The strongest coffee is espresso or Americano. Filter coffee or espresso: which is better? Cooking at home

Today people know many types coffee drinks. One of the most famous is Americano coffee. Advertising bombards us with colorful pictures and names, which can sometimes be quite difficult to understand. That is why you most often hear the question, what is Americano and how does it differ from espresso and what is special about this coffee drink?

First of all, it is worth noting that the difference between these two drinks is indeed very small. The only difference is that the volume of the first one is one third (and sometimes half) hot water. You will learn more about what Americano coffee is from this article.

Story

The history of Americano coffee begins in the middle of the last century, when most countries were drawn into World War II. This coffee drink appeared thanks to American soldiers, in whose honor it received its name.

The soldiers, who did not understand the excessive bitterness of the espresso consumed by the Italians, diluted it with hot or warm water. This drink was lighter and more economical, which made it famous. This is the type of coffee that is still drunk in many countries around the world.

How is it different from espresso?

So, Americano coffee – what is it? In order to more fully answer this question, you should compare the method of its preparation and the method, since it is precisely because of these two types that confusion most often occurs.

Espresso is a strong and quite rich drink, the caffeine level in which is slightly higher than in an Americano. It is prepared as follows: through ground coffee beans boiling water is passed through under high pressure. Water is passed through the grains until a thick, rich drink is obtained. The espresso is then brought to a boil and served.

The method of preparing Americano is slightly different: first, espresso is prepared according to traditional technology. However, then, after it has been removed from the heat, it is immediately diluted with several glasses of hot (in some cases, cool) water. Thus, the drink turns out weaker in taste, but you can drink it several times a day without harm to your well-being.

Typically, this coffee, like espresso, is prepared in drip coffee maker. But it is also possible to make an Americano in a coffee machine: for this you will need a standard coffee machine with an Americano function.

The features of this coffee are its low calorie content, delicate taste and minimal bitterness. IN pure form the drink contains no more than 3 kcal per 100 ml.

Cooking methods

There are several types of Americano:

traditional Italian;
Swedish.

Every barista knows how to make Americano coffee, but you don’t need any special knowledge to do this. The Italian way of preparing the drink is to add water to espresso.

IN Swedish recipe cooking happens the other way around. The difference also lies in the formation of the so-called “foam” on its surface, which is formed in the second case of preparation.

Watch the cooking video.

Cooking at home

First of all, it is worth noting that in order for the resulting drink to please you with its taste, you need to remember a few basic rules:

How better variety the coffee beans you choose, the brighter and richer the aroma and aftertaste;
It is better to add slightly less water than to dilute the drink more than normal;
Wash the coffee machine thoroughly before starting work and set the correct mode;
The Americano cup should be clean and there should be no sugar deposits at the bottom.

Making Americano coffee at home is not particularly difficult. How to prepare this drink? To begin with, the coffee beans should be ground. The ratio of ground grains to pre-boiled and slightly cooled water is 1:3. If you are just starting to understand the “science” of coffee, then it would be better to slightly increase the amount of water and use a 1:4 ratio.

When preparing a drink in a Turk, add water to the ground coffee beans. You should simmer for a few minutes on the fire, but try not to overdo it and not to boil the drink you are preparing. In a coffee machine, this preparation process is even simpler: you don’t have to prepare Americano yourself; you just need to add hot water to it as the consistency of the espresso warms up.

If the volume of coffee is insufficient, you can prepare a double Americano. IN in this case, all ingredients are doubled, thus the ratio does not change, and more drink is obtained.

How to drink

Those who carefully monitor their health have probably wondered how to drink Americano and at what time. In fact, there are no specific rules or recommendations. Drink it any time you enjoy it. This is the recommendation that true gourmets adhere to.

A cup of this drink during a meal, snack, conversation - great solution to relax and enjoy the present moment. You should not drink it before bed.

