The Caffeinated Gear Team
At its heart, espresso is a concentrated coffee masterpiece, extracted under precise pressure to create the foundation for countless café favourites from cappuccinos to flat whites.
Meanwhile, the Caffè Americano takes this intense espresso shot and transforms it with hot water, creating something entirely different.
(And no, we’re not talking about that 1990s punk rock album – though we’d love to chat about that over a cup of coffee sometime!)
Espresso represents both a specific brewing method and its resulting drink. Using specialised machines and 9 bars of pressure, it creates concentrated coffee with remarkable precision.
Compare espresso to your standard cup of filter coffee or French press brew, and you’ll notice dramatic differences in size and intensity. Both taste and mouthfeel pack a much stronger punch with espresso.
Traditional brewing methods like drip coffee makers or French presses typically fill most of your cup before any additions. However, espresso-based drinks use their concentrated shots quite differently. Consider a latte: it begins with just 30-45ml of espresso, yet this small amount provides enough coffee character to shine through an entire cup of steamed milk.
When we create an Americano by adding hot water to espresso, we’re crafting something that appears similar to standard filter coffee – but several crucial differences set it apart.
Here’s an interesting fact: they contain precisely the same amount of caffeine. Adding hot water to espresso doesn’t change its caffeine content one bit.
But here’s something that might surprise you – espresso doesn’t actually pack more caffeine than drip coffee. In fact, when comparing equal amounts of coffee beans, drip coffee typically extracts more caffeine.
Our recent testing mirrors the findings in James Hoffman’s comprehensive video, where drip coffee yielded around 170mg of caffeine compared to espresso’s 110mg, using identical amounts of beans (with espresso pulled at a 1:2 ratio producing 36 grams).
The relationship between extraction and caffeine content proves fascinating. Pull a ristretto (shorter ratio around 1:1 – 1:1.5), and you’ll actually get less caffeine. Opt for a lungo (1:3 ratio), and caffeine content increases.
While Nespresso produces concentrated coffee under high pressure (19 bars), it differs notably from traditional espresso.
Nespresso Original Line machines operate at slightly lower temperatures than conventional espresso machines. They also use different ratios – while traditional espresso typically follows a 1:2 ratio, Nespresso pods contain 5g of coffee producing 40g of liquid (1:8 ratio). This creates similar total dissolved solids but results in less intensity and body.
An Americano combines espresso with hot water – it’s that straightforward. The beauty lies in its flexibility: use any type of espresso shot you fancy.
Feel free to experiment with ristretto (more concentrated) or lungo (more diluted) shots. Yes, even Nespresso works perfectly well! There’s no strict rule about proportions either. We typically suggest starting with one part espresso to two parts water, then adjusting to taste.
Creating an Americano couldn’t be simpler – just combine espresso and hot water.
While hot water remains standard, don’t feel confined by tradition. Fancy something different? Try cold water for an iced version, or experiment with sparkling water for what some call an “espressoda.”
The order of ingredients actually influences the final drink. Water-first creates more crema on top, resulting in a more intense initial taste. Some call this variation a “long black,” but we believe the name matters less than finding your perfect cup.
Both drinks share the same foundation – espresso. An Americano maintains similar flavour notes and identical caffeine content to its espresso base, just with reduced intensity and body.
While both contain water, espresso uses it purely for extraction, whereas an Americano deliberately dilutes for a different drinking experience.
Adding water transforms concentrated espresso into something entirely new, affecting every aspect of the coffee experience. Let’s explore these changes:
1. Crema That beautiful golden-brown foam topping espresso (created by high-pressure extraction) appears differently in Americanos. The amount varies based on preparation method – water-first typically preserves more crema.
2. Texture Espresso presents a thick, almost syrupy consistency from concentrated oils and solids. Americanos offer a lighter, smoother experience closer to traditional brewed coffee.
3. Flavor Think of espresso as an intense symphony of coffee flavours, while Americano presents a more accessible interpretation. The dilution softens sharp edges without losing essential character.
4. Volume A typical espresso shot measures around 30ml – quite compact! Americanos typically range from 180-360ml, though home brewers can adjust to preference.
Don’t mistake lungo for a small Americano – they’re quite different beasts.
Lungo (“long” in Italian) refers to a longer extraction ratio, typically 1:3 or 1:4. Using 14g of coffee might produce 42-56g of espresso. While this creates more volume than standard espresso, it’s still fundamentally different from an Americano’s deliberate dilution.
The wonderful answer is: it’s entirely up to you!
Most coffee shops default to double shots, but this often varies with drink size. When ordering, don’t hesitate to ask about shot numbers and request adjustments to match your preferences.
While popular legend credits WW2 American soldiers in Italy for creating the Americano, our research suggests a different story.
Coffee was actually restricted in Italy during much of WW2. Intriguingly, some historical accounts show Italian youth first experiencing coffee through American military rations!
The name likely evolved naturally from Italian baristas noting American preferences for longer coffee drinks – similar to how the Americano cocktail got its name from American tourists in the 1800s.
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