Selection of coffee beans
For delicious espresso, special blends are made from several varieties. Arabica predominates in them, and the share of robusta added for strength can reach 15-20%. The beans are roasted heavily: Italian or French roasting is preferable.
The choice of variety for preparing Americano is even more important. With the addition of hot water, all the shortcomings of the blend will appear. To avoid excess bitterness, only 10% robusta is added to the mixture. You can do without it completely, but then the density of the drink will be insignificant and the foam will be very weak. There are also differences in roasting: it is lighter – Viennese or, less commonly, French.
- Read more: Types of coffee roasting - what they are and what they influence
There is no difference in grinding - it is a fine fraction, the particle size resembling fine salt. The coffee powder should be as fresh as possible for both drinks.
What is espresso
Espresso means “fast” in Italian. The creator of one of the variants of an automatic coffee machine, L. Bezzera, gave this name to his device. The machine forced steam through the ground coffee and in a short time prepared large volumes of a strong and tasty drink. Subsequently, the name espresso was assigned to the recipe itself.
Today this is the basic coffee recipe for automatic coffee makers. Espresso has its own preparation characteristics.
- High pressure water vapor is forced through the ground coffee powder.
- The quality of espresso depends not only on the type of coffee beans, but also on the pressure that the coffee maker is capable of producing. The higher it is, the richer and stronger the espresso.
- Professional devices provide steam pressure of at least 9 bar. Therefore, a drink prepared in large coffee machines tastes better than in low-power household appliances.
The proportions of espresso may vary, but you can focus on the figure of 7 grams of ground coffee per 40 milligrams of the finished drink. Strong espresso lovers prefer a 10/50 ratio.
Espresso is served in small cups with a volume of 60-90 ml.
Preparation
The difference between espresso and Americano coffee is the preparation. The first one is made in a coffee machine. Ground coffee beans are poured into the cone, and then the device is turned on. Hot, but not boiling water (its temperature should be 86-92°C) is supplied under a pressure of 9 bar and extracts essential oils, flavoring and coloring substances and partly caffeine from the powder. Extraction time is 25-30 seconds. The result is a thick, completely opaque liquid with a rich aroma and dense foam of golden brown color.
Americano is prepared on the basis of espresso by adding hot water from a kettle or a special tap of a coffee machine. As a result, the coffee is covered with weak foam (Swedish method of preparation) or has no foam at all (Italian method). The version with foam is considered tastier and has a more pleasant consistency. Low density, no ductility. The subtleties of technology also entail differences in taste, consistency, aroma and strength.
The second difference. Technological
To make espresso we use a coffee machine. In its depths, hot water passes through a layer of ground coffee under a pressure of 9–15 atmospheres and extracts valuable natural substances and flavoring components from the coffee product. At the same time, the device forms a beautiful, dense foam, which is an integral decoration of a rich drink. After completing the process, it is better to drink espresso immediately so as not to lose a single shade of taste and fully enjoy the magical aroma.
To make Americano, at least one more technological manipulation will be required. The espresso prepared by the coffee machine must be diluted with hot water and the contents of the glass must be stirred. Such soft, diluted coffee does not have to be drunk immediately near the bar or at a coffee shop table. You can take it with you by ordering a drink in a paper cup. Americano has practically no effective foam, so it’s not a shame to close the glass with a lid and drink the contents through a straw. It is also very good when cooled down.
Taste
There's a reason why espresso is a favorite in the coffee world: this sugar-free black coffee has a concentrated flavor and aroma. Coffee lovers call this “thick body.” Both acidity and bitterness are clearly evident. In a properly prepared drink, all notes are in harmony and complement each other. There is no need for sugar, milk or other additives.
Espresso tastes better than Americano because the diluted version is watery, soft, and neutral. To make the taste more interesting and rich, use milk, cognac, and chocolate.
A little theory
American coffee is a weak drink based on ground coffee beans. But this is not its peculiarity, since ground beans are the basis of all or almost all coffee drinks. The peculiarity of Americano lies in its method of preparation, or rather, in the fact that there are two of them and they are completely different. American style coffee can be prepared:
- or using a filter coffee maker;
- or by diluting the espresso with a portion of hot water.
Both the first and second options determine both the qualitative and quantitative characteristics of the finished product. That is, Americano is half as strong as espresso, and at the same time it is almost twice as strong.
