Differences between espresso and American coffee. What is the difference between an Americano and a cappuccino?

Americano is a black coffee prepared using a shot of espresso or double espresso.

This means that the caffeine content of espresso and Americano is the same. However, the difference is not only in the volume of the drink and in some cases (depending on the preparation method) in the appearance of the cream foam. An important role is played by such a parameter as the body of the drink: espresso is denser, thicker, richer; Americano is much lighter and less rich. It is important that a properly prepared Americano retains the taste and aroma of the espresso base.

Americano and cappuccino

Americano (prepared in Italian) and cappuccino are similar in their preparation method: in both cases, water (Americano) or hot milk with a cap of dense milk foam (cappuccino) is added to the prepared portion of espresso.

However, this is where the similarity ends: in cappuccino, the combination of hot milk and coffee creates a special velvety-tart bouquet; democratic and strict Americano attracts with the organoleptic properties of the coffee itself.

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.

Features of Americano coffee

Americano, or American-style coffee, originated in Italy during World War II. It was created for Americans whose usual everyday drink was filter coffee (“regular”), the volume of one serving being 200 ml or more.

Unlike traditional American coffee, which is prepared by pouring water through a paper or fabric filter filled with medium or medium-coarse coffee, Americano is prepared using an espresso machine.

Cooking methods and best recipes

1. Classic Americano:caffèamericano in Italian

The traditional and most common method of preparation is Italian. Italian-style Americano is prepared from one shot of espresso, doppio, or, less commonly, lungo, and then the required amount of hot water is added (from 40 to 400 ml).

The variability of the classic recipe depends on taste and coffee habits and sometimes on the characteristics of the coffee blend used to prepare Americano.

Why should you not spill large amounts of water on your coffee machine?

Hot water, passing under a pressure of 15–20 bar through ground coffee, should not spill for a long time - all espresso connoisseurs agree on this opinion. Already with a serving of 80–100 ml, you can encounter the effect of a “burnt” drink: coffee acquires an unpleasant bitter taste, in most cases the bouquet becomes inexpressive, the aroma is weak, and the aftertaste is unmemorable and short.

2. Americano: Swedish way

Americano, prepared by a Scandinavian barista, differs from the classic one in the sequence of actions: a portion of espresso is added in a thin stream to a portion of hot water.

This method allows you to almost completely preserve not only the flavor and aroma bouquet, but also the cream, which means Swedish Americano looks very impressive.

3. European Americano, “disassembled” Americano

Now there is a new trend of naturalness and simplicity, which has affected the rules for serving Americano in an increasing number of coffee shops.

The client is brought a portion of espresso or doppio and hot water in a separate coffee pot. This way, a visitor to a coffee establishment can “assemble” the ideal drink for himself in terms of volume and method of preparation.

4. Long black (Long black)

When preparing long black coffee, a sequence similar to Swedish Americano is used: a double portion of espresso (doppio) is added to hot water. Traditionally, long black does not require such a careful approach as Swedish coffee, but as a rule, the foam of the cream in long black is practically not destroyed and has a dense texture and a recognizable golden or cinnamon hue.

Long black is popular among residents of Australia and New Zealand.

5. Red eye (Red eye)

This strong North American drink appeared at the intersection of two traditions: classic New England filter coffee and Italian espresso. It’s easy to prepare: just add a shot of espresso or doppio to your regular coffee.

The drink is popular in North America, and the volume of coffee filtered varies depending on the area in which it is prepared (in different US states - from 150 to 400 ml).

Americano-based drinks

Just as espresso is the basis of many coffee drinks, cocktails and desserts, Americano can also be prepared using a variety of ingredients to create new flavor combinations.

1. Americano with syrup.

Serving cappuccino, latte and other coffee-milk drinks with syrup is a special art: the barista must take into account the acidity of the syrup, its compatibility with the tastes of milk and coffee, the visual effect of the drink...

You can approach the preparation of Americano with syrup much simpler and with more imagination.

There are win-win combinations of coffee with flavors such as cinnamon, vanilla, almond, coconut, amaretto, chocolate (black or white), Irish cream or maple syrup.

You can safely experiment with the flavors of berries and tropical fruits, which are only limitedly used in drinks with milk, or you can play on the contrast of flavors and prepare an Americano with syrups such as Lavender, Grenadine, Peppermint or even Menthol. .

2. Americano with chocolate

Coffee and chocolate are two tastes that go perfectly together and complement each other.

To make Americano with chocolate, just melt a few pieces of dark, milk or white chocolate in a water bath and pour a portion of Americano. Or you can do it even simpler and drink an Americano with chocolate as a bite.

