Espresso drinks
Americano
An Americano is espresso diluted with hot water. It is close to filter coffee in size but has the deeper flavour of espresso.
- Ratio About 1 part espresso to 2 to 4 parts hot water
- Serve 180 to 240 ml, hot, in a mug
- Grind Fine
Written by the KAIVO team, Mumbai. Last updated 4 November 2026. Cite as: KAIVO, "Americano", kaivo.in/pages/drink-americano
An Americano is one or two shots of espresso topped with hot water. It tastes lighter than espresso but richer than most filter coffee, and it is easy to sip over a long time. A common story says the name comes from American soldiers in Italy who added water to espresso, but nobody can prove it. It is a very common order across India.
How it is made
- 01
Pull a double shot of espresso into a cup.
- 02
Heat water to about 90 to 95 degrees Celsius.
- 03
Add 120 to 180 ml of hot water on top of the shot.
- 04
Stir once and taste.
- 05
Add more water if it is too strong.
Brew it with Espresso machine, Moka pot
A KAIVO blend for this
The Roar
KAIVO lists Americano as a recommended way to have The Roar, and its dark roast with bitter chocolate and oak notes stays full even when water is added.
Dark roast, tasting of bitter chocolate, dark caramel, oak.
See The RoarQuestions
What is the difference between an Americano and black coffee?
An Americano is made from espresso and water. Black coffee is brewed some other way, for example by filter or French press. The taste is different, because espresso is more concentrated and has more body.
Should I add the water first or the espresso first?
Adding water first and then the espresso keeps the golden crema on top. Adding water on top of the espresso is faster and mixes it more. Both are fine, it is a matter of taste.