Let's imagine for a moment that the two most popular coffee drinks are representatives of the human race. Then modern genetic testing would easily prove their relationship. In this “family,” espresso could claim the place of father or older brother, and Americano would be content with the role of a younger relative. The drinks have a single coffee gene pool and a common biological origin, but differences between them also exist. Everything is like people! Let’s leave our human fantasies for now and find out what is the difference between espresso and Americano. Drinks that are similar in composition have two main fundamental differences:
- Different serving sizes.
- Different strengths.
Other differences are less significant, but we will talk about them too. Let's start from afar.
Selection of coffee beans
For delicious espresso, special blends are made from several varieties. Arabica predominates in them, and the share of robusta added for strength can reach 15-20%. The beans are roasted heavily: Italian or French roasting is preferable.
The choice of variety for preparing Americano is even more important. With the addition of hot water, all the shortcomings of the blend will appear. To avoid excess bitterness, only 10% robusta is added to the mixture. You can do without it completely, but then the density of the drink will be insignificant and the foam will be very weak. There are also differences in roasting: it is lighter – Viennese or, less commonly, French.
- Read more: Types of coffee roasting - what they are and what they influence
There is no difference in grinding - it is a fine fraction, the particle size resembling fine salt. The coffee powder should be as fresh as possible for both drinks.
Classic Americano recipe
Americano is made by adding hot water to espresso. It can be poured from a kettle or from a special tap in a coffee machine.
This coffee may come out with little or no foam. Baristas note that the drink with light foam has a softer and more pleasant taste.
Read the espresso recipe below.
Preparation
The difference between espresso and Americano coffee is the preparation. The first one is made in a coffee machine. Ground coffee beans are poured into the cone, and then the device is turned on. Hot, but not boiling water (its temperature should be 86-92°C) is supplied under a pressure of 9 bar and extracts essential oils, flavoring and coloring substances and partly caffeine from the powder. Extraction time is 25-30 seconds. The result is a thick, completely opaque liquid with a rich aroma and dense foam of golden brown color.
Americano is prepared on the basis of espresso by adding hot water from a kettle or a special tap of a coffee machine. As a result, the coffee is covered with weak foam (Swedish method of preparation) or has no foam at all (Italian method). The version with foam is considered tastier and has a more pleasant consistency. Low density, no ductility. The subtleties of technology also entail differences in taste, consistency, aroma and strength.
How to prepare Americano
Americano is prepared in the same way as espresso, but diluted with water. The ratio of water to espresso may vary. Add two to three parts water to one part espresso. The water is usually hot, but in some cases, both chilled and warm water may be supplied.
Americans came up with the idea of making Americano, hence the name. For big Americans, a small cup of coffee did not represent a separate independent drink, so in order to increase the volume of the cup to what they were used to, baristas began to dilute a tiny cup of espresso with water in order to please all coffee shop customers.
Close-up of a delicious cup of coffee or hot chocolate
There are two ways to prepare Americano
- Add boiling water to the finished espresso.
- Brew espresso not in 60 ml of water, but in 150 ml.
The preparation of Americano in different countries is not significant, but it differs. For example, the Swedish version is good because coffee is added to water, while the characteristic foam on the surface of the drink is preserved and it does not lose its aroma. Italians simply add boiling water to their coffee. In expensive establishments, a cup of espresso and a cup of water are served separately, and the visitor decides which method to use.
Taste
There's a reason why espresso is a favorite in the coffee world: this sugar-free black coffee has a concentrated flavor and aroma. Coffee lovers call this “thick body.” Both acidity and bitterness are clearly evident. In a properly prepared drink, all notes are in harmony and complement each other. There is no need for sugar, milk or other additives.
Espresso tastes better than Americano because the diluted version is watery, soft, and neutral. To make the taste more interesting and rich, use milk, cognac, and chocolate.
What is espresso
To make espresso, the coffee is first ground and then steam is forced through it using a coffee machine.
The best option is to use equipment characterized by the presence of increased pressure - about 9 bar. The product prepared with its help turns out tastier, and the grains reveal their taste and aroma to the maximum.