3. Cold Americano with ice

This drink is ideal for hot summer days: it refreshes and tones at the same time.

To prepare a cold Americano, cold water rather than hot water is added to the espresso shot. Ice can be used either in cubes or crushed in a shaker.

4. Americano with spices

There is also a lot of scope for culinary imagination. You can add vanilla, cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, ground pepper, nutmeg, and star anise to Americano. As a result, the chosen spice or mixture of spices will introduce new notes to the bouquet and add a pleasant pungency.

5. Americano with whipped cream

A cap of whipped cream is a spectacular decoration for coffee. Before serving, you can interestingly decorate with a cinnamon tube, star anise, coffee beans or grated chocolate.

As you know, there are a large number of coffee drinks, but what is the difference between Espresso and Americano, if both are prepared without additives and milk and are black strong coffee? The differences between Espresso and Americano are primarily that the first is stronger than the second.

Varieties of Americano and espresso

Today there are 2 types of Americano: Europeanized Americano, which is espresso with the addition of boiling water, temperature 84-92°C, volume 120 ml, and proper American coffee, which is prepared in a coffee maker, temperature 85°C, volume 220 ml. In the first case, the caffeine content will be significantly higher than in a standard shot of espresso, but its concentration is much lower than in the second case.

In turn, espresso is the basis of any drink made from coffee: latte, cappuccino, Americano, moccacino and others. In the CIS countries, a Europeanized version of Americano coffee has been adopted.

Europeanized Americano is prepared in two ways. The Italian preparation method involves diluting the finished espresso with hot water. In this case, the film on the surface of the drink is destroyed. The fact is that classic filter coffee does not have foam, and its presence is not necessary in Americano.

The Swedish method of preparing Americano is more often used in the CIS countries, because here it is customary to drink Americano with foam. This method differs from the previous one in that boiling water is first poured into the cup, and then espresso is added. A cup of hot water is placed directly under the dispensing group of the coffee machine and espresso is brewed into it. Thus, the foam is preserved, it becomes less persistent and lighter. It is believed that Italian Americano does not differ in all other respects from Swedish, but some experts argue that Swedish Americano has a richer and milder taste.

What else is different between espresso and Americano?

In fact, the main difference may be the amount of water. This means that for the same serving of coffee there is a different amount of water - in an Americano there is more, in an espresso there is less. This probably comes from ancient times, when some people liked to drink a small amount of coffee to cheer themselves up, while others were more attracted by the coffee aroma and preferred cocktails.

Although the drink got its name Americano for a reason. In South America, in the old days, coffee was drunk mainly with a lot of water, which is why Europeans called this dosage that way.

Good day, site readers! Coffee is prepared according to a variety of recipes, which differ in their composition and method of preparation. It is difficult for ordinary people to distinguish how espresso differs from American coffee. Almost everyone has heard both names, but only true gourmets and lovers of this drink understand the differences between them.

Coffee has become an essential breakfast component for many people. And this did not happen in vain. It helps you wake up, gives you vigor and improves your mood, allows you to tune in to the right mood and start the day successfully.

To understand why Americano coffee is so remarkable, it is worth considering this drink in more detail, as well as telling some recipes for its preparation.

What is Americano coffee and its differences from espresso

Even people who are constantly on diets can afford the drink, since Americano coffee has a very low calorie content, only 27 kcal per 100 ml.

However, the calorie content of Americano coffee with sugar will be higher due to the addition of the latter. Therefore, if you are watching your figure and want to enjoy the drink, then you should drink it without sugar.

Americano coffee, whose history dates back to World War II, has become popular throughout the world over the years. Surprisingly, the term “Americano” was coined by Italians who were offended by the fact that in America they drink regular filtered coffee instead of espresso.

The Italians were in constant search of the drink they were used to at home. So, one day they decided to prepare a treat using a coffee machine and thereby contributed to the emergence of a new type of coffee, which is currently extremely popular.

By the way, strangely enough, this drink became popular in America many years later, only in the early 90s, when the Starbucks cafe chain opened here.

A cup of Americano coffee differs from a cup of espresso in the increased volume of water

Americano coffee and espresso differ in the concentration of coffee. So, Americano is essentially the same espresso, but diluted with water. If we talk about which of these drinks invigorates better, then the answer will be the same - the same, because the same amount of coffee is taken. A serving of Americano will simply be larger due to the increased amount of water in it. So for espresso you take about 50 ml of water, and the volume of Americano coffee is 150 ml.

