Americano
Americano
The Americano is simply water from your kettle thats topped with either a single shot or doppio depending on your preferred coffee strength.
Would you believe that the Americano is a recipe which was created by American soldiers that were posted in Italy during WW2 who started diluting Italian espresso with water to replicate the lighter coffee’s from back home.
Whatever coffee you end up using ensure its been medium to finely ground but most preferably the finer the better and remember the most important rule, always pour your espresso on top of the hot water.
The main aim of a Americano is not dissipate the layer of crema, the lively aromatics and flavoursome notes by drowning your espresso in hot water.
Equipment Recommended
Espresso Machine
Nespresso Machine
Best Cup For The Win
Although technically speaking you can use any cup, however we believe it to be essential and highly recommended to use either a latte cup or 10-12 ounce coffee cup
The Americano pour is self automated in most cases and it is important to consider the following, we’re still going to utilise a 14g dose of medium to finely ground espresso with a brew ratio of 1:1 and a total volume of no more than 300ml to 455ml.
Machine Espresso
Equipment & Things Needed
step by step Guide
Step 1
For this demonstration, we will be using our Delonghi EC260.
Ensure there’s enough water in the water tank. Switch on your espresso machine and wait for confirmation your espresso machine is ready.
Grab your coffee portafilter (handle with coffee basket), place the double espresso basket instead of the single espresso basket and unseal your deliciously fresh coffee bag of La Bella Figura, and slowly place 24g of coffee into the coffee basket.
Using either the shaft of your coffee scoop or the shaft of a spoon. Slide it across the top of the coffee heap (start at the rim of your portafilter, to ensure that your coffee is aligned and uniform.
Then tamp down the coffee grinds held in the portafilter with minimal down-force pressure.
Lastly, place your portafilter into the locking chamber of your espresso machine, tighten it by turning the handle counter clockwise until it locks fully.
Step 2
Boil the kettle until the water is ready.
Position your cup directly underneath the spout of your locked portafilter. Sometimes depending on how cold it is, we like to warm up our cups with some warm water or steam before commencing with the espresso pour.
Press the double espresso button or turn the dial to a double-shot depending on your espresso machine. If you have completed the previous stage successfully your coffee blend should extract evenly forming a pressure induced crema layer which floats as it drips into your espresso cup.
Once your espresso machine has completed the extraction, remove the cup.
Now place your latte cup, add the boiling hot water to two-thirds full and then pour the double-espresso on top and stir.
The formula for an americano is a 2 part water to 1 part coffee ratio but we highly recommend playing around until you find the right balance.