Espresso is usually drunk hot. If the technology is fully observed, the cup is even heated before serving the product to the table. The order is served in small cups with thickened walls. There should be elastic foam on the surface, colored brownish. Darkened or lightened stains are not considered a flaw.
Innings
The significant difference is in presentation. Espresso is served with a glass of clean, cool water. You should drink it first to prepare your taste buds for the noble drink. A serving is only a few sips, so you need to drink it right away, hot.
No sweets or pastries are served; this drink is good on its own. People drink it in the morning in coffee shops on the way to work. Moreover, in this case they do not sit at the table, but wait for the ordered cup right at the bar counter. This recipe is also appropriate during business meetings.
Americano is served ready-made or in two cups: one with coffee, the other with hot water. An important difference: you can drink it chilled and even with ice. A large portion is complemented with chocolate, cheese or donuts.
This option is often used as “coffee to go”, so it is sold in cardboard or plastic cups with a lid and straw, making it convenient to drink on the go. Suitable for friendly get-togethers.
Americano and latte
Latte - coffee with hot milk and a cap of milk foam on top - a drink that is not much more difficult to prepare than an Americano.
But the serving methods for latte and Americano are different, and the very presence of milk in latte makes this drink unusually delicate in taste, with a pleasant velvety creamy aroma. Despite this obvious difference, lattes and Americanos are excellent options for those coffee lovers who equally love black coffee and coffee with milk, and at the same time prefer large portions of the drink.
Softness of taste
Americano has a classic base, but is diluted with water. Served hot, but drunk cold - the taste does not change. Other types of coffee are also prepared on its basis. The taste and smell depend on the degree of roasting of the beans and the grind size.
To make the taste softer, coffee lovers use coarse grinding and grind the beans 5-10 minutes before brewing and only for one serving. The flavor is enhanced or shaded with the help of additives that add additional piquancy.
Read the details in the article “What is Americano coffee.”
What is the difference between espresso and Americano
They are considered drinks on the basis of which other types of coffee are prepared with various additives in the form of milk and cream, ice cream, alcohol, and various spices.
For coffee lovers, the main difference between Americano coffee and espresso is the different volume and strength of the finished drink.
Americano appeared during World War II. To American soldiers, espresso seemed too strong and its volume was insufficient. Therefore, Italian baristas began to dilute it with hot water to the required volume.
Coffee drinks based on espresso do not differ from it in caffeine content. The only difference is the taste. When diluted with water, their taste and aroma become softer and lighter.
Preparing the drink
The taste directly depends on how the beans are roasted. The more intense the roasting of the beans, the stronger the drink. There are four types based on the degree of roasting:
- Scandinavian
- Viennese;
- French;
- Italian.
The taste also depends on the degree of grinding of the grains. There are many different coffee grinders: manual, mechanical, electric, built into professional or home coffee machines. For cooking in a Turk, fine grinding is best; for drip coffee makers, medium grinding is best. Coarse grinding is usually used in professional coffee machines.
The second difference. Technological
To make espresso we use a coffee machine. In its depths, hot water passes through a layer of ground coffee under a pressure of 9–15 atmospheres and extracts valuable natural substances and flavoring components from the coffee product. At the same time, the device forms a beautiful, dense foam, which is an integral decoration of a rich drink. After completing the process, it is better to drink espresso immediately so as not to lose a single shade of taste and fully enjoy the magical aroma.
- What is an Americano: diluted espresso or a stand-alone drink?
To make Americano, at least one more technological manipulation will be required. The espresso prepared by the coffee machine must be diluted with hot water and the contents of the glass must be stirred. Such soft, diluted coffee does not have to be drunk immediately near the bar or at a coffee shop table. You can take it with you by ordering a drink in a paper cup. Americano has practically no effective foam, so it’s not a shame to close the glass with a lid and drink the contents through a straw. It is also very good when cooled down.
The fourth difference. Presenter
No matter how the Americano is prepared - espresso is poured into water or espresso is added to water - the volume of the drink will always be larger than a serving of Italian “fast” coffee. If it is served in the “espresso plus a container of hot water” version, then the strong drink is poured into a cup with a volume of at least 120 ml so that there is room for dilution.