Recipes

Like any other coffee, it has a dozen original recipes. Americano can be made in different ways. For example, for those with a sweet tooth, Americano with the addition of honey and cinnamon is perfect, for true aristocrats - with cream, for those who like a fresh aftertaste - with mint. We will look at some of the most popular recipes below.

Classical

This coffee recipe has remained unchanged since the last century. This is an Americano, the composition of which includes only directly ground coffee beans and water. No milk, cream, or sugar is added to it. It is this recipe for Americano coffee that Italians consider the most sophisticated, and it is this type Americano is most often served in cafes.

With milk

This coffee is the favorite drink of half of the world’s inhabitants, which helps them cheer up in the morning. Americano with milk has a pleasant creamy aftertaste, especially if the fat content of the milk is high enough.

To make it, you need to brew espresso, dilute it with water (1:3), and then add it to a portion of milk (approximately 30-50 ml). Also, if you beat the milk with a spoon or mixer before doing this, a pleasant foam may appear on the surface of the drink.

With honey and cinnamon

Children and those with a sweet tooth really like this coffee. There are several ways to make Americano with cinnamon and honey.

In the first case, cinnamon (in the form of powder or sticks) is added to two tablespoons of honey, mixed and then poured into the finished drink. In the second, cinnamon is first boiled in 100 ml of milk, then added to coffee along with honey.

With mint

The drink has a delicate mint aroma. At first glance, it may seem that coffee and mint do not go together at all, but this is not so. Americano with mint can be drunk either hot or already cooled, when the mint has fully opened.

The recipe for its preparation, consisting of traditional preparation coffee, consists of adding a few dried or fresh sheets mint.

With ice

Great for hot weather. Cold Americano is an excellent alternative to sparkling water, which sells out so quickly in summer time. There are two ways to prepare it.

The first is to add to ready portion a certain amount of drink cold water. In this case, its volume increases and the caffeine concentration decreases, so initially you should take a slightly larger amount of coffee beans.
The second method involves adding to hot drink several ice cubes. Ice in this case gives a special aftertaste to the coffee.

Sometimes these two methods are differentiated. Many gourmets are sure that iced Americano is very different from regular cold coffee.

Recipes Americano coffee great multitude. There are also recipes for making coffee such as Americano with chocolate, liqueur, syrup, ice cream, marshmallow marshmallows. Don't be afraid to experiment and look for new flavor combinations. It's up to you to decide which taste is better.

Gradually discover this wonderful drink - American coffee. Rest assured that it will not go out of fashion very soon (and perhaps never).

Watch a short video professionally prepared drink

What is the difference between the most popular types coffee: latte, cappuccino, espresso and americano? Which one is tastier, stronger and contains less caffeine?

The taste and aroma of hot coffee is the best way to start your day. This is exactly what coffee fans think, of which this drink is becoming more and more popular. But not all of them know the difference between espresso and Americano or latte and cappuccino.

In order to choose a drink without hesitation every time, you need to know what and how different types of coffee are prepared.

– a coffee drink traditionally served for breakfast. It contains espresso (3 parts) and milk (1 part). The peculiarity of this coffee cocktail can be considered the method of preparation. The drink is poured as follows: pour one part of coffee and three parts of foamed milk heated to a temperature of 70˚C into a glass or large cup. But they do this as carefully as possible to prevent mixing of liquids. Milk is the bottom layer, followed by coffee, and milk froth on top.

Various syrups can diversify the taste of a latte, the addition of which is also permissible when preparing this drink. Art decorations on the foam are considered the height of skill in serving a drink.

The standard serving of latte in Europe is 200 ml, in America – 500 ml.

Latte macchiato– a type of latte, translated as “milk with a stain.” At first, latte macchiato was exclusively a children's drink, but over time it fell in love with adults and gained popularity in Europe. The drink is prepared by adding espresso to milk, the airy foam is decorated with grated chocolate, and served in a tall transparent Irish glass.

