An Americano is a type of coffee drink that is made by diluting an espresso shot with hot water, giving it a different flavor from traditionally brewed coffee. The strength of an Americano varies with the number of shots of espresso and the amount of water added. The name "Americano" means "American" in Italian, Spanish, and Portuguese, and it entered the English language from Italian in the 1970s. There is a popular belief that the name has its origins in World War II when American G.I.s in Italy diluted espresso with hot water to approximate the coffee to which they were accustomed. However, the term appears earlier, e.g., in Somerset Maughams Ashenden (1927) .
An Americano is not the same as drip coffee, even though it tastes similar to it. It is made by pouring hot water over one or two espresso shots, resulting in a drink of similar volume and strength to regular coffee. The key to an Americano is that it starts with espresso and adopts the flavors and aromas of the espresso, but with a less powerful taste. The origin of the Americano is not certain, but most accounts tie the creation of this coffee drink to World War II.
