Looking for a fun change-up to your morning coffee routine? Try a Caffè Americano. It’s an espresso drink, but instead of milk, an Americano is infused with hot water.
On a trip to Ottawa recently a friend introduced me to this tasty bugger at a local cafe. Yes, I discovered the Americano in Oh, Canada. I’ve added it to my morning repertoire, occasionally making one when I feel like a drink with more volume, or sometimes because we’ve run out of milk.
Making an Americano (Italian for “American Coffee”) at home is really simple.
You’ll need two things: an espresso machine and hot/boiling water.
Instead of espresso and steamed or frothed milk (as you’d use in a latte or cappuccino), we’re going to mix equal parts (1:1) of espresso and water. The result is a drink that still has that wonderful espresso character, but might feel slightly more refreshing, less heavy than a traditional latte or cappuccino. Like other espresso-based drinks, you can adjust to your heart’s content. Some prefer a milder version. Try doubling the amount of water per shot (mixing 2:1) if you’re looking for something less powerful, for example.
Here’s how to make a Caffè Americano in 5 easy steps:
1. Have a latte mug, or coffee mug ready.
Optional: pre-heat the mug by adding water, then boiling it in the microwave.
2. Pull a 3oz espresso shot (or more if you like your drink stronger) into a separate glass.
Though I have an Italian Pasquini beauty that I love, I often will make my shots on a cute and tidy Nespresso machine to save time.
3. Pour about 3oz or so of hot water into the mug you plan to drink from.
I draw water from the Pasquini, but you can use an espresso wand, or simply heat up the water in a microwave.
4. Pour the espresso shot into the mug.
Pour the espresso into the water (“long black”). Many suggest pouring the water into the shot. I don’t like this, as it tends to break apart the espresso shot; certainly experiment, and find out what works best for you.
5. Enjoy your Americano!
Like any espresso based drink, personalization prevails. Tweak the proportions of the ingredients — there’s only two of them (water and espresso) to make your favorite style. You can add other do-dahs like honey, sugar, cinnamon, etc. I prefer mine “classic” with no extras.
However you serve it, an Americano is a wonderful start to the day!
Final tip:
Looking for something different than the traditional Starbucks flavor?
You might want to try two of my favorites: Lavazza (crema monster) and Peets (intense) whole beans.
Without these beans I don’t think I’d be able to edit so many Stark Insider videos so very, very late into the night!