Video: How to make the right latte

Prepared from espresso and foamed milk, taken in a 1:2 ratio without adding sugar or other sweeteners. The difference between latte and cappuccino is also that latte requires hot milk, while cappuccino requires chilled milk (4˚C).

Both drinks must be prepared so that there are no air bubbles in the foam. But if the foam of a latte is light and airy, then the foam of a cappuccino is dense.

Latte and cappuccino differ in taste and aroma. Latte is delicate and light, while the taste and aroma of cappuccino is quite pronounced.

The “layering” of drinks is ensured by different densities of liquids: the densest milk is always at the bottom, and the lightest and least dense foam is always at the top. It is important that the liquids are not mixed during the cooking process.

Latte and cappuccino foam will only turn out airy if it is prepared using a special machine.

Video: How to make cappuccino

- a drink that was first obtained from a coffee machine in 1901 in Italy. The principle of its preparation was to drive water and steam under pressure through crushed coffee beans. This strong coffee drink quickly gained popularity and became fashionable in Italy and beyond. The development was patented by the creator in 1902, and after 2 years coffee machines began to be produced en masse.

Video: How to make espresso correctly

To prepare 1 cup of strong aromatic espresso you need 7 g of coffee and 30 ml of water. To prepare espresso doppio, the amount of coffee is doubled, but the amount of water remains the same. Esperso lungo is different mild taste and a weak aroma, since only 4 g of coffee per 30 ml of water is used to prepare it.

Distinctive feature good coffee is a foam on the surface. If there are holes in the foam, it means that the cooking technology has been violated.

– essentially, it’s espresso diluted 1:1 with water. The taste of Americano is not as bright and pronounced as espresso, but its lack of bitterness and minimum caffeine have made this drink popular among followers of a healthy lifestyle.

There are two ways to prepare Americano:

In Italian. Coffee is brewed in a coffee maker for no more than 25 seconds. After this, add hot, but not boiling water (1:1) to the drink. If you brew coffee longer, the Americano will become overly bitter and strong. The foam is not preserved.
In Swedish. Bring water to a boil and remove from heat. In 20-25 seconds, brew the espresso and add it to a cup of pre-prepared water. Americano prepared this way has a milder taste. Coffee foam on ready-made drink is saved.

Video: How to cook Americano correctly

Coffee is served in cups or Irish glasses:

latte – 60 ml, latte macchiato – 250-300 ml or in an Irish glass 240-360 ml
cappuccino – in a cup that flares upward 180 ml
espresso – in a cup with thick walls 60 ml
double espresso – 100 ml
espresso-lungo – 90-100ml
espresso corretto – 250-500ml
espresso-romano – 60 ml
espresso macchito – 60 ml
Americano - 150 ml.

What is tastier than a latte or cappuccino, espresso and Americano?

To choose the most delicious drink, you need to remember your own taste preferences:

Anyone who loves a sweet coffee cocktail with milk and airy foam will love the delicate latte. Sweet syrups are often used to prepare it.
Dense milk foam and the absence of sugar in cappuccino give the drink sophistication and a special rich aroma, which can also be appreciated by coffee lovers.
For a lover of strong black aromatic coffee you need to choose between espresso and espresso-doppio.
For those who like weak coffee without milk, you can try Americano or espresso lungo.

The strongest coffee espresso. The only thing stronger than espresso espresso-dopio, for the preparation of which they take twice as much coffee.

– this is diluted espresso, so you certainly can’t call it strong.

It is believed that Americano was invented by the Italians. During the war, they prepared coffee for the American military, which they were accustomed to at home. At a time when Americans rejoiced at the taste and aroma of the drink, Italians laughed at them, because they believed that in America people could not know what real coffee tastes like.

Latte and cappuccino obtained by adding milk to espresso using a special technology. These two drinks taste very different. A cappuccino is stronger than a latte, so it has a stronger bitterness and aroma.

Which has more milk: cappuccino or latte?

