How to Make an Americano Coffee

Are you one of the many people who just love drinking Americano almost every day? We can’t blame you—its strong flavor is enough to wake the senses up. It’s the perfect coffee for those days you need that much-needed boost to get through the day.

If you spend so much money on your to-go cups of Americano, then you’re in luck. We’re going to teach you how to make an Americano at home. That way, you can save more money and time in the long run.

In this article, you’ll learn:

• The History of the Americano Coffee
• How to Make an Americano Coffee
• The Right Way Americano Should Be Put Into the Cup

Once you get the hang of it, you’ll enjoy the whole process. You even get to customize it the way you want your coffee to be. So, let’s start.

A Brief History of the Americano Coffee

The Americano was introduced during World War II when American soldiers deployed in Italy discovered a way to make the coffee less strong. Don’t get them wrong, though. The Americans appreciate the coffee; the only problem was that it was too strong for their liking.

That’s when an idea was hatched to replicate the drip coffee in the US where soldiers add water to the Italian espresso. And from there, the Americano was introduced.

The Basics of an Americano Coffee

The Americano is very simple: all you need is hot water and espresso. Usually, the ratio is either 1:2 or 1:3. There is no milk in the Americano, but if you want to add some, that’s fine.

Indeed, it’s a simple construction. However, the right espresso beans can make or break your Americano. You need the right beans to get the best espresso shots, especially if you want a double shot. Moreover, there are several ways to brew espresso as well.

Your Espresso Beans

Before we proceed to the steps on how to make an Americano, let’s discuss first the importance of your beans for espresso. As mentioned, whether should need a double shot or even a triple espresso shot, you need to have the right beans.

The process of making an Americano at home is easy, but that doesn’t guarantee delicious. This is because it all comes down to the espresso beans you have on hand. Therefore, you need to be extremely picky when it comes to this.

You may be tempted to use regular coffee beans for this, but if you really want to make good-tasting Americano coffee at home, you need to get espresso beans specifically.

Espresso beans come in darker shades, and that’s how they’re supposed to me and how many people like their coffee. When choosing your espresso beans, choose somewhere in the middle of the dark spectrum. Why? Doing so will help you get good results from your coffee, especially if you want to play it up from time to time.

You’ll know you have a dark “enough” bean when the oil migrates to the outside of the mean. On the other hand, if you want something really dark, you’ll notice the beans have a shiny surface.

Another thing you need to be mindful of when choosing espresso beans is the roast date. You want it fresh; hence, the best period is between one and four weeks.

Finally, there has long been an ongoing debate between arabica and robusta when it comes to which one is better. Both are good, though, it all just depends on your preference. However, if it’s your first time, we suggest that you try both to determine which one goes well with your taste buds.

Robusta is less sweet and acidic. It has more caffeine and crema and is more affordable than arabica coffee beans. On the other hand, Arabica beans has less caffeine but relatively more tasty.

To make the best possible, we have 4 ways on how to make espresso here.

Now, let’s move on to how to make an Americano!

How to Make an Americano Coffee

Now, you’re ready to make your very own Americano coffee.

Follow these steps if you have an Espresso machine:

Step 1 –      Decide on the size of your drink. Do you want a one-shot Americano? Or two?

Step 2 –      Make your espresso by using an espresso machine or a manual espresso maker.

Step 3 –      Boil the water. The standard ratio is 2:1 water to espresso.

Step 4 –      Mix it and enjoy!

Yes, that’s it! It’s that easy to make an Americano at home. You can also make an iced Americano. All you need is some cold water and ice cubes and you’re good to go with an iced Americano on hand.

If you don’t have a good espresso machine yet, check out our lists here. We have everything depending on your needs.

How to Make an Americano Without a Machine

So, let’s say you don’t have an espresso machine at home, does that mean you can’t make your own Americano anymore? Of course not. Below are some steps to make your Americano dreams come true from the comforts of your own home still! All you need is some hot water and the best coffee beans. Of course, some ice if you want an iced Americano.

Moka Pot

You can make an Americano with the use of a Moka pot instead. The Moka pot is widely used in Europe and Latin America. It works by adding water pressure through steam to the mix. As a result, it stimulates that espresso taste and feel.