American-style coffee prepared by adding water is called Europeanized coffee. In order to make Americano from highly concentrated coffee, you need to add boiling water at a temperature of 85-90 degrees. and increase the volume of the finished drink from 60 ml to 120 ml. Black strong coffee brewed in a special device, as a rule, has a volume of 220 ml, but its strength will be lower than that of the Europeanized version.
By the way, preparing Americano in European style can also be done in two ways:
- Italian;
- Swedish
When prepared using the Italian method, the espresso foam is destroyed, whereas the Swedish American method of preparing the drink allows it to be preserved. This is due to the fact that Italians add water to espresso, while Swedes, on the contrary, add black coffee to hot water. Non-specialists say that the Italian and Swedish methods only affect the appearance of the drink, while experts say that Swedish coffee turns out to be more delicate in taste and, at the same time, more intense in terms of aroma. Gourmets also insist that Swedish Americano has a richer and milder taste.
Espresso, or Italian coffee, is a strong, highly concentrated drink, based on the same ground beans. But the main difference from all other types of coffee-based drinks is the preparation method.
In order to brew real espresso you need a special machine, which, by the way, bears the same name. The design of the unit, developed by the Italian inventor, creates high pressure under which, passing through the ground grains, hot water is supplied and thereby “squeezes out” an invigorating and aromatic liquid from the raw material.
Italian coffee can act either as a stand-alone drink or as a base for any coffee-based drink, including Americano. Return to content
Innings
The significant difference is in presentation. Espresso is served with a glass of clean, cool water. You should drink it first to prepare your taste buds for the noble drink. A serving is only a few sips, so you need to drink it right away, hot.
No sweets or pastries are served; this drink is good on its own. People drink it in the morning in coffee shops on the way to work. Moreover, in this case they do not sit at the table, but wait for the ordered cup right at the bar counter. This recipe is also appropriate during business meetings.
Americano is served ready-made or in two cups: one with coffee, the other with hot water. An important difference: you can drink it chilled and even with ice. A large portion is complemented with chocolate, cheese or donuts. This option is often used as “coffee to go”, so it is sold in cardboard or plastic cups with a lid and straw, making it convenient to drink on the go. Suitable for friendly get-togethers.
Espresso and Americano coffee, differences in volumes
A classic espresso shot is considered to be 40-50 ml, while a double espresso contains 80-100 ml. The amount of ground coffee per serving is 7 grams. The espresso cup should have thick walls and be well heated. Thus, the temperature of the drink remains at the serving level for a longer time.
A standard serving of Americano is 150-180 ml, that is, adding a little hot water to a serving of espresso. Most European coffee shops have popularized a common and convenient way of serving Americano. They bring you two cups, one filled with traditional espresso and the other with freshly boiled water. You can regulate the strength of the drink yourself by diluting it with the amount of water you need.
Drink strength
Another main distinguishing feature is the strength. To clearly understand the difference between Americano and espresso, let’s compare the preparation technology. With the same volume of ground coffee beans, the amount of water per serving differs almost twice.
Accordingly, espresso is not diluted with water and has a stronger and richer taste. Americano is lighter and waterier. Although, in terms of their tonic and invigorating effect, these two drinks are not inferior to each other, since the caffeine content in both the first and second cases is the same.
Taste characteristics
From the above, we have determined that espresso and Americano are two different drinks. Espresso is the most rich, vibrant, and is popular among gourmets who can appreciate the tart and bitter taste of the coffee blend.
Americano is prepared on the basis of espresso, but by adding water it produces a more diluted and lighter taste. This option is suitable for those who do not like bitterness and richness.
The taste also depends on the degree of grinding of the beans. The beans are ground only before preparing coffee, otherwise a significant part of the aromatic and essential odors is lost. For Americano, a coarse grinding method is suitable.
And it can be brewed using the continuous pouring method, and espresso will only be produced if water vapor under the appropriate pressure passes through well-ground coffee beans. Then the characteristic cream foam forms on the surface of the drink. When adding water, this foam disperses.
What are the main differences?
Here we come to the main part of our article. If you read it carefully, you will have already noticed the differences in these two types of coffee. Let's summarize a little.
- Americano is a coffee drink in which the water content is greater than or equal to coffee concentrate. The aroma of the drink is less intense. To serve it, use large cups or plastic cups.
- Espresso is a rich, thick coffee drink of small volume (see espresso cups). Characteristic features: foam, rich aroma, strength. To serve this type of coffee, special small cups are used.
Which drink do you like best? Share your opinion in the comments!
