Is Authentic Americano Coffee Healthy? What are the Benefits and Drawbacks of Drinking Iced Americano? Is Black Coffee Hard to Drink?

Americano coffee, a staple in every café, is also a must-order for coffee enthusiasts. Because Americanos are quick to prepare, have excellent flavor, and provide a pleasant mouthfeel, busy professionals often grab an Americano when visiting cafés to save time while energizing themselves for work. During the hot summer days in Guangzhou, customers visiting FrontStreet Coffee who aren't sure what to order but don't want milk-based drinks typically choose an iced Americano. But do you know how Americano coffee actually originated?

History of Americano Coffee

One theory suggests that Americano coffee originated from American soldiers stationed in Italy during World War II. Unable to adjust to the intense strength of Italian espresso, they diluted it by adding hot water. This practice earned the disdain of Italians, who mockingly called it "Americano" - the American's coffee.

Of course, there's another theory: after Howard Schultz introduced espresso to Starbucks in Seattle, he added hot water to dilute it to suit the milder American palate. This preparation method gained acceptance worldwide as Starbucks expanded globally.

Americano is a type of espresso-based coffee, typically made with medium-dark to dark roasted blended coffee beans. Hot water is forced through ground coffee powder using an espresso machine's pressure to extract espresso. Generally, an Americano consists of one to two shots of espresso diluted with hot water.

What Are the Benefits of Drinking Americano Coffee?

1. Coffee contains certain nutritional components. Coffee's niacin content includes vitamin B, which increases after roasting. It also contains free fatty acids, caffeine, tannic acid, and other beneficial compounds.

2. Coffee benefits the skin. Coffee can promote metabolic function and stimulate digestive organs, making it highly effective for constipation. Using coffee grounds for bathing is a thermotherapy method that aids in weight loss.

3. Coffee has anti-alcohol effects. Drinking coffee after alcohol consumption accelerates the oxidation of acetaldehyde (a byproduct of alcohol metabolism), breaking it down into water and carbon dioxide for elimination from the body.

4. Coffee can eliminate fatigue. To combat fatigue, one must supplement nutrition, rest and sleep, and promote metabolic function - all of which coffee provides.

5. Coffee can help with weight loss. Coffee contains magnesium and potassium, which help the body use insulin, regulate blood sugar levels, and reduce cravings for sweets and snacks. Caffeine helps fat cells break down body fat and use it as fuel during exercise.

Why Is Americano Coffee Considered Healthy?

Americano not only promotes digestion and has diuretic properties, helping to accelerate body metabolism, but it can also reduce oral odor. Chatting with friends after a meal over an Americano creates a more relaxed and harmonious atmosphere.

Americano is the lowest-calorie coffee option, without exception - so low that it's practically negligible. Even a large Americano at Starbucks contains very few calories, which is why many celebrities love drinking Americanos - it satisfies their cravings without worrying about excessive calories.

How to Make an Americano Coffee?

After discussing so many benefits of Americano coffee, do you know how it's made? Simply put, it's espresso with water. Next, let FrontStreet Coffee share our method for making Americano coffee.

FrontStreet Coffee's espresso extraction parameters: 20 grams of coffee powder extracts 35 grams of coffee liquid in 28-29 seconds.

FrontStreet Coffee uses our house-blended Sunflower Warm Sun Blend, which contains 70% Honduras Sherry and 30% Yirgacheffe Natural Red Cherry. The 70% Honduras Sherry provides whiskey and vanilla cream notes, while the 30% Yirgacheffe Natural Red Cherry contributes berry-like acidity. FrontStreet Coffee's design concept for this blend is that it can be used for both espresso and pour-over. When used for espresso, it exhibits distinct fermented wine aroma, with citrus and berry acidity immediately apparent upon tasting, complemented by whiskey notes and a black chocolate aftertaste.

FrontStreet Coffee Sunflower Warm Sun Blend

Origin: Ethiopia & Honduras

Varieties: Caturra, Catuai, Heirloom

Processing: Natural & Whiskey Barrel Fermentation

Once the espresso extraction is complete, the remaining steps are even simpler: simply pour the extracted espresso into water, and you've completed an Americano.

Is Americano Coffee Unpleasant to Drink?

When this question is raised, most concerns actually stem from worry about bitterness. As for why Americano might taste bitter, there are typically two reasons: ① the inherent flavor of the coffee beans; ② over-extraction.

The Inherent Flavor of Coffee Beans

Americano consists of nothing but water and coffee, so the inherent flavor of the coffee beans most strongly influences the entire drink's taste. Therefore, the first reason an Americano might taste bitter could be that the coffee beans used for espresso extraction naturally have rich, intense flavors.

The rich flavor of espresso beans comes from their distinct regional characteristics and deeper roast levels. For example, FrontStreet Coffee's specialty espresso blend contains 30% Colombian coffee beans mixed with 70% Brazilian coffee beans. The Colombian beans provide a black chocolate base note, while the Brazilian beans contribute nutty notes and higher body. FrontStreet Coffee's roasters have roasted this blend to a medium-dark level, creating a wonderful balance with medium-low acidity and medium bitterness.

Over-Extraction

Besides bean selection, bitterness in Americano can also come from extraction errors, such as channeling causing uneven extraction, or over-extraction due to overly fine grinding.

FrontStreet Coffee often shares that, calculated by coffee bean weight, only about 30% of coffee beans are extractable. However, more extraction isn't necessarily better. According to Gold Cup Standard recommendations, extraction between 18% to 22% is most suitable. Below 18% is called under-extraction, which manifests as sharp acidity and weak flavor. Extraction above 22% is called over-extraction (what we commonly refer to as "over-extracted"), which typically presents as intense bitterness and astringency.

For more specialty coffee beans, please add FrontStreet Coffee on WeChat: kaixinguoguo0925

Important Notice :

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FrontStreet Coffee Address: 315,Donghua East Road,GuangZhou

Tel:020 38364473