Included cappuccino equal parts milk, foam and espresso. Included latte 2 parts milk, 1 part foam and 1 part espresso. It means that There is more milk in a latte.. Accordingly, this drink contains less caffeine, since it contains less coffee and more milk than cappuccino.

One of the versions of the origin of cappuccino tells the story of the Capuchin monks, who fell in love with the “devil’s drink” (that’s what religious people called coffee) so much that they could not refuse it. To “cleanse” coffee of negativity, the monks decided to add milk and hand-whipped foam to the drink. In honor of the creators, the drink was named “cappuccino” (similar to “capuchin”).

Where is there more foam in cappuccino or latte, espresso and Americano?

There is a lot of foam in cappuccino. It is thick and dense so much that it can support the weight of 5-6 g.

It is light and airy and there is also quite a lot of it in the cup. It is fluffy and tender, completely different from the foam in a cappuccino. Latte foam is so light that you can make figures, three-dimensional patterns and inscriptions from it. This decor will last for at least 10 minutes, if, of course, the latte is prepared correctly.

Prepared according to the classic recipe, it does not have foam. To maintain a dense foam on the surface of the Americano, you should prepare it in Swedish: add espresso to the water.

Those who still haven’t been able to make a choice should try all types of coffee. Once you recognize the taste and aroma of “your” coffee drink, you will fall in love with it forever.

Video: What kind of coffee should you drink? Varieties of coffee

It can take up to half an hour to prepare each coffee drink. With a Tassimo coffee machine, everything will take no more than a minute. The intelligent system will choose required amount and water temperature based on barcodes printed on the discs. All you have to do is press the button and don’t forget to place the cup.

Espresso

Espresso is classic black coffee. It is this that underlies the various coffee cocktails. Classic espresso is served in small (no more than 70 ml) cups. Strong and at the same time surprisingly harmonious espresso in each Tassimo Jacobs Espresso T-disc is obtained thanks to deep roasting and a special blend of beans.

Ristretto

Ristretto is considered the strongest coffee. As a rule, its preparation requires 7 g of coffee per 15-20 ml of water. Ristretto has a denser and higher crema than classic espresso. In cafeterias, as a rule, ristretto is served with a glass of cold water - it cleanses taste buds, allowing you to feel every sip of the tart drink.

Lungo

Lungo is often called long espresso, because the word translates from Italian as “long”. The drink requires more water strained through coffee. It takes a barista a minute to prepare it, while classic espresso takes only 30 seconds.

Americano

Americano is black coffee diluted with water in a 1:1 ratio. It is often confused with Lungo, but the drinks differ in the preparation technique: Americano is coffee with the addition of hot water, and Lungo is a drink in which water is very slowly passed through the ground beans, resulting in a small volume of coffee.

IN capsule coffee machines Tassimo has a larger water tank, so you have to change it less often. In addition, instead of a boiler, where all the water in the tank is constantly heated, or a thermoblock, which heats the water directly in front of the dispenser, Tassimo uses a flow-through water heater. It cuts off the amount of liquid required for one serving of Tassimo Jacobs Americano in the thermostat, determines its temperature, heats it to the desired level and, through a second thermostat that controls the heating, delivers it into the cup through the capsule. No heating or release excess water The time required for cooking and the electricity spent on it are saved.

Cappuccino

Cappuccino - perhaps the most popular recipe coffee with milk. The drink is topped with airy milk foam.

Latte Macchiato

Latte in Russian means milk, and macchia is a small coffee speck remaining on the surface of the milk foam after espresso is poured into it. This is how you get a three-layer latte macchiato cocktail, consisting of hot milk, coffee and milk foam.

Latte macchiato and cappuccino have fundamental differences. The latte has a milkier taste, while cappuccino leaves a pleasant coffee aftertaste. The fact is that when preparing cappuccino, milk is added to espresso, and latte macchiato - vice versa. In addition, cappuccino foam is more elastic than the most delicate latte macchiato foam. The method of serving drinks also differs: latte macchiato is drunk from tall Irish glasses, cappuccino is drunk from large cups.

