Making Americano Coffee at home

[Hussein Baghdadi]

Hi,

I want to make my own Americano coffee at home, what do I need?
Any Espresso machine -and Espresso coffee- will do the trick?

Thanks.

[Bear Bibeault]

I'm drinking it now as I type!

We have a killer (as in very good and very expensive) Espresso machine here at the office.



I would imagine that any home Espresso machine that makes a decent cup of espresso would do the trick.

Sorry, but I don't have any recommendations for a home machine. At home, I use a French press to make regular coffee.

[Bear Bibeault]

P.S. For anyone who wants to know how Caffè Americano differs from regular (or other) coffee, well click the link!

[Will Myers]

I have of these at home and it makes a stunning cup of coffee, my wife hates it because I make a right mess in the process :-)

[Bear Bibeault]

Mmmm, this morning's Caffè Americano:

[Kaustubh G Sharma]

don't like black coffee.. always go for latte or d-cafe

[Tim Cooke]

I have one of these: http://www.aeropresscoffee.co.uk/

It makes wonderfully smooth coffee and only takes a few minutes, including clean up. Love it.

Although I do get a certain amount of stick for it in the office because of what it looks like (think Austin Powers: "This sort of thing ain't my bag, baby")

[Bear Bibeault]

Tim Cooke wrote:Although I do get a certain amount of stick for it in the office because of what it looks like (think Austin Powers: "This sort of thing ain't my bag, baby")

Well, the principle is the same.

[Hussein Baghdadi]

Tomorrow I'm going to have a look at some of Espresso machines. Hopefully there aren't bloody expensive!

[Ulf Dittmer]

I've been using the same French press as Bear, but now I'm tempted to give the AeroPress a try.

[Jayesh A Lalwani]

Over the past 8 years, I've used an Espresso machine , 2 of those french presses and Italian espresso maker that looks like this





The difference is that the espresso machine boils the water and forces steam down through the beans. The french press soaks beans in hot water. the Italian espresso maker is stove top and it forces steam up through the coffee

The machine that forces steam through the ground beans makes the best coffee, but it's harder to clean
The french press is better than the Italian one, but not as good as the machine. I was surprised with the French press because it doesn't use steam. It's quite good. Both are equally easy to clean. However, the french press is easier to break since it's glass.

If you really want high quality coffee, go for the espresso maker. Nothing beats a real espresso maker with fresh ground coffee
If you are looking for convenience and quality go for the french press. Again use fresh ground coffee. Get a spice grinder to grid the beans. Personally I'm sticking with the french press. My wife doesn;t like the espresso maker taking up counter space.

[Bear Bibeault]

Agree. I'd love an espresso maker for the house, but the convenience and ease of the French press wins out. And the French press makes a far better cup of coffee than any "drip" method.

I've had my French press(es) for over a decade without breaking it(them).

And never underestimate the value of grinding your own beans. Even the best coffee maker in the world with make sludge from bad beans.

[Jayesh A Lalwani]

If you are grinding your own beans, and you use a scoop to measure the beans, then remember that dark roasted coffee has less caffeine than light roasted coffee. That doesn't seem right, because dark roasted tastes stronger than light roasted. Personally, I go for medium dark roast because of the flavor in latte/cappucino. However, I think (and I might be wrong) for Americano, I would stick to the lighter side.

[Bear Bibeault]

Yup, I go light to medium roasts. Not because of any caffeine content, but I simply like it better. The darker the roast, the less the nuances.

[Peter Rooke]

Roast your own! What I've learnt in the last few months ( Ted Talk - What You Didn't Know About Coffee ) is that coffee should be thought of as a living food.
As soon as it is roasted, it starts ageing. So by the time most commercial products reach the customer, they are past their best. Trick is to buy raw green coffee beans, and use a popcorn maker to
roast the beans yourself. Its not difficult, and only takes about ten minuites...

For brewing I use either an aero press, or french press, or expresso maker. I hear that a vacum coffee makers are better, but I've never tried one (yet!).

Theres a rumour that Indonesian coffee from a small island is good, so my next purchase will have to be Green Old Brown Java Beans...

[Bear Bibeault]

I tried home-roasted beans. In my opinion, it was completely meh. I think roasting is an art, and getting them just right is not something the average home cook can do as well as commercial coffee roasters.

[Henry Wong]

On the subject of an Americano, I am generally not a fan of it -- but I understand why it is popular with Americans outside of the US, in locations where they don't have access to a coffee maker.

Personally, I would rather have a double espresso, or a lungo, than adding an espresso shot to hot water ...

Henry

[Giovanni Montano]

Hussein Baghdadi wrote:Hi,

I want to make my own Americano coffee at home, what do I need?
Any Espresso machine -and Espresso coffee- will do the trick?

Thanks.

For years I have taken too much coffee, even before when java started with the subliminal coffee logo:)
I realized that is a bad habit to have more than 5 cups per day, and was having not nice consequences on my health.
So I would say it is fine to experiment the coffee one like at home, but with measure as coffee is not fresh air.
I have a nespresso, 2 moka, a coffee electric machine , and even instant decaf coffee powder.
but since two months I take now only 2 cups per day and really important a lot of water and herbal tea.
When I need an extra boost I take green tea, or the lapsang, or tetley, pg tips tea

[Liutauras Vilda]

Hussein Baghdadi wrote:I want to make my own Americano coffee at home, what do I need?
Any Espresso machine -and Espresso coffee- will do the trick?

Pseudo code, i.e

1. Put water in coffee machine
2. Open the coffee holder
3. Put filter paper in machine
4. Measure coffee for one cup
5. Put coffee into filter paper
6. Shut the coffee holder
7. Turn on machine
8. Wait for coffee to filter through
9. Pour coffee into cup
10. Turn off machine

[Bear Bibeault]

Liutauras Vilda wrote:
1. Put water in coffee machine
2. Open the coffee holder
3. Put filter paper in machine
4. Measure coffee for one cup
5. Put coffee into filter paper
6. Shut the coffee holder
7. Turn on machine
8. Wait for coffee to filter through
9. Pour coffee into cup
10. Turn off machine

That is how to make drip coffee (which I find pretty unpalatable, personally); it is not Caffè Americano.

[Alex Greensr]

Hussein Baghdadi wrote:Hi,

I want to make my own Americano coffee at home, what do I need?
Any Espresso machine -and Espresso coffee- will do the trick?

Thanks.

Hello Hussein,

I personally enjoy Turkish style oven brewed coffee. It takes some longer time and have specific taste, not everyone enjoys it. Talking about nice coffee with almost no action from your side , I would definitely suggest to choose a nice automatic coffee machine, you can check some reviews on jonsguide , I have chosen my one after reading this. Do not forget to choose the great coffee beans, otherwise non of the machines will help you:)
Cheers

[Bear Bibeault]

Alex Greensr wrote:Turkish style oven brewed coffee

Oven-brewed? Tell me more!