In preparation for our café opening, Father Dearest has purchased the ultimate Barista guidebook to further enhance our coffee and espresso book collection. The Professional Barista’s Handbook by Scott Rao is widely regarded as one of, if not the best, go-to tome for professionals and even amateurs seeking espresso perfection. While flipping through the pages of Rao’s book, I came across an interesting factoid* on Americanos. This mention reminded me of a minor debate that occurred between a fairly knowledgeable coffee consumer and a café owner: Having requested hot milk for his Americano he was told that this would make it a cappuccino…???!!! Umm… Nope. It does not! “Fairly Knowledgeable Coffee Consumer” got that one right, and asking for hot milk is not an unusual request.
What is an Americano? It’s a coffee drink made up of a shot (or two) of espresso, which is then diluted by the addition of several ounces of water. This is not the same as a regular brewed coffee. However, some coffee shops do serve Americanos in place of drip coffee as this negates the need for purchasing the extra machinery. Americanos also have a stronger, sometimes more bitter*, taste than drip coffee. Because they can be quite bitter, Americanos are often better appreciated with the addition of some sugar or at least some milk- either hot (steamed/ boiled/ microwaved) or cold.
A cappuccino on the other hand, is an espresso, topped with steamed milk that is significantly aerated. The milk used in a cappuccino must be steamed to create the correct consistency. The milk froth in a cappuccino is usually around ½ inch deep. At least 6 oz – 8 oz of milk will be required.
Verdict: An Americano topped with hot milk can in no way be considered a cappuccino!
* Factoid: An espresso tastes more bitter when made into an Americano because the addition of hot water dilutes the oil content, which prevents the oils from completely coating the tongue.
The Professional Barista’s Handbook
What is an Americano? It’s a coffee drink made up of a shot (or two) of espresso, which is then diluted by the addition of several ounces of water. This is not the same as a regular brewed coffee. However, some coffee shops do serve Americanos in place of drip coffee as this negates the need for purchasing the extra machinery. Americanos also have a stronger, sometimes more bitter*, taste than drip coffee. Because they can be quite bitter, Americanos are often better appreciated with the addition of some sugar or at least some milk- either hot (steamed/ boiled/ microwaved) or cold.
A cappuccino on the other hand, is an espresso, topped with steamed milk that is significantly aerated. The milk used in a cappuccino must be steamed to create the correct consistency. The milk froth in a cappuccino is usually around ½ inch deep. At least 6 oz – 8 oz of milk will be required.
Verdict: An Americano topped with hot milk can in no way be considered a cappuccino!
* Factoid: An espresso tastes more bitter when made into an Americano because the addition of hot water dilutes the oil content, which prevents the oils from completely coating the tongue.
The Professional Barista’s Handbook
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