How to Make Americano Coffee, Best Coffee Beans for Americano, and Whether Americano is Bitter

Americano is formed by diluting espresso with water to reduce its concentration, typically using dark-roasted Italian coffee beans. FrontStreet Coffee uses a blend of single-origin beans from two producing regions for their Americano, which compensates for the low acidity of traditional Italian coffee and creates a richer flavor profile. Many people ask whether Americano must be made with Italian blend coffee beans, and what kind of flavor profile other coffee beans might produce. To address this question, FrontStreet Coffee conducted a comparative experiment using two of their signature blends.

What Coffee Beans Are Used for Americano?

There are two types: blended coffee beans and SOE (Single Origin Espresso). The biggest difference between them lies in the number of coffee bean varieties included. Blended coffee beans contain at least two or more varieties, while SOE contains only one type of coffee bean.

FrontStreet Coffee's Americano Beans

The purpose of blending is to combine the flavor characteristics of coffee beans from different regions, presenting a new flavor profile to achieve a more balanced effect. For example, if a coffee bean is smooth but lacks aroma, another bean with rich aroma can be added to complement each other's strengths and weaknesses. It is recommended to blend three types of coffee beans. With too many varieties, it becomes difficult to control the resulting flavor, potentially leading to imbalanced results.

SOE (Single Origin Espresso) actually highlights the flavor characteristics of a specific region. If you particularly enjoy coffee beans from a certain region, choosing SOE would also suit your taste. Although SOE performs exceptionally well, because it comes from a single origin, its disadvantages are also relatively easy to amplify. If the coffee beans are not of high quality, the resulting SOE coffee may not taste good, and flaws cannot be easily concealed. Therefore, in actual practice, SOE coffee has relatively higher technical requirements, which is one reason why SOE coffee is typically more expensive than regular Espresso.

How FrontStreet Coffee Makes Americano

American Beans with Bright Acidity

Using FrontStreet Coffee's Sunflower Sunshine Blend as an example:

This blend uses Honduras Sherry coffee beans and Yirgacheffe Red Cherry coffee beans in a 6:4 ratio. The flavor has distinct fruit acidity, light berry aroma, wine notes, rich chocolate flavor, and a noticeable sweet aftertaste.

Americano preparation parameter recommendations: Use 18g of coffee grounds in a double portafilter (with a deviation of ±1g), extract 36g of coffee liquid in 28 seconds, and pour the coffee liquid into a 330ml cup filled with ice and water. If you prefer a stronger coffee flavor, you can appropriately reduce the water amount; if you want a more diluted taste, you can add a bit more water.

American Beans with Rich Body

Using FrontStreet Coffee's Commercial Blend as an example:

This blend uses Colombian coffee beans, Brazilian coffee beans, and Robusta coffee beans in a 3:6:1 ratio. The flavor features caramel sweetness, nutty and cocoa notes, dark chocolate flavor, balanced sweet and sour, with a slight bitterness and a persistent aftertaste.

Americano preparation parameter recommendations: Use 18g of coffee grounds in a double portafilter (with a deviation of ±1g), extract 36g of coffee liquid in 28 seconds, and pour the coffee liquid into a 330ml cup filled with ice and water.

American Beans with Neutral Balance

Using FrontStreet Coffee's Premium Blend as an example:

This blend uses Colombian coffee beans and Brazilian coffee beans in a 3:7 ratio. The flavor features gentle, mild acidity, light sweetness, nutty aftertaste, with an overall feel that is not too stimulating and peaceful. The crema is of medium thickness.

FrontStreet Coffee's Americano Beans

The three blends above each produce different flavors when made into Americano. Some friends prefer acidic flavors, so the Sunflower Sunshine Blend would be suitable. If you prefer a richer, fuller body, then the Commercial Blend would be appropriate. If you want something neither too acidic nor too heavy, you can choose the Premium Blend.

Tasting Steps

When a cup of coffee is served, don't rush to drink it. You should approach it like tasting tea or wine, following a gradual process to achieve relaxation, refreshment, and enjoyment.

First step: Smell the aroma - experience the rich fragrance that wafts from the coffee.

Second step: Observe the color - coffee should ideally appear deep brown rather than pitch black and opaque.

Third step: Taste - first take a sip of black coffee to experience the original flavor. The coffee should have some sweetness, slight bitterness, mild acidity without astringency. Then taste it in small sips, don't rush to swallow the coffee in one gulp. Hold it temporarily in your mouth, allowing the coffee to mix slightly with saliva and air before swallowing.

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Important Notice :

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