How to Make an Americano Coffee Like a Barista

The Americano is made by watering down espresso coffee. Read on to learn how to make it.

January 13, 2025
How to Make an Americano Coffee Like a Barista

The Americano was created when American soldiers based in Italy during World War 2 wanted a weaker brew than the Italian espresso. By watering down espresso to create a brew that tasted similar to the drip coffee at home, the Americano coffee was born. 

Since then, the Americano has become a staple in diners across the United States, Canada, and much of Europe. 

This simple brew is easy to make. Read on to find out how to make it with and without an espresso machine…

What You Need to Make an Americano

Americano coffee is relatively simple to make and only requires a couple of ingredients. However, you will need an espresso machine to brew this coffee. Don't have an espresso machine? Learn how to make an Americano without one at the end of this recipe…

Here's what you’ll need to make a traditional Americano:

Ingredients

  • Finely ground coffee (arabica or a robusta & arabica blend)
  • Water

Equipment

  • Coffee grinder 
  • Espresso machine
  • Kettle 
  • Coffee pot (if making multiple servings)
  • Regular coffee cup — 240 mL (8 oz.)

Brew Guide: How to Make an Americano

Now you've gathered your ingredients and equipment, it's time to make your first Americano at home. 

Here's how to make a traditional Americano:

1. Grind the Coffee

First, grind the coffee finely to the consistency of table salt. We recommend the DaLat Coffee (100% Arabica) for a traditional arabica Americano or the DaNang Coffee (Arabica x Robusta) for a stronger, darker brew. 

Grind enough coffee to fill the portafilter for your espresso machine. 

If you don't want to grind the coffee yourself, using pre-ground coffee is okay. Just make sure to use high-quality, freshly ground coffee for the best experience. 

2. Boil a Kettle of Water

Boil a kettle of water. Boil more than you think you’ll need — for one cup of Americano, boil a cup and a half of water. This will allow you to water down the espresso to taste.

3. Make the Espresso

Add the ground coffee to the portafilter of your espresso machine and brew a strong espresso shot. Each cup of Americano should contain one shot. If you're making multiple cups, brew multiple shots accordingly.

4. Top Up With Hot Water

To a regular-sized coffee cup — 240 mL (8 oz.) — add the espresso shot. Then, dilute the shot with the boiled water. A typical Americano is made with a 2:1 ratio of water to espresso. If you prefer a weaker brew, adjust the ratio to 3:1. 

5. Serve & Enjoy

Serve and enjoy the Americano warm. You can sweeten it with sugar and/or add milk to the brew at this point. 

How to Make Americano Coffee Without Espresso

Don't have an espresso machine? 

Don't worry.

You can make an Americano-like coffee without the strong Italian brew.

Here are the three best ways to make an Americano coffee without espresso:

1. How to Make an Americano with a Moka Pot

If you don't have an espresso machine but want a coffee that tastes identical to an Americano, making it with a moka pot is the way to go. The moka pot brews a strong espresso-like shot that works perfectly for Americano coffee.

What you’ll need (ingredients & equipment):

  • Coffee beans (arabica or a blend)
  • Water
  • Coffee grinder
  • Moka pot
  • Kettle
  • Regular coffee cup — 240 mL (8 oz.)

How to make Americano coffee with a moka pot: step-by-step

  • Grind the coffee — First, grind your coffee beans finely to the consistency of table salt. Grind enough to fill the filter basket on your moka pot. Alternatively, use a fine pre-ground coffee.
  • Boil a kettle of water — Boil one cup of water (for each Americano) in a kettle.
  • Prepare the moka pot — Fill the lower part of the moka pot with water just below the emergency release valve. Fill the filter basket with coffee and level off. Assemble the moka pot. 
  • Brew the shot — Place the moka pot over medium-high heat. When you hear the pot gurgling, lower the heat. Wait until the top chamber fills with coffee. The moka pot is done brewing when it starts making a sputtering noise. 
  • Assemble the Americano — Pour the moka shot into a regular coffee cup and dilute with the boiled water to taste. The same ratio of 2:1 (coffee to water) can be used to make a brew that tastes almost identical to an Americano.
  • Serve and enjoy — Stir the brew, serve, and enjoy while piping hot. 

2. How to Make an Americano with Instant Coffee

It's easy to make an Americano-like coffee with instant coffee, especially with our Vietnamese Instant Espresso. By making a strong, espresso-like instant coffee and diluting it with water, you can brew an Americano coffee in a flash.

What you’ll need (ingredients & equipment):

  • Cafely Vietnamese Instant Espresso 
  • Water
  • Kettle
  • Regular coffee cup — 240 mL (8 oz.)