To serve Americano, it is not necessary to use dishes with thick walls that conserve heat. The light drink is pleasant to drink even when cooled. Even paper or plastic cups, which are more popular today than ever, will do.
Interesting. The disposable cup played a significant role in popularizing the Americano. A well-promoted image of a business man with a glass of coffee in his hands, a spectacular lady at a ski resort warming up with a hot coffee drink in a cable car gondola, a group of advanced young people emotionally communicating in public. And everyone has a mandatory glass in their hand! Marketers and image makers did a good job; they managed to attach a paper cup to the image of a successful person. And we so want, if not to be, then at least to look like “lucky”! Advertising, whatever you say, it’s a powerful engine.
A decent volume of a disposable glass suggests that it is Americano poured into it, because espresso uses different utensils and is served differently. In the classic version, a pair of coffee is poured into a small cup made of white, thick-walled porcelain or ceramics. On the saucer there is a spoon and a stick of sugar, a piece of chocolate or another small sweet. They drink espresso immediately after preparation, often right at the bar, savoring every sip. Following coffee etiquette, a glass of clean, cool water is served with hot espresso.
Note: the temperature of the espresso served should not be lower than +70°; if the coffee has cooled down, you have the right to ask for a replacement. You will not be refused in establishments that respect the client and maintain a positive reputation. Well, in Italy every coffee shop will do this.
Serving espresso looks aristocratic, despite the fact that it is drunk quickly. Serving Americano in the spirit of our dynamic life “on the run”, you can take it with you, including from a street vending machine. Each of us has our own lifestyle and our own coffee.
- What is espresso coffee and how to prepare it correctly
The first difference. Historical
Having studied the nuances of the drinks’ biography, this difference could also be called a unifying factor. The history of espresso is inseparable from the process of technical improvement of the coffee machine. Starting from the first primitive coffee machines of the Italian Luigi Bezzera, capable of quickly preparing coffee, to modern multifunctional espresso coffee machines.
As a result of technological progress, we get a cup of rich, dense, aromatic espresso in half a minute. The Italians tried to please the Americans who liberated their country from the Nazi occupiers with this wonderful, life-affirming drink. But the overseas military did not appreciate the cordiality of the local residents and remained faithful to their thin, weak, but native drink.
In a desire to please the nice American guys, the Italian bartenders, reluctantly and shedding a tear, decided to take the extreme measure for a coffee lover: they took and diluted the delicious espresso with regular hot water. Along with the luxurious foam, the thick coffee aroma left the new drink, but money flowed into the pockets of coffee shop owners. This fact undoubtedly smoothed out the concessions of a difficult compromise. Americans willingly bought diluted local coffee, contributing to the formation of its name "Americano".
Fact: the coffee machine can be called the ancestor of both drinks, but the history of their creation is still different; in the preparation of Americano, in addition to technical means, there is also a human factor.
Differences we missed
Apart from the two main differences, which are the difference in volumes and strengths of the drinks listed in the text, we probably still missed something. I suggest looking at the table and seeing the full picture of the comparison.
