We’ve all heard of the Americano coffee, haven’t we? Sometimes known as a caffé americano or american coffee, this coffee drink is a popular choice for coffee lovers around the world.

If you’re wondering exactly what an Americano coffee is, you’re about to find out all about the drink’s origin story as well as what is in an Americano coffee and the exact definition.

Definition of Americano

The word Americano means ‘American’ in Italian and is an abbreviation of the term ‘Caffé Americano’, the name given to the popular coffee drink, which translates to mean ‘American coffee’ in English.

What is an Americano?

An Americano consists of a single shot of espresso mixed with around 120-180ml hot water. It’s similar to our Australian counterpart, long black.

Origin of the Americano Coffee

One popular belief is that during World War II, the American soldiers in Italy diluted espresso with hot water to create a drink which had a resemblance to their beloved drip coffee they were used to drinking back at home.

Variations and tips

Alongside the traditional Americano coffee, there are a few variations of this classic coffee drink that might suit you better than the original.

Americano cocktail

Confusingly, the popular Americano cocktail that shares its name with the coffee drink contains zero coffee and is in fact made up of a mix of campari, vermouth and soda water. If you are looking for a coffee-based cocktail, however, there are plenty of other options, such as a Black Russian or an Espresso Martini.

Iced Americano

The iced Americano is a popular cold alternative to the hot beverage. This refreshing drink is simply made by pouring a shot of espresso over ice and topping up with cold water.

White Americano

Straight black coffee, like the Americano or a long black, can be quite a bold and acquired taste for some. Adding a splash of milk to your Americano may make it more palatable, and this is unsurprisingly known as a white Americano.