How to make Americano coffee with instant coffee: step-by-step

  • Boil a kettle of water — First, boil a cup of water in a kettle. 
  • Add the instant coffee — To a regular-sized coffee cup, add one sachet of Cafely Instant Espresso.
  • Make the espresso — Add 60 mL of water to the cup and stir vigorously to create an instant espresso shot. 
  • Assemble the Americano — Add more water to dilute the shot. You can use a 2:1 ratio of espresso to water. However, you may need slightly less water if you enjoy a strong Americano.
  • Serve and enjoy — Stir the coffee and enjoy while hot. 

3. How to Make an Americano with a French Press

You can make a strong, black coffee that tastes similar to an Americano by using a French press. French press coffee has a fuller body and a slightly richer flavor compared to an Americano, but when a concentrated coffee is made and diluted, its profile can be altered. 

What you’ll need (ingredients & equipment):

  • Coffee (arabica or a blend)
  • Water
  • Coffee grinder
  • French press
  • Kettle
  • Regular coffee cup — 240 mL (8 oz.)

How to make Americano coffee with a French press: step-by-step

  • Grind the coffee — Grind your coffee to a coarse texture — the texture of flaky sea salt. Grind enough for your French press — usually four to five scoops. Alternatively, a coarse pre-ground coffee such as our SaiGon OG Coffee (Robusta x Arabica x Peaberry) can be used. 
  • Boil the water — In a kettle, add enough water to half-fill the chamber on your French press.
  • Brew the coffee — Add the ground coffee to the French press followed by half the usual amount of water — this will make a concentrated espresso-like brew. Lightly stir, and place the plunger on top. Wait for 5–10 minutes for the coffee to brew.
  • Strain the coffee — After 5–10 minutes, slowly press the plunger down and fill your regular-sized coffee cup around one-third full. 
  • Assemble the Americano — Fill the rest of your cup up with water — this will create an Americano-like brew.
  • Serve and enjoy: Lightly stir the coffee and wait one minute for any fine grounds to settle before enjoying. 

FAQs: Making an Americano Coffee

Curious to learn more about Americano coffee?

Check out the answers to some of our most frequently asked questions below:

1. What Type of Coffee Beans Are Best for an Americano?

The best type of coffee beans for an Americano depends on your palate. Traditionally, an Americano is made from medium to dark roast arabica beans, but it can be made from robusta or a blend of the two. We recommend the Saigon OG blend for a rich, dark Americano coffee.

2. Can I Add Milk or Cream to an Americano?

Yes. Although an Americano is traditionally served black without dairy or sugar, you can add milk or cream to taste. The brew can also be sweetened to taste with sugar, stevia, honey, or syrup. 

3. How Does an Americano Differ From Drip Coffee?

Americano coffee is made by diluting espresso with water. Drip coffee is made in a drip coffee maker, which slowly filters hot water through coarse grind coffee. Both methods can produce rich, dark brews, but the preparation and taste are different. 

4. What Is an Americano Coffee?

An Americano coffee is a brew made by diluting espresso shots with water. It's typically served black without milk or sugar. 

5. How Long Does It Take to Make an Americano?

It doesn't take long to make an Americano. It takes around 30 seconds to one minute to pull an espresso shot and just a few seconds to combine it with hot water. The process takes longer when multiple servings are made at once. 

6. Can I Make an Americano With a French Press?

No. You need an espresso to make A traditional Americano coffee. However, French press coffee makes a similar dark, rich, black coffee. If you want a similar experience to an Americano, brew a coarse grind arabica and robusta blend in the French press for five to seven minutes before plunging, pouring, and diluting with hot water. 

7. What Is the Origin of Americano Coffee?

The Americano was invented during World War 2. American soldiers stationed in Italy didn't enjoy the bold flavor of espresso. To create a weaker brew that resembled the drip coffee they consumed at home, the soldiers watered down the espresso — birthing what we call “Americano coffee” today. 

8. Can I Make an Americano Without an Espresso Machine?

The traditional Americano uses espresso coffee. However, you can make similar brews without an espresso machine. The closest representation of an Americano coffee is made by using a moka pot and watering down the brew. You can also make strong black coffee that tastes similar to Americano using a drip coffee maker, French press, instant coffee, or a pour-over

9. How Do I Store Leftover Americano Coffee?

It's difficult to store leftover Americano coffee without ruining its flavor. If you have coffee left over, store it in a thermos to preserve heat and taste for up to 12 hours. Otherwise, cool and refrigerate to make iced coffee. Americano for iced coffee will keep in the fridge for two to three days.

10. Can I Add Flavored Syrups to an Americano?

Yes. You can add flavored syrups to Americano if you want to alter the taste of your coffee. Vanilla, almond, or caramel syrups work well with Americano coffee.