| Subject of comparison | espresso | Americano |
| Portion volume | 50 ml | 100, 150 or more ml |
| Amount of ground natural coffee to prepare 1 serving | 7 – 10 g | 7 – 10 g |
| Fortress | High, the drink is rich, dense, thick | Slight, at least 2 times less than espresso |
| Taste | Deep, tart, sophisticated. Depending on the type of coffee, the presence of bitterness or sourness | Light, soft, watery, flavor nuances are blurred |
| Aroma | Strong, enveloping, durable | Insignificant, disappearing when the drink cools |
| Aftertaste | Persistent, long-lasting, if you do not wash down the coffee with water at the end of drinking coffee | Virtually absent |
| Caffeine content | 50 – 90 mg | 50 – 90 mg |
| Calories without additives | 2 – 3 kcal | 2 – 3 kcal |
| Cooking method | Coffee machine | Espresso prepared in a coffee machine is diluted with water |
| Availability of foam | Yes, dense, solid | Not continuous or completely absent |
| Supplements | No. If milk or other drinks are added, then this drink has a different name (cappuccino, latte) | Water |
| Sweetener | Undesirable | Taste |
| What kind of coffee is best for making? | Elite Arabica, Arabica + Robusta | Arabica blend, Arabica + Robusta |
| Grinding | Small, very small | Medium, large |
| Can I drink it cold? | No | Yes, you can even with ice |
| Serving utensils | Small cup with a volume of 50 - 60 ml made of thick porcelain or ceramics | A cup with a volume of at least 120 ml, a disposable cup with a lid and straw |
| In what situations do they drink? | In the morning for a quick awakening, at blitz meetings, if you want to increase your overall tone, to cheer up | Communicating with friends, hot - to keep warm in winter, on the road, cold - to refresh and invigorate |
| What is preferable to use with? | Chocolate, cheese, fruit | Donuts, cakes |
Whether you choose the strongest espresso and drink it, enjoying every sip, the fantastic aroma, or prolong the pleasure by savoring a light Americano for a long time in small sips, you will get the same dose of vigor. Because each drink contains one serving of coffee, the caffeine content in them is identical. Only in espresso it is concentrated, and in Americano it is diluted with water.
Drink espresso and Americano, treat yourself to cocktails based on them: luxurious cappuccino, elegant macchiato, delicate latte. Each drink has its own time and its own mood.
Lovers of Americano and espresso coffee appreciate them for their aftertaste and pleasant, rich aroma. And they unmistakably determine the type of drink. But even experienced coffee drinkers are confused by the dramatic changes in taste and aroma. Professional baristas surprise customers with additives: toppings, spices, alcohol. They change the usual coffee notes beyond recognition. But coffee makers use classic recipes and serving methods as a basis, which help to recognize your favorite coffee.
Bright taste
Let's figure out what espresso is. This is a classic – rich, strong coffee, served on its own or used as a base for coffee drinks. Baristas prepare it using special technology in coffee machines. To make it thick and aromatic, compressed ground grain is used. Water is passed through it under pressure at 95 degrees.
Other distinctive qualities:
- drink hot, but with a glass of cold water;
- volume – no more than 35 milliliters;
- served in thick-walled cups that are preheated.
The more essential oils in the grains, the brighter the aroma and richer the taste. Find out more in the article “Espresso Coffee: What It Really Is.”
Which coffee should you choose?
And again, looking ahead, we will answer: in favor of anyone. It is worth focusing on personal taste preferences: espresso is richer than Americano. And, of course, on the volume of servings:
- espresso is perfect for a quick snack or breakfast in a cafe before work, or for a business evening with partners;
- Americano is the best option for friendly gatherings or a pleasant evening with loved ones. This is facilitated by a rather large portion compared to espresso - as much as 150 ml. And also - the opportunity to diversify Americano with, for example, lemon.
Espresso based drinks
Today there are several dozen recipes for making coffee. The popularity of coffee is explained by its rather respectable age and the abundance of advertising. And if previously many people in our country preferred instant coffee, today an increasing number of people prefer natural coffee to its instant counterpart.
Espresso
It is a coffee drink that is small in volume, strong and made from finely ground beans under high water pressure. Also, espresso should have crema. The ratio of the weight of ground coffee to the weight of the finished drink should be approximately 1:2.
Americano
Interesting fact: filter coffee vs Americano! It all started with American soldiers and their love for black filter coffee. The drink, which is prepared in an espresso machine, received the name “Americano” during the 2nd World War during the occupation of Italy by US troops.
American soldiers, missing their homeland and missing black coffee, ordered unusually strong “Espresso” from Italian cafes and diluted it with hot water so that the drink became similar to filter coffee. Then the Italian baristas nicknamed it “Americano” ( which means: American), and wrote down the recipe.
Cappuccino
An espresso-based coffee drink with the addition of heated foamed milk. A thick layer of rich, creamy foam combined with sweet, warming milk and the rich taste of well-brewed espresso is an absolute delight.
