Wondering how to make an Americano with Nespresso? Check out our guide and learn how to prepare an Americano coffee with your Nespresso machine.
Is espresso too strong for your taste?
An Americano might be the drink for you.
But can you make it with a Nespresso coffee machine?
I wondered the same thing.
And after hours of research and experiments, I can say that you definitely can.
Today, I’ll share with you how to make an Americano with Nespresso.
Let’s dive in.
How to Make an Americano with Nespresso Machine
Before we get into the nitty gritty of making an Americano, let’s talk about a few things first.
First, there’s no standard ratio when it comes to this espresso drink.
Some coffee houses serve it with a 1:1 espresso-to-water ratio, while others use a 1:2 ratio instead.
And then you have Starbucks, which uses a single shot of espresso in an 8-ounce cup.
Of course, none of them is wrong.
You can choose any ratio you want, depending on your preference. But I believe that anything above the 1:4 espresso-to-water ratio Starbucks use will make a pretty weak Americano.
Another thing I wanted to talk about is the order of the ingredients.
As you know, Americano consists of espresso and hot water.
But is hot water added to espresso or the other way around?
Theoretically, there’s no wrong way to do it.
But many coffee experts say that you should pour espresso over hot water. By doing it in that order, you get a nice layer of crema on top, giving your Americano a richer mouthfeel.
Alright, let’s start brewing!
Make an Americano with the Original Line
Brewing an Americano with the Original Line is relatively easy.
Some models, like Lattissima Pro, Expert, and Creatista Pro, have the hot water function. So with a single press of a button, you can add water to your cup.
When it comes to other, simpler models, you get hot water by simply running a cycle without a pod inside.
In any case, the process is pretty straightforward.
Now, you should know that not all Original Line capsules contain the same amount of coffee.
Most of them are designated for making a standard espresso shot, and they have about 0.17 ounces of coffee.
But you also have lungo pods, and they contain about 20% more coffee than the espresso capsule.
If you want a more concentrated Americano, it’s best to use a Lungo Nespresso capsule instead.
But whichever you choose, the making process is the same:
- First, add hot water to your cup. If your Nespresso has a hot water option, this is where you press it. Otherwise, run a brewing cycle without a pod.
- Once you have your hot water, it’s time to make freshly brewed espresso. Without moving the cup, add a pod inside the Nespresso. Run the brewing cycle.
That’s all – short but sweet. And most importantly, very simple to make.
Make an Americano with the Vertuo Line
As you probably know, Vertuo Line capsules feature bar codes. And when you put the capsule inside the Nespresso, the machine scans the bar code and gets all the brewing info it needs
- Cup size
- Temperature
- Rotational speed
- Flow rate
- Time the water is in contact with the coffee
This is very practical – except for when you’re making an Americano.
Why?
Because Nespresso Vertuo Line machines won’t brew at all unless there’s a capsule in place.
Now, there is one way you can get your Vertuo model to dispense hot water. And that would be through the cleaning cycle.
Basically, you pour the water into the cup by running a cleaning cycle, then brew espresso over it.
But you should keep in mind that the cleaning cycle might not get water as hot as you’d want it for an Americano. What’s more, you’ll probably end up with more water than you need. So you’ll have to pour some of it into the sink before adding espresso.
Honestly, I find this method to be too much of a hassle. So instead, I just heat up water with my kettle and then proceed with making a proper shot.
How to Make an Iced Americano with Nespresso?
Making an iced Americano is not much different from making a regular coffee drink. But of course, it’s important that you get the steps right, or else you’ll end up with very diluted Americano and zero ice in your cup.
What’s the catch, you might ask?
Well, the order of the ingredients.
When you’re pouring soda with ice in a cup, you first add ice, then soda, right?
But if you were to pour hot coffee over ice, it would simply melt down and make a very diluted substance instead of iced coffee.
So what’s the right order, then?
- Cold water
- Espresso
- Ice
That’s right. Ice goes last.
Since you’ve already combined cold water and espresso, the Americano you get is not as hot anymore. So when you add ice, it won’t turn into a bland drink.
The Difference Between Lungo and Americano
I’ve heard both drinks being called a “diluted espresso.”
And in a way, it’s true. However, these two drinks are made in completely different ways.
A lungo is basically an espresso shot with double the amount of water. And because of that, pulling the shot lasts a bit longer.
Now, a longer extraction time causes Lungo to be slightly more bitter than regular espresso. But since it’s made with more water, the flavor is somewhat mellow and rounded.
An Americano, on the other hand, is made by adding water after making an espresso shot. So the extraction time is shorter than that of lungo, and the coffee is not as bitter. In other words, it tastes just like espresso but is slightly watered down.
The Best Nespresso Pods for Americano
Now that you know how to make an Americano with your Nespresso machine, the real question is – what pod to use?
Theoretically, you could use any Nespresso pod you like. But not all of them would give you the same results.
As you probably know, Nespresso uses intensity ratings to describe the “strength” of each capsule.
By strength, I don’t mean the amount of caffeine. It’s actually a combination of three factors:
- Roasting degree
- Body
- Bitterness
So when you’re choosing the right pod, intensity is definitely a factor to consider.
Best Pods From the Original Line
How intense do you want your Americano to be?
Light flavor – Genova Livanto
This coffee pod makes a rounded and delicately aromatic cup of Americano. It’s medium roasted, so it’s sweet without any bitterness to it.
Medium flavor – Stockholm Fortissio Lungo
This pod makes coffee just the way Swedes like it – malty and slightly bitter. It also has a rich body and a bit of acidity to it.
Strong flavor – Cape Town Envivo Lungo
Deep-roasted and punchy with a full body and woodsy aroma, this pod is intense! It’s perfect for anyone who likes their Americano strong.
Vertuo Line
Vertuo Line features pods for different types of drinks, including gran lungo and alto. But to get the best possible cup of Americano, let’s stick to single and double espresso pods.
Light flavor – Voltesso
Roasted to medium-light level, this coffee is sweet, nutty, and well-balanced.
Medium flavor – Peru
Peru is the perfect middle ground. It’s smooth and balanced, with aromatic notes of fruit and toasted cereal.
Strong flavor – Diavollito
Even the name suggests this is a rather strong cup of coffee. Diavollito is dark roasted, so it’s intense and creamy, with notes of oak wood and leather.
To Sum Things Up
Even though Nespresso doesn’t make Americano with a single press of a button, you can easily do it manually. Simply add hot water before pouring espresso over it.
If you own the Original Line, you can make hot water with your Nespresso by running a cycle without pods. Things are a bit more complicated with Vertuo, and it’s better to simply heat water with a kettle.
The beauty of making Americano with Nespresso lies in a long list of available pods. So play around and find your preference!
Prefer milk-based espresso drinks? Here’s our article on how to make a latte with a Nespresso machine.