To prepare the classic Tassimo Jacobs Latte Macchiato you will need one coffee and one milk T-disc. First, insert the milk T-disc into the machine, after pressing the button, wait until the milk is ready, and then do the same with the espresso T-disc. Your drink is ready! Decorate your drink chocolate chips!

Mochaccino

Mochaccino or mocha is a common coffee drink invented in the USA. It gained fame thanks to its sweet, dessert taste: during preparation, melted chocolate or cocoa is added to coffee.

Frappe

Frappe - Greek version coffee drink. It is coffee with milk and a lot of ice. Great option for the hot summer!

Using the Tassimo machine, refreshing coffee is prepared as follows. Load one Tassimo Jacobs Espresso disc. Add crushed ice (about half a glass) and cold milk to a tall glass of coffee, and top with whipped cream and chocolate chips. Serve with a straw.

Tea Latte

Tea Latte is, of course, not coffee, but it invigorates no worse. According to the classic recipe, milk is poured into a pan of boiling water, in which sugar, ginger powder, crushed cardamom pods and peppercorns are already mixed. Then cinnamon is sprinkled and the whole thing is cooked over low heat. After four minutes, it is poured into the kettle and the tea itself is added, as well as extra milk and spices.

You can get a drink without doing any of the above procedures by inserting the Tassimo Chai Latte T-disc into the machine. In a matter of seconds, tea with exotic spices and delicate milk foam is on your table.

The popularity of coffee is increasing every day. This invigorating drink becomes part of the diet of every second inhabitant of the planet. But its true connoisseurs, who understand the features different varieties, not so much. If you want to become an expert in this area, you should start by studying them distinctive features, for example, what is the difference between espresso and Americano.

In order to receive the right drink you will need a coffee machine. Only with its help can you achieve a characteristic taste and aroma, since it is necessary to ensure uniform passage of boiling water through the ground coffee. In this case, a sufficiently high fluid pressure must be maintained.

Espresso has a thick crema that lasts for a very long time. In order to ensure the quality of the drink, you need to sprinkle a few sugar crystals on its surface. If they did not sink immediately, then the coffee was brewed in accordance with all the rules. The color of the foam also plays an important role. It should be light or dark brown. If the foam is too light, the drink is not ready. Too dark foam indicates that burnt grains were used for cooking.

The difference between espresso and other types of coffee drinks is its characteristic tart taste. It contains notes of sweetness, successfully intertwined with bitter and sour tones.

Even people who are watching their figure can safely drink it without any additives. After all, the calorie content is only 3 kcal per 100 ml. Many nutritionists note that it can have a fat-burning effect.

In order for the resulting drink to delight you with its invigorating taste and captivating aroma, you need to follow some recommendations:

First of all, warm up the coffee machine. To do this, pass water through it several times.
The degree of grinding of the grains plays an important role. Ideally, it should not be too large, but also not resemble flour.
Use only clean water, in which there are no impurities.
Brewed coffee should only be poured into warm cups. They should be made of ceramic or porcelain.

Characteristics of Americano

For Americano, espresso is used. This adds hot water, not passed through coffee grounds. This ensures a lower concentration of caffeine. possible using several technologies:

Hot water is poured into the ready-made espresso. In this case, the foam that has formed on the surface is completely destroyed.
Espresso is poured into a cup with hot water. This method helps preserve the foam.

The proportions of the components will depend solely on your preferences. There are no special rules about this. Often all kinds of syrups, nuts or alcoholic beverages are added to this drink.

Main differences

Based on the above, we can highlight the main differences between espresso and Americano:

Cooking method. The main difference between these drinks lies in the preparation methods. And although you can use the same type of coffee as a basis, the tastes are completely different.
Caffeine concentration. Properly brewed espresso will be much stronger. While Americano is more suitable for people who limit their caffeine intake.

