Americano coffee, or just an americano, is espresso topped up with hot water. You get a regular-sized cup of black coffee that keeps espresso's flavour.
It's one of the simplest types of coffee built on espresso, and you drink it without milk.
What is americano coffee?
An americano is one or two shots of espresso topped up with 120–180 ml of hot water. There's no milk, so it's a black coffee, but a longer and milder one than espresso on its own. You sip it slowly, like a regular cup of coffee.
It tastes like espresso, softened. Sometimes a thin layer of crema, the golden foam that sits on espresso, stays on top.
Where the name comes from
Caffè americano simply means "American coffee". The popular story, never confirmed, is that American soldiers in Italy during World War II found espresso too strong and added hot water to make it more like the coffee they drank at home.
How to make americano coffee at home
This americano coffee recipe works with an espresso machine, a moka pot or instant coffee:
- Espresso machine: pull a double shot, about 60 ml, and add 120–180 ml of hot water, just off the boil (about 90–96°C).
- Moka pot: use about 60 ml of moka pot coffee and top it up with hot water the same way. A moka pot is a stovetop brewer that makes strong, concentrated coffee, though without real crema.
- Instant coffee: dissolve 2 tsp of instant coffee in 2 tbsp of hot water, then top up with 120–150 ml of hot water.
Start with less water and add more until the strength is right for you.
Some people pour the hot water into the cup first and the espresso on top. Others add the water to the espresso. Both work, so use whichever you like.
Iced americano coffee
- Fill a glass with ice and add about 120 ml of cold water.
- Pour the espresso, moka pot coffee or strong instant coffee over it.
- Stir.
It's plain black coffee over ice, so sweeten it only if you want to.
Is americano black coffee?
Yes. An americano is black coffee made from espresso. Most other black coffee is brewed, with hot water dripping or steeping slowly through coarser ground coffee, as in pour-over, French press or black filter coffee. Plain instant coffee is another kind.
That's why an americano has espresso's flavour and a thin crema, while brewed black coffee tastes lighter and has none. Our guide to black coffee covers the other kinds and how to make each one.
Americano vs espresso
The difference between espresso and americano is just water. Both start with the same shot, so they have the same caffeine. The americano adds hot water, which makes it bigger and milder. For more on the shot itself, see our guide to espresso.
Americano FAQs
Does americano have milk?
No. A classic americano is black, though you can add a splash of milk if you like it that way.
What is an americano with milk called?
With a splash of milk it's simply an americano with milk. With a lot of steamed milk it becomes closer to a latte.
Why would anyone drink an americano?
It keeps espresso's flavour in a longer, milder cup that you can sip slowly, without milk.
Is iced americano sweet?
No, not unless you add sugar or syrup. It's plain black coffee over ice.
Find your strength
Start with a double shot and 150 ml of hot water. Then add or cut water until it tastes right to you.