Ingredients
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2 ounces Espresso
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6 to 10 ounces hot Water
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for serving CreamOptional
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for serving SugarOptional
Directions
The tale is often told that the Americano got its name from a bunch of wimpy Americans who couldn’t handle full-strength espresso. The story goes that during World War II when American GIs were stationed in Italy and ordered an espresso, they would often water it down so they could handle the bitterness. It has not been proven whether this is accurate, but most coffee professionals tend to believe it’s true. The Americano we have today is the same as it has always been: espresso diluted with hot water. The beauty of the Americano is that it allows you to drink espresso and it lasts much longer than the classic 2-ounce drink. When you want something more full-bodied than a classic cup of coffee, the Americano is a surefire pick.
Americano or Long Black is very simply an espresso shot topped up with hot water or just a filtered coffee.
- Simply boil water around 200 ml or 6 oz or 2/3 cup and pour in a cup or mug.
- Extract 1 shot of espresso around 75 ml or 2 oz (more if you like it stronger) over the hot water.
Tools Needed
- Espresso brewing device