What Is an Americano? (And How to Make One)

An americano — properly a caffe americano — is one of the simplest drinks on the espresso menu: a shot or two of espresso lengthened with hot water. That is the whole thing. The result is a full-size cup of black coffee that keeps the depth and body of espresso but is diluted to a mellower, drip-like strength you can sip like a regular coffee. It is the drink to order when you want the character of espresso but the volume of a mug of coffee.

Because it is just espresso and water, the americano is also the easiest espresso-based drink to make at home — no milk, no foam, no technique beyond pulling a decent shot. Understanding what it is (and what it is not) makes it easy to get right and to tweak to your taste.

Why the americano exists

The americano has a well-known origin story worth telling because it explains the drink. The common account is that during World War II, American soldiers stationed in Italy found traditional espresso too small and too intense for their taste — they were used to larger cups of drip coffee back home. So they diluted their espresso with hot water to make something closer to what they knew. The Italians dubbed it the caffe americano, the "American coffee," and the name stuck.

Whether or not every detail of the story is exact, it captures the point perfectly: the americano was invented to turn a small, intense espresso into a large, approachable black coffee. That is still exactly what it does.

The ratio, and how to make one

There is no single official ratio, but a common starting point is roughly one part espresso to two parts hot water — for example, a double shot topped up with about two shots' worth of hot water to fill a mug. From there it is entirely to taste: add more water for a longer, milder cup, or less for a shorter, stronger one. Making an americano at home is simple:

1. Pull a single or double shot of espresso. Grind fresh and pull your shot as normal. Since the drink is espresso and water, a clean, sweet shot is the whole flavor — our how to make espresso at home guide covers dialing it in.
2. Heat your water. Use hot, just-off-the-boil water, roughly the same temperature you would brew coffee at.
3. Combine to taste. Add the hot water to reach the strength and volume you want — around one part espresso to two parts water is a good default. Adjust from there.

The order you combine them in has a small effect on the crema, which brings us to the americano's close cousin.

Americano vs drip vs long black vs espresso

The americano gets confused with several other black coffees. Here is how they differ.

Long black: the difference between an americano and a long black is just the order. An americano adds hot water to the cup and then pulls (or pours) espresso — or pours water over the shot — while a long black pours the espresso on top of the hot water. Pouring espresso over water preserves more of the crema, so a long black tends to have a thicker crema layer and a slightly more intense aroma. In practice they are very similar drinks.

Drip coffee:although an americano and a mug of drip are both full-size black coffees, they are made completely differently and taste different. Drip is brewed by dripping hot water through a bed of grounds, giving a clean, tea-like cup; an americano is diluted espresso, so it keeps espresso's heavier body and roastier depth. Our coffee vs espresso guide digs into why the two brewing methods taste so different.

Caffeine and strength

A common question is whether an americano is strong. In flavor it is milder than a straight shot because it is diluted, but its caffeine depends on how many shots you use, not on the water. An americano made with a double shot has roughly the caffeine of that double shot — adding water changes the volume and the intensity of flavor, not the total caffeine. USDA FoodData Central puts a 1-ounce espresso at around 63 mg, so a double-shot americano lands near 125 mg regardless of how much water you add. Our how much caffeine is in espresso guide has the full numbers.

Making it your own

The beauty of the americano is how adjustable it is. Want it stronger and shorter? Use less water. Longer and more sessionable? Add more. Prefer more crema? Pour the espresso over the water, long-black style. Like it iced? Pull the shot, add cold water and ice for an iced americano. It is the most flexible black coffee an espresso machine can make, and once you know the ratio, you can tune it to exactly the cup you want.