It’s worth taking a closer look at the differences between these two, almost identical drinks:

• Americano has a much higher water content than espresso. Of course, the taste of these delicacies is completely different. So, in espresso it is more pronounced, while in Americano the concentration is lower. However, this does not affect the invigorating properties. Both delicacies are equally invigorating and give energy;
• Served differently. For espresso, a small cup is used, and for an Americano, a large cup is used;
• The espresso has a very thick foam, which is not at all typical for the second delicacy;
• It is customary to drink espresso hot, as they say, without leaving the “cash register”, but the pleasure with an Americano can be delayed longer.

Types of Americano

There are several ways to prepare this invigorating delicacy, and they all depend on where exactly it is prepared. There are differences in the preparation technology itself, in what order water and coffee are added. So, there are 3 main types:

• Italian - first the espresso is prepared, then the drink is topped up with hot water to the required volume;
• European – a portion of coffee and hot water are served separately. The consumer of the drink will add coffee to the required volume according to his taste;
• Scandinavian - hot water is poured into a cup, followed by prepared espresso.

By the way, the taste of the delicacy depends on the cooking method. If you don’t like foam on its surface, then the Italian method will be the ideal option for you. The Scandinavian method promotes the appearance of foam. What exactly to choose is up to you.

Americano recipes

If you prefer conservative recipes, then you will definitely like Americano coffee, the composition of which will be classic, that is, water, coffee and that’s it. If you prefer to work some magic on the drink and improve it, then you can experiment with the base and add cream, some alcohol, various syrups, honey, spices, etc. to it.

Homemade Americano, like from the best coffee shop

Lovers of this delicacy are often interested in the question: is it possible to prepare Americano coffee at home in the same way as the best baristas prepare it? Yes, you can, but you need to understand that you need to use only real good coffee.

Only by using it can you prepare a truly delicious drink. If you are not ready to search for a good product, then you should not waste time preparing a “similar”, which may turn out to taste quite bad.

Americano coffee recipe at home is as follows: Fill the Turk with water (about 220 ml), boil it and cool slightly.

Add 1 tsp. ground good coffee and put it back on the stove. Boil, but do not bring to a boil, so heat should be at a minimum. Remove the finished drink from the stove and let it sit for a while so that the coffee grounds fall to the bottom. Pour the drink into a cup.

The ingredients for making Americano coffee at home are very simple and affordable.

However, you can trust the preparation of Americano coffee to a coffee machine, which already has a special program for this. In this case, your participation in making the delicacy will be minimal; you just need to load the raw materials and press the required button.

Here you need to take into account the advice of baristas who know a lot about different types of coffee. They recommend making espresso in a coffee machine and then diluting it with hot water to the desired volume.

The drink prepared according to the recommendation of the barista has the most intense taste and aroma. It would seem that there should be no difference between pouring in all the water at once or dividing it. However, the taste of the delicacy is lost if you prepare it in a coffee machine by adding all the water at once.

If you prefer larger portions of the drink, you can make a double Americano coffee. How to cook it? To do this, you will need to double the amount of ingredients (this applies to both water and ground coffee).

For lovers of unusual but tasty drinks, you can make Americano with marshmallows.

This delicacy will appeal to those with a sweet tooth who will be ready to drink it constantly. You can also prepare this version of Americano coffee, which is based on a classic recipe, at home. For this you will need good grain or ground coffee (2 tsp), 50 g marshmallows, 200 ml water. Sometimes true sweet tooths also add sugar, but mostly the sweetness of marshmallows is enough.

First you need to prepare Americano coffee according to the classic recipe given above. After this, strain and pour into a large cup. Place marshmallows on top of the drink, which will immediately begin to melt, so the treat should be hot. As soon as the marshmallows melt, the delicacy can be served.

Flavoring additives

The taste of the same drink may differ if spices or something else are added to it. This way you can prepare Americano coffee with milk, as well as with the following popular ingredients:

• Cream. If you don’t like the overly strong aroma of a coffee drink, then this additive will smooth out the harsh taste and add creamy notes to the delicacy;
• Mint syrup or liqueur. For lovers of pleasantly refreshing drinks;
• Fruit liqueurs. They will give the drink a variety of flavors, add some sweetness and allow the delicacy to sparkle in a new way;
• Cinnamon and other spices. They diversify the taste and make it unique with oriental notes.

The choice of whether to drink classic Americano coffee or add new ingredients to it is up to you. Only you yourself can decide what exactly you might like, as soon as you know your taste preferences. However, if you do not like the harsh taste of the delicacy, then you should supplement the drink with additives in accordance with your taste, for example, cream, some kind of syrup, liqueur, and others. It is worth noting that if you are watching the calorie content of your foods, then due to the new components, the delicacy will acquire a decent amount of them and make it quite high in calories. See you again!

