tea Party" broke out as a result, and people were encouraged to switch to drinking coffee. After that, the number of coffee shops in America kept growing, driving the coffee industry to expand rapidly there. By the 1880s, about one-third of the world's coffee beans were being shipped to the United States. During World War II, U.S. troops consumed large amounts of coffee every day, which both added a bit of comfort to their monotonous lives and helped soldiers stay alert.

However, Italians prefer rich, intense espresso, and American soldiers couldn't get used to that heavy bitterness, so they added water to dilute the coffee until it reached a strength they could accept. Later, when Italians ran coffee shops in America, they went along with local customs and introduced a drink made with espresso as the base and diluted with water, which became hugely popular. This "watered-down coffee" later came to be called "Americano." Since it's made only from water and espresso, with no other additives, it counts as a black coffee.

What's the difference between Americano and Long Black?

Besides Americano, another drink called Long Black has started appearing on the menus of some coffee shops. In the 1980s, a large number of Italians emigrated to Australia, bringing espresso machines with them to New Zealand, Australia, Melbourne, and other places. Australians prefer a stronger-tasting coffee, and the light, refreshing Americano clearly didn't suit their taste. So Italians adjusted the espresso base and the brewing ratio to cater to Australians' "bold" preferences. In Australia, black coffee is usually called Black Coffee, while coffee with milk is called White Coffee. Long Black is made by adding a small amount of water to reduce the excessive concentration while highlighting the aroma of the black coffee.

After reviewing relevant materials, Front Street noted that the most notable difference between Americano and Long Black is the amount of water added. Americano is made by first extracting espresso, then diluting it with water, with an espresso-to-water ratio of about 1:5 to 1:8. Long Black, on the other hand, has a stronger coffee flavor than Americano and comes in a smaller cup. The barista extracts two shots of espresso (40g) into a cup containing 100-120ml of water, and the surface retains a rich layer of crema. As a result, the first sip of Long Black is the richest and most full-bodied, and the subsequent flavor profile is also relatively clear and clean.

The brewing ratio for Americano

Currently, there is no unified standard for the coffee-to-water ratio, which means every shop's Americano can taste different. It's usually determined by the flavor characteristics of the coffee beans used and the cup size. For example, the Americano served at Front Street stores uses Front Street's own roasted Sunflower Warm Sun blend coffee beans, which under ideal extraction should present flavors of wine, vanilla, cream, chocolate, and berries. To highlight these aromas, Front Street conducted multiple comparisons and ultimately settled on a 1:4.5 ratio — that is, 40g of espresso with 180g of hot water added.

When making iced Americano, you also need to consider the effect of chilling the coffee and how the ice will melt, so Front Street uses solid large ice cubes. Generally, the ice cubes are taken out in advance and then stored under refrigeration to become "old ice," which slows down the melting rate and helps the iced coffee maintain a better taste.

Each ice cube at Front Street weighs about 25g. The ratio for one cup of Front Street iced Americano is 40g of espresso, which means adding 4 ice cubes and 120g of water — that is, 1:2.5:3. This way, the iced Americano isn't so strong at first that it's unpleasant, nor does it become too weak from being diluted by the melting ice.

Why does everyone love iced Americano?

As Front Street mentioned above, the highest-selling item on the menu is Americano, and about 80% of those orders are for iced, with only a small portion ordering hot Americano. Why is that?

Front Street once compared iced Americano, warm Americano, and hot Americano, and found that hot Americano has the fullest, most full-bodied flavor, iced Americano tastes sweet and sour, refreshing, with a lighter bitterness, while warm Americano is mild in taste, with a flavor and mouthfeel that aren't particularly striking. That's why generally no coffee shop offers room-temperature Americano. Compared to the heavy coffee flavor of hot Americano, people prefer the clean, refreshing taste of an iced drink. For workers who have to get up early and grind away, a cup of iced Americano not only solves the problem of feeling sleepy from lack of caffeine, but also cuts through greasiness, quenches thirst, and satisfies the taste buds — all at a very affordable price, which naturally makes it even more popular.

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