Many coffee lovers prefer adding milk and sugar to their Americano. And while people might tell you that this practice is going to spoil the flavor of the brew – it won’t, when done right. Although even a latte and a cappuccino are espressos with steamed milk, Americano when combined with milk, tastes significantly different. Therefore, you need not worry about spoiling the taste or the flavor of the brew. So, delve into the article to know more about café Americano with milk!
What is Americano Coffee?
The Americano is one type of caffeinated drink that is made by combining espresso shots with steamed water. Although it has a similar strength to that of brewed coffee, the flavor is much different. The history of this drink is quite interesting.
According to history, this drink was invented during World War II by the American soldiers who were tired of finding good coffee in Europe. They were unfamiliar with the bitter brew drank in Europe, so they added some steamed water to the drink to decrease the bitterness. This is how the popular beverage took birth. Over time, its serving became larger, and also it gained immense popularity across the globe.
According to the National Coffee Association, the statistics of espresso-based beverages consumption is stated in the table below:
| Beverages | Consumption percentage (%) |
| Americano | 14 |
| Cappuccino | 22 |
| Mocha | 16 |
| Macchiato | 8 |
| Latte | 21 |
| Espresso | 10 |
| Frozen blended | 6 |
| Flat white | 3 |
Americano vs Latte: What’s the Difference?
Often Americano coffee with milk is confused with latte because of their high similarities. Well, both of them are great in taste, but much like Long black vs Americano these 2 are completely different when it comes to flavor.
Americano is either a single or double shot of espresso combined with steamed water. The flavor of the drink is intense, rich, and smooth. Latte is creamier than Americano as it is often topped with whipped cream.
What is an Americano with Milk Called?
People often mistakenly call Americano with milk a latte, but that is not entirely accurate. Depending on the serving, Americano with milk could be of several types:
- Breve: This type of beverage is a combination of an espresso shot with half-and-half. This makes the drink creamier and more intense in flavor. So, any drink that is made up of half-and-half and espresso shots is breve.
- Café noisette: This type is made up of a small quantity of milk and espresso. It is called a noisette because the color of the beverage is similar to that of hazelnut. ‘Noisette’ is the French word used for denoting hazelnut. The milk is added directly and not steamed, so the flavor is different from that of cappuccino.
- Espresso macchiato: This drink contains either one or two shots of espresso flavored with thick and steamed milk.
- Espresso con Panna: In this beverage, you can add two shots of espresso with whipped milk. The use of the cream, in addition to half-and-half, helps create an intense flavor.
- Flat white: If you want to taste a slight coffee flavor punched with creamy milk, then this drink is perfect for you. Flat white contains espresso with cold milk or hot milk.
- Latte macchiato: Here, the milk is stained with a half espresso shot. Some American variations of latte macchiato are flavored with caramel, which makes it very soothing.
What Else Can You Add to Americano?
Apart from milk, other ingredients can be added to your Americano. A few such variations are listed below:
- Classic Americano: You can give your beverage a classic touch by combining ingredients like Campari, sweet vermouth, club soda, and an orange twist. This is one of the most popular variations of this beverage.
- Steamed half-and-half or cold creamer: Half-and-half and cold creamer are two widely used ingredients while preparing this drink. It helps to make the drink creamier and thicker. Also, it adds to the flavor.
- Sugar to sweeten up: Some people prefer sugar in their drink, whereas some like it as unsweetened. So, you can add this ingredient as per your preference.
Final Word
We hope this article was able to help you know everything about Americano with milk. As you can see, there are so many options for you to choose from – so make sure to try whatever you think tastes the best, and let us know which is your personal favorite!