In the world of coffee, there is a drink for everyone: for lovers of a stronger drink - ristretto, for connoisseurs of a milder taste - Americano. Ice cream fans will definitely love the glace. At the heart of all this diversity is espresso, a small cup of aromatic drink prepared in a special way.

AiF.ru talks about espresso and other main types of coffee.

Espresso and its types

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Espresso— served in a 60 ml cup. After 1 tbsp. A spoon (7 grams) of finely ground coffee is passed under pressure with 30 ml of water at a temperature of 90 degrees.

Double espresso— served in a 90-100 ml cup. After 2 tbsp. spoons of finely ground coffee (14 grams) are passed under pressure with 60 ml of water at a temperature of 90 degrees.

Espresso Lungo— served in a 90-100 ml cup. After 1 tbsp. A spoonful of finely ground coffee (7 grams) is passed under pressure with 60 ml of water at a temperature of 90 degrees.

Espresso ristretto— served in a 60 ml cup. After 1 tbsp. A spoonful of finely ground coffee (7 grams) is passed under pressure with 20-25 ml of water at a temperature of 90 degrees.

Espresso macchiato— served in a 60 ml cup. 15 ml of cream is added to a standard espresso shot.

Espresso Romano— served in a 60 ml cup. A drop of lemon juice and a little zest are added to a shot of standard espresso.

Espresso corretto— served in a 250-500 ml cup. A few drops of whiskey are added to a shot of standard espresso.

Espresso based drinks

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Americano(American coffee, regular coffee)

The coffee drink got its name because it is very popular in the United States. Served in a 150 ml cup. Two shots of hot water are added to a standard espresso shot.

Flat White

The coffee drink comes from Australia. Served in a 150 ml cup. To a standard espresso shot, two shots of milk are added.

Macchiato

Coffee drink from Italy. Served in a 150 ml cup. To two shots of standard espresso, one shot of milk foam is added.

Viennese coffee

Coffee drink of Austrian origin. Served in a 150 ml cup. To a standard espresso shot, two servings of whipped cream are added.

Latte

The coffee drink comes from the Apennine Peninsula. According to the phonetic norms of the Italian language, the stress in a word falls on the first syllable. Served in a 60 ml cup. To one serving of standard espresso, three servings of milk and one serving of milk foam are added.

Latte macchiato

Coffee drink from Italy. The Italian word "macchia" refers to the small speck of coffee left on the surface of the milk foam. Served in a 250-300 ml cup. To one serving of standard espresso, 1.5 servings of milk and 1.5 servings of milk foam are added. In this case, the milk is not mixed with coffee, but placed in layers.

Cappuccino

A coffee drink originally from Italy. Served in a 250-300 ml cup. To one serving of standard espresso, two servings of milk foam and one serving of milk are added.

Correto

A drink of Italian origin with the addition of whiskey. Served in a 100 ml cup. One shot of whiskey is added to one shot of standard espresso.

Irish coffee

An alcoholic coffee drink originally from Ireland. Served in a 200 ml heat-resistant glass. To one serving of heated whiskey, three servings of espresso and one serving of whipped cream are added.

Marocino

Chocolate coffee drink from Italy. Served in a 150 ml cup. To one serving of chocolate, one serving of espresso and one serving of milk foam are added.

Mocha

Chocolate coffee drink from the USA. Served in a 150 ml cup. Add one serving of chocolate to one serving of milk, one serving of espresso and one serving of whipped cream.

Bicherin

Chocolate coffee drink from Italy. Served in a 250-300 ml cup. To one serving of white chocolate, add one serving of dark chocolate, one serving of espresso and one serving of whipped cream.

Frappe

Cold coffee drink of Greek origin. Served in a 250 ml cup. To two shots of espresso, add three shots of milk and ice.

Glyase

Italian coffee drink with ice cream. Served in a 250 ml cup. A pinch of grated chocolate is added to one serving of ice cream.

Coffee is the favorite drink of millions of people around the world; it not only invigorates and tones, but also gives a feeling of joy and fullness of life. There is a lot of controversy surrounding it: about the dangers and benefits, about methods of preparation and serving. But everyone has their own favorite type of coffee and favorite coffee drink, and it leaves no one indifferent.

Coffee - history of appearance, production

The history of coffee began back in 800 BC, at first people simply gnawed the beans, or brewed a decoction from the pulp of the fruits of the coffee tree. This lasted until the Arabs began to dry, fry and grind grains and brew a drink from it, to which they added milk and spices. Already in the 15th century, it began to spread throughout the world and win the love of many gourmets.

