Americano
Also known as: caffè americano
Espresso diluted with hot water, giving a strength and body closer to filter coffee while keeping espresso's flavour character.
- Coffee dose
- 18g
- Yield
- 180ml
- Intensity
- medium
- Preparation time
- 2 min
- Skill level
- intermediate
Caffeine estimate
Approximately 60-80mg (single-shot americano).
Well established — A double-shot americano roughly doubles this estimate.
Brewing method
Made using Espresso machine.
Taste, variation and common mistakes
Closer in strength and body to filter coffee than to a straight espresso shot, but keeps more of espresso's concentrated flavour and crema-derived aroma, since it starts from a shot rather than being brewed directly with a large water volume.
Common mistakes
- Pouring hot water and espresso inconsistently — pouring espresso over water versus water over espresso gives a slightly different crema and mouthfeel, though both are commonly used.
- Using too much water relative to the shot, washing the flavour out until it tastes thin rather than simply lighter than espresso.
- Assuming it's identical to filter/drip coffee — the base concentrate is different even when the final strength is similar.
Water ratio isn't standardised — some cafés serve a stronger 'short' Americano closer to a diluted double shot, others a longer, more filter-coffee-like version; definitions vary by café.
Steps
- Pull a single or double espresso shot.
- Add hot water to the desired strength, typically 120-180ml.