How to Make an Americano: Ratio, Recipe & Fixes

To make an Americano, brew one double espresso and dilute it with about 4–6 ounces of hot water. Start with a 1:2 espresso-to-water ratio, taste, and add more water if you want a longer, gentler cup.

If you need the drink’s definition, history, and comparisons first, see What Is an Americano? This guide focuses on making and adjusting one.

Americano Ingredients and Equipment

• 18–20 grams of fresh coffee for a double espresso
• 4–6 ounces of fresh water, plus water for the espresso machine
• Espresso machine, grinder, portafilter, tamper, and scale
• A cup holding at least 8 ounces

Use beans you enjoy as espresso. Medium and medium-dark roasts are forgiving, but a well-extracted light roast can make a bright Americano. Grind immediately before brewing when possible.

How to Make an Americano Step by Step

1. Heat the water and cup

Heat fresh water to roughly 185–200°F (85–93°C). It should be hot but does not need to be aggressively boiling. Preheat the cup with hot water, then empty it so the finished drink stays warm.

2. Prepare a double espresso

Dose about 18–20 grams of coffee, distribute and tamp evenly, then brew a double espresso. A common starting target is roughly 36–40 grams of beverage in 25–35 seconds, but the best yield and time depend on the coffee and grinder.

3. Add hot water

Combine the double espresso with 4 ounces of hot water for a bold 1:2 starting ratio. Taste before adding more. Extend to 5 or 6 ounces of water for a lighter cup.

You can pour water over espresso, which is common for an Americano, or pour espresso over water, which helps retain more visible crema and is often associated with a long black. In practice, cafés use both orders. Flavor and ratio matter more than the label.

Americano Ratio Chart

Water changes concentration and volume, not caffeine. Adding more water to the same espresso does not remove or add caffeine.

How to Make an Americano Without an Espresso Machine

A true Americano begins with espresso, but you can make a similar long black coffee using a moka pot or compatible capsule machine.

Moka pot method

1. Brew concentrated coffee in a moka pot using the manufacturer’s instructions.
2. Measure 2 ounces into a preheated cup.
3. Add 3–5 ounces of hot water and adjust to taste.

Moka pot coffee is not technically espresso because it brews at much lower pressure, but its concentration works better here than regular drip coffee.

Nespresso method

1. Brew one or two espresso-size capsules—do not overrun an espresso capsule with extra water.
2. Add hot water separately, starting around twice the espresso volume.
3. Taste and add more water if desired.

Some machines offer a programmed Americano or hot-water function; follow the model manual.

How to Make an Iced Americano

1. Fill a 12–16 ounce glass with ice.
2. Add 4–6 ounces of cold water.
3. Brew a double espresso and pour it over the water and ice.
4. Stir and taste; add water or ice as needed.

Use less water than in a hot version at first because melting ice continues diluting the drink. For more detail, read our iced Americano recipe.

Why Your Americano Tastes Bad

Starbucks Americano as a Real-World Example

Starbucks describes its Caffè Americano as espresso shots topped with hot water. Its current Grande defaults to three shots, showing why café recipes cannot be reduced to one universal shot chart. Starbucks’ at-home recipe uses two espresso shots and 1.25 cups of water, a much milder ratio than our stronger starting recipe.

Use those examples as boundaries, not rules: the right Americano is the espresso dose and dilution that tastes balanced to you.

The Bottom Line

Start with a double espresso and 4 ounces of hot water. If it tastes too intense, add water one ounce at a time; if it tastes weak, reduce the water or improve the espresso rather than extending the extraction through the same coffee puck.