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Espresso lengthened with water

How to make a americano.

An Americano keeps the character of espresso while reducing concentration. Add water to taste rather than treating one café ratio as compulsory.

Starting ratio36 g espresso + 90–150 g hot water
Serve in180–240 ml cup
Latte art and small black coffees served together on a café table
Real café drinks; the measured recipe below is the reproducible starting point.Photo: Fatma Gül on Pexels ↗
Ingredients

Measure the drink before adjusting it.

  • One 36 g double espresso
  • 90–150 g clean hot water
Method

One repeatable sequence.

  1. 01

    Prepare the cup and dispense hot water from a safe source.

  2. 02

    Brew a balanced double espresso using a measured dose and yield.

  3. 03

    Combine espresso and water. Add less water for more intensity or more for a longer drink.

  4. 04

    Stir once and taste after the drink cools slightly.

What changes the result

Water first can preserve more crema

Use water below a violent boil

The espresso must taste balanced before dilution

Choose the workflow

Use a recipe to test the machine—not only the spec sheet.

See how an indexed machine handles the heat-up, espresso, milk and cleaning steps behind this drink.

View a suitable machine →Browse every recipe
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