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What is American Coffee? What's the Difference Between American Coffee and Long Black Coffee?

Published: 2026-01-27 Author: FrontStreet Coffee

Last Updated: 2026/01/27, For those who are not very familiar with coffee, a filter coffee might look like the same thing you'd find in an American coffee shop. However, there are indeed some differences between the two. The fundamental distinction is quite simple: while American coffee is made by adding water to espresso, filter coffee is prepared using a completely different brewing method. I

When we walk into a coffee shop to order a drink, the first beverage we usually see is Americano coffee. As coffee drinking has become a habit among Chinese people, Americano coffee has not only become a daily essential for staying alert but also the preferred choice for health-conscious individuals. In this article, FrontStreet Coffee will discuss Americano coffee.

Is Americano a black coffee?

From the name, we can probably infer that Italian coffee comes from Italy, so Americano should originate from America. The rise of Americano coffee began in the eighteenth century. At that time, Americans were extremely dissatisfied with the British government's expensive import tariffs on tea, leading to the "Boston Tea Party" in 1773, where they advocated switching to coffee instead. Gradually, the number of coffee shops in America continued to expand, promoting the vigorous development of the coffee industry in the United States. By the 1880s, approximately one-third of the world's coffee beans were sold to America. During World War II, Allied forces consumed large amounts of coffee daily to relieve the monotony of life and to boost the morale of soldiers.

However, Italians are accustomed to drinking strong-tasting espresso, which the American military couldn't get used to due to its intense bitterness. They diluted the coffee liquid with water to reach a concentration they could accept. Later, in cafes opened by Italians in America, they also "adapted to local customs" by introducing "watered-down coffee" based on espresso, which became very popular. Eventually, this "watered-down coffee" was called "Americano," and since it contains only water and espresso without any other additives, it belongs to the category of black coffee.

What's the difference between Americano and Long Black coffee?

In addition to Americano, another beverage called Long Black has also been added to some coffee shop menus, translated domestically as "Australian Black." In the 1980s, large numbers of Italians immigrated to Australia, bringing espresso machines to countries like New Zealand, Australia, and Melbourne. Australians prefer coffee with a stronger taste, and clearly the refreshing Americano wasn't to their liking. Therefore, Italians adjusted the espresso base and preparation ratios to cater to Australians' "heavy taste." In Australia, people generally use "Black Coffee" to refer to black coffee and "White Coffee" for coffee with milk added. Long Black adds a small amount of water to dilute the excessive concentration, highlighting the aromatic characteristics of black coffee.

FrontStreet Coffee has reviewed relevant materials and noticed that the most obvious difference between Americano and Long Black is the amount of water added. Americano is made by first extracting espresso and then adding water for dilution, with a ratio of espresso to water between 1:5 and 1:8. In contrast, Long Black has a stronger coffee flavor compared to Americano, with a smaller serving size. Baristas extract two shots of espresso (40g) into a cup containing 100-120ml of water, preserving a rich crema on the surface. Therefore, the first sip of Long Black is the most intense and mellow, with subsequent flavor profiles being relatively clear and clean.

The preparation ratio for Americano coffee

Currently, there is no specific standard for the ratio of coffee to water, meaning that each coffee shop might prepare Americano differently. They determine the ratio based on the flavor characteristics of the coffee beans used and the serving size. For example, the Americano served at FrontStreet Coffee shops uses FrontStreet Coffee's own house-roasted Sunflower Warm Blend coffee beans, which ideally should have flavors of wine, vanilla, cream, chocolate, and berries when properly extracted. To highlight these aromas, FrontStreet Coffee conducted multiple comparisons and finally settled on a 1:4.5 ratio, meaning 40g of espresso with 180g of hot water.

For iced Americano, we need to consider the effect of coffee being chilled and the melting of ice cubes. Therefore, FrontStreet Coffee uses solid large ice cubes. Typically, we take out the ice cubes in advance and store them refrigerated to create "aged ice," which can slow down the melting speed and better maintain the taste of iced coffee. Each ice cube at FrontStreet Coffee weighs about 25g. FrontStreet Coffee's iced Americano ratio is 40g of espresso, 40g of ice cubes, and 120g of water, which is a ratio of 1:2.5:3. This ensures that the iced Americano isn't too strong at the beginning, preventing discomfort, and won't become too diluted due to ice melting.