Flat white
Flat white - a coffee drink prepared by adding steamed milk with a small amount of foam to a double shot of espresso. Flat White was invented in the 1980s and there is still an ongoing debate about where Flat White was invented - in Australia or New Zealand, but undoubtedly somewhere there!
A roaster and barista through experiments to find the balance between the flavors of coffee and milk. The barista eliminated the large amount of foam in the drink, reduced the proportions of milk (110 ml) and increased the amount of coffee (60 ml).
Latte
This drink was not invented in Italy. When espresso was tasted around the world, it was bitter, rich, and for many a completely new sensation. Some people didn't like the bitterness and added milk to make the drink smoother. Latte coffee was invented for such consumers.
Typically, more milk is added to a latte to soften the taste than a cappuccino, but less cream. Many people know that if you order a latte in Italy, you can end up in an awkward position, because they will bring you a glass of... regular milk.
A purely Moscow invention. It was invented in 1996–1997 at Coffee Bean, the first coffee shop in Moscow opened according to the American model. When one of the regular guests, Rafael, asked to come up with something for him, three baristas - Gleb Neveikin, Artyom Berestov and Galina Samokhina - prepared coffee with cream and vanilla sugar. The drink began to be called “raf”
Which drink to choose
Americano is easier to drink due to its less concentrated flavor. But they have the same amount of caffeine. Espresso and Americano are two delicious drinks. If you choose between them, you need to take into account personal preferences in strength and taste.
Additives and some nuances of Americano
To vary the taste, you can add cream, milk, cognac, whiskey or cinnamon to the Americano. And then your favorite drink will sparkle with other shades of taste.
To choose between the two drinks, you need to know the difference between espresso and Americano, because they are prepared from the same ingredients. The main differences lie in the method of preparation, the proportion of products used, volume and strength.
Differences in serving sizes
Serving size is the main difference between drinks. How much water to add is a matter of personal taste, but classic recipes contain specific numbers:
- 40 or 50 ml for espresso;
- 150 ml for Americano.
The volume of espresso in a coffee shop can be reduced to 25 ml, and Americano - increased to 200 ml.
Some establishments serve a glass of cold water with lemon along with espresso.
Raf coffee - what is it? The history of the appearance of the drink and recipes are in this publication.
Which ground coffee is best? Tips for choosing and purchasing are in this article.
Find out how to make cappuccino at home without a coffee machine here: https://chay-i-kofe.com/kofe/vidy-kf/kapuchino-sostav-retsepty-kak-sdelat-kofe-v-domashnih-usloviyah -bez-kofemashiny/
The third difference. Cereal (flavored)
Concentrated, self-sufficient coffee espresso cannot be confused with any other drink. This is a kind of standard of coffee perfection with a harmonious, balanced taste that does not require additions. It is prepared from high-quality varieties of Arabica, choosing it according to individual taste.
Information: For lovers of a tart, bright taste with a soft, aesthetic bitterness, I recommend wonderful varieties from Guatemala and Costa Rica. Fans of strength and expression will enjoy Cuban coffee. Extravagant sourness adorns the coffee of Mexico and India. Velvety, mysterious, deep tone of mocha from Yemen. Beautiful blends with Robusta have been created especially for coffee machines. Indonesia and Vietnam are famous for its varieties. The sophistication of Arabica, complemented by the noble bitterness of Robusta, gives not only an excellent taste, but also a long-lasting beautiful foam.
To make the drink stronger, the coffee beans are ground very finely. In order to achieve maximum expressiveness of the aroma, they are ground immediately before preparing espresso. For Americano, coarse grinding is used, in this way the bitterness and strength of the future drink are reduced.
Americano has at least twice the amount of water as coffee, so its flavor is half as strong. When diluted, the concentration of the drink decreases, sourness, bitterness, and all other nuances of taste are washed out. The foam disappears or its torn semblance remains. The delicious coffee aroma dissolves with water, it weakens and becomes barely perceptible.
Additives help camouflage loss of taste: milk, cream, syrups. The popular cappuccino is made from Americano. Of course, it differs from the lush, pompous cappuccino with strong espresso, but you can treat your child to it. A glass of drink will cause sincere childish delight if it is elegantly decorated by a generous barista.