If you don’t have an Espresso machine, you can use Moka Pot:

Step 1 –  Add enough water to reach the fill line to the Moka Pot. Remember not to overfill it because this waterlog the coffee that can compromise its flavor.

Step 2 –  Add your espresso to the filter basket and attach the top part of the pot.

Step 3 –  Place the pot on a stovetop burner over medium heat.

Step 4 –  Listen to the sound of hissing coming from the pot and the brown foam that will appear before the coffee is completely done.

Step 5 –  Remove the pot from the burner when the Moka pot is full of coffee.

It takes time for you to master the art of the Moka pot, which means you need to do this several times before you achieve the Americano that you like.

French Press

Another method to make an Americano without an espresso machine is by using a French press. There are a few techniques you can learn to make the best espresso from your press.

If you don’t have an Espresso machine, you can use French Press:

Step 1 –  Add very fine ground coffee to the French press.

Step 2 –   Add a bit of hot water and let it rest for a few seconds to let the coffee bloom and release its aromatics and oils.

Step 3 –  Add the rest of the hot water, but don’t stir. Close the lid and let your coffee steep for four minutes in hot water. However, if you want your espresso to be stronger, you can steep it a bit longer.

Step 4 –  Plunge halfway slowly and steadily with even pressure. Raise the plunger to the top before you plunge again all the way down.

Step 5 –  Pour your coffee into a mug or a serving pot.

Although a French press is not designed for espresso, it’s still an easy way to brew strong coffee. All you need is hot water and high-quality coffee grounds and you’re good to go!

If you don’t have an Espresso machine, you can use Piston Machine:

A manual machine, or a piston machine, is ideal for those without an espresso machine or an espresso traditionalist. The method needs a high level of precision that is worth it in the end because many claims that this is the next big thing to get the best espresso without an automatic machine.

Here’s how you can make an Americano with this:

Step 1 –  Add two to three cups of water into the reservoir and heat it.

Step 2 –   Add your ground coffee to the portafilter and tamp it lightly.

Step 3 –   Once done, it’s time to raise the lever. Do this very slowly and steadily. When you reach the top, wait a few seconds before you slowly lower the lever.

Step 4 –  Pour your espresso.

Using a manual espresso machine isn’t for beginners. If you’re new, it’s likely you’ll go through several mishaps before you get the best-tasting America.

Aeropress

An Aeropress is one of the most convenient ways to make espresso because you don’t need a stove anymore. Here’s how you can make espresso with an Aeropress:

If you don’t have an Espresso machine, you can use Aeropress:

Step 1 –   Boil a pot of water and let it sit for 30 seconds to achieve the right temperature, which is between 185 and 205 degrees.

Step 2 –   Place a filter in the drain cap of the Aeropress and place the device on a cup or container where you want the espresso to go in.

Step 3 –   Fill the device with two tablespoons of coffee and pour half a cup of hot water. Mix it with a spoon and let it sit for a few seconds.

Step 4 –   Press down the plunger slowly until you have squeezed out all the espresso.

And that’s it! Isn’t it easy?

Just get the right coffee beans and you’ll be fine.

The Right Way Americano Should Be Put Into the Cup

Now that you know the many ways to make an Americano a home, let us enlighten you of another way to ensure that American hits all the right spots.

Another long-standing debate in the coffee community is in which order should the Americano ingredients be put into the cup.

A lot of people agree that it should be espresso first, then water comes next. While others claim that it tastes better when it’s the other way around: Water then the espresso.

However, the majority swears by the Espresso > Water.

Another thing is the crema. The crema is the thin layer of foam that forms on top of the espresso shot. A lot of people think that the crema has a significant impact on the taste of the espresso. What’s the truth?

The crema mellows the flavor. Therefore, it really depends on your taste. If you want something less strong, then you can opt to have crema in your Americano.

Make Your Americano Today

Are you ready to make your Americano at home? With our guide, you sure are. Whether you want an iced or hot Americano, you can now make it easily from the comforts of your home if you follow our coffee brewing guides.