When monitoring your weight, you need to keep track of the number of calories that you consume. But how many calories are in Americano coffee? This article will answer the question, “How many calories in Americano coffee” and discuss everything you need to know about this beverage. Read on!
How Many Calories in Americano Coffee?
A Caffe Americano refers to espresso that’s topped with hot water. It contains 8.9 calories in a 16 oz. serving. Generally, the calories in Americano coffee are from the espresso used. Water has 0 calories and so it doesn’t contribute to the number of calories in Caffe Americano. However, when you add milk to Americano coffee, the number of calories increases depending on the type of milk that you add. Additionally, coffee additives such as syrups and sugars also contain calories and can increase the number of calories in Caffe Americano. Americano coffee is made by pouring some hot water over one or two shots of espresso thus resulting in a drink that has similar strength and volume to regular coffee. Americano coffee adopts the flavor and aroma of espresso but has a less powerful taste when compared to espresso.
History of Americano Coffee
The history of Americano coffee dates back to Italy during world war 11. American soldiers who were stationed in Italy couldn’t find the coffee they used to drink back home. The beverage that was present in Italy was espresso coffee and the soldiers found it too strong for their liking. Therefore, they poured hot water that was served alongside espresso over their coffee to create a more familiar tasting cup of joe. And that’s how Americano coffee developed.
Difference Between Americano and a Shot of Espresso
Americano coffee and espresso are pretty similar. The only difference is that hot water is added to Americano coffee, which changes the taste and size of the drink. This makes Americano coffee larger, less intense, and smoother compared to espresso. If you’re looking for a concentrated or strong beverage, you can order espresso coffee. On the other hand, if you’re looking for a less intense beverage that you can customize with syrup, ice, and milk, order a Caffe Americano.
Americano Taste and Aroma
Americano coffee has a stronger and richer taste compared to regular coffee. The beverage relies on espresso coffee for its flavor. Therefore, an over-extracted espresso shot will lead to a bitter and harsh Americano coffee. On the other hand, an under-extracted espresso shot will lead to sour and acidic Americano coffee. Generally, espresso shots need to be perfectly extracted to have perfect Americano coffee.
When it comes to aroma, Americano coffee has a richer aroma compared to regular coffee. Americano coffee gives the wonderful aroma of espresso shots when wafted through the air.
Americano Caffeine Content
When it comes to caffeine content, Americano coffee has less caffeine compared to regular brewed coffee. Most people assume that espresso coffee has high levels of caffeine which isn’t the case. A shot of espresso contains approximately 80 milliliters of caffeine while a 12-ounce cup of brewed coffee contains 120 milliliters of caffeine. However, the caffeine content in Americano coffee depends on the shots of espresso that you use.
How to Make Americano Coffee
Americano coffee is a simple beverage to make as long as you pull a great shot of espresso. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to make Americano coffee.
What You’ll Need:
- 2 shots of espresso
- 5 ounces of hot water (185-200 degrees Fahrenheit)
- A coffee mug
Procedure
- Boil some water in a kettle and let it sit for a minute.
- Pull two shots of espresso.
- Gently pour the espresso into a mug ensuring that you don’t disturb the crema.
- Pour 5 to 6 ounces of water over the espresso as you try to keep the crema from dissolving in the water.
- Enjoy your Caffe Americano. You can customize your Americano with milk, syrup, or ice.
Conclusion
A Caffe Americano refers to espresso that’s topped with hot water. A 16 fluids ounces serving contains approximately 8.9 calories. These calories are from espresso shots used to make the beverage. However, when you add milk to your Americano coffee, the number of calories increases. Therefore, if you’re monitoring your weight, you need to keep track of the things you add to your Americano coffee. Coffee additives such as sugars and syrups also contain calories.