Several varieties of coffee trees are used to produce coffee: Arabica, Rabusta, Liberica, and to get a truly aromatic and tasty drink, they are most often mixed in different proportions. Arabica variety is the most common, it is very aromatic and has an intensely expressed taste, with a slight sourness, but Rabusta is less aromatic, but stronger. Liberica is practically tasteless, and is used mainly to reduce the cost of coffee mixtures, as well as in cosmetology.

Ripe coffee fruits are picked by hand or shaken, then the beans are separated from the pulp and washed. After this, dry in direct sunlight, constantly turning over. Dried grains are freed from husks and sorted by weight and size; then they are sent for roasting, on which the formation of the basic taste qualities of the drink depends. Indeed, in its process, essential oils are released, which give the aroma and taste of coffee, and the more intense it is, the richer the drink will be:

1. Scandinavian– light, the grains are processed at a temperature of 130 degrees, due to which they only increase in volume and acquire a light brown color.
2. Viennese– the beans become bright brown and drops of oil appear on them, which gives the coffee a sweetish aroma.
3. French– intense, universal, suitable for any method of preparing coffee.
4. Italian– the strongest, after which the coffee beans turn black and lose all essential oils, making the drink very strong.

Types of coffee and preparation methods

Coffee is a drink that can be prepared in many ways; it can be prepared at home and can also be enjoyed in a coffee shop, where a specially trained person, a barista, will work its magic on it. To make it tasty and aromatic, you need to cook it correctly, and to do this, choose a grind of grains suitable for a specific cooking method. Fine grinding is suitable for Turkish coffee, medium grinding is suitable for drip coffee makers, and coarse grinding is ideal for professional coffee machines. It is best to grind the beans immediately before making coffee, otherwise it will turn out less aromatic.

There are many types of coffee in the world, but there are basic ones that are known to almost everyone, and delicious coffee drinks are prepared on their basis:

• Espresso – 40 – 50 ml of coffee.
• Ristretto – 20 – 25 ml of coffee.
• Doppio – double shot of espresso.
• Americano – one shot of espresso plus two shots of water.
• Cappuccino is coffee with milk foam, often served sprinkled with cinnamon.
• Latte – one serving of espresso plus two servings of milk and one serving of milk foam;
• Viennese - coffee with cream.
• Irish – coffee with alcohol (cognac, whiskey), topped with whipped cream.
• Frappe is a coffee drink with the addition of cold milk and ice.
• Glace – a double shot of espresso with ice cream.

What is the difference between espresso and Americano?

For the average consumer, the only difference between espresso and Americano is volume and strength. This is partly true, because in most cafes all coffee drinks are prepared on the basis of espresso, and to make an Americano, they simply add hot water to it. But in fact, the difference between them is deeper.

Espresso is a method of preparing coffee that was invented in Italy at the end of the 18th century. This drink is prepared in a coffee machine, where hot water under pressure passes through a layer of ground coffee, which is then well pressed.

For espresso, coffee beans of the Arabica and Rabusta Viennese varieties are taken, dark roasted and specially ground, not very fine and not very coarse. The main indicator of a well-prepared drink is a dense, stable foam. A standard serving of espresso is 40 - 50 ml, it is drunk only hot and made in pre-heated cups.

Americano as a drink only gained popularity during World War II, when American soldiers occupying Italy demanded large quantities of coffee. Then local baristas began diluting traditional espresso with hot water to increase volume; over time, this drink gained popularity and was called Americano.

Since adding hot water to a cup of espresso destroys the foam, the Swedes, big fans of this drink, came up with their own recipe for making it. They first pour hot water into a cup, and only after that make espresso into it.

If this drink is made on the basis of espresso, then it differs from it less intense taste and strength, but it is the same aromatic and tasty coffee. To make it even softer, add hot milk to the water. But there are other options for preparing Americano. It is often prepared in drip coffee makers, into which water is supplied without pressure and the final result is a 200 ml drink. For this method of making coffee, you can experiment with the degree of roasting of the beans, for example, choose a softer one - Scandinavian, as well as with grinding. There are no such strict rules as with the preparation of classic espresso. This cooking option is also called American.

The main difference between Americano and espresso is the strength of these drinks and caffeine content, in the first case it is less than in the second due to dilution with water, although the amount of coffee spent on their preparation is the same. The situation is quite the opposite in the case of Americano, prepared in the American style; its caffeine concentration is several times higher.

To summarize, we can highlight the main differences between espresso and Americano:

1. Taste and aroma.
2. Volume.
3. Presence of caffeine.
4. Roasting and grinding methods.