Whatever type of coffee you choose, the key to success will be its proper preparation. Only a properly brewed drink will give you true pleasure and a huge boost of energy.

Most coffee shops have a good coffee machine and offer a variety of coffee options.

What is the difference between espresso and Americano is worth knowing so as not to make a mistake with your choice.

It is worth noting that if you love creamy and sweet drinks without a hint of astringency, you should not choose between these types of coffee.

It is better to give preference to latte, mochaccino or other recipes.

We wrote about what espresso is and recipes for making coffee drinks based on it.

What is espresso coffee?

When preparing espresso, the coffee machine forces steam through the ground coffee. A large volume of drink is obtained in a short period of time.

The best coffee machines for making espresso are those that can produce high pressure– about 9 bar. For this reason, coffee prepared using professional technology tastes better.

Espresso is drunk hot. This drink is served in small cups with thick walls. Full compliance with the technology involves heating the cup before coffee is poured into it.

On the surface of the poured espresso there should be elastic nut-colored foam. Light and dark stains on its surface are allowed.

To test the stability of the foam, you can sprinkle a few sugar crystals on it. If the granules remain on the surface, then the foam is quite elastic.

Cooking recipes various types You will find coffee in the coffee machine, including espresso.

Description of Americano

Americano represents espresso diluted with water in a ratio of 1:3. Its aroma and taste qualities less pronounced, but the bitterness of the drink is significantly weakened. This coffee can be either hot or cold. We wrote more about Americano coffee and its recipes.

The legend about the appearance of the drink is of Italian origin. In Italy, it was customary to drink small, strong coffee, while Americans demanded large cups of the drink in cafes.

In order not to lose customers, bartenders began to dilute espresso with water to a volume of 150 - 200 ml. The resulting mixture was called "Americano".

Now Americano is prepared in two ways:

dilute the finished espresso so that 1 part strong drink accounted for 2 or 3 parts of water;
boil 7 grams ground coffee in 150 ml of water by constant pouring.

There are different ways to dilute coffee with water.:

the Italian way is to pour boiling water into the espresso;
The Swedish way is to pour espresso into boiling water.

Some coffee shops serve espresso and a cup of boiling water to guests. This makes it possible to choose for yourself which method of preparing Americano will be used.

Many people believe that coffee will taste better if you add sugar to it.

There are many ways to dilute espresso - almost all coffee recipes are based on this. But only classic Americano preserves low calorie content– literally 1 kcal per 100 ml of drink.

Variations of the drink may include:

syrups based on fruit, mint, caramel;
milk and cream;
alcohol;
spices.

It is better not to drink poorly prepared Americano because:

when preparing it, the extraction time is greatly increased, which can lead to the release of harmful compounds into the drink;
coffee is very bitter - drinking it in large quantities will be unpleasant;
After finishing the drink, a sour aftertaste remains.

What's stronger?

Espresso tastes stronger because it is concentrated coffee. Not everyone likes its tart and bitter taste.

Difference in invigorating effect drinks do not have– after all, the same amount of coffee beans is used to prepare them.

Drinks affect a person in the same way. Espresso contains more caffeine relative to the amount of liquid, but any size cup of Americano contains the same amount of caffeine.

The difference is only possible when dividing the portions:

if you drink 50 ml of espresso or 150 ml of Americano, the body will receive an equal amount of caffeine – 100 mg;
if you drink 50 ml of Americano, the awakening effect of the drink will be 3 times less than that of 50 ml of espresso;
If you drink espresso in the volume of an Americano, the upper limit will be reached acceptable use caffeine per day.

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.

conclusions

What is the difference between espresso and Americano:

Espresso and Americano are different due to the volume of water and the method of preparation.

For connoisseurs of strong taste and aroma, espresso is suitable; Americano has a less concentrated taste and has 3 times the volume.