El Americano Recipe

Inspired by The Monica

Time7m

Serves1

Make El Americano Recipe in just 7m. Get the full recipe with step-by-step instructions at pekinthechef.com.

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Ingredients

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1
Preheat and grind
Preheat your cup and portafilter by rinsing with hot water; discard rinse water. Measure 18 g of whole-bean espresso. Grind to a fine espresso grind (similar to table salt) immediately before brewing.
2
Dose and tamp
Distribute the 18 g of ground coffee evenly into the portafilter basket, then tamp with even pressure (about 20–30 lb / 9–14 kg of force) to create a flat, level puck.
3
Extract
Lock the portafilter into the machine and start extraction. Aim for a double shot yield of approx. 55–65 ml in 25–35 seconds. Stop extraction when you reach ~60 ml total espresso.

4
Prepare hot water
Heat 120 ml of filtered water to 90–96°C. If using a kettle, bring to a boil and rest 20–30 seconds. Pour the hot water into your preheated serving cup.
5
Combine
Pour the extracted double shot of espresso (≈60 ml) into the cup of hot water. Pouring the espresso into the water preserves crema better and yields a balanced Americano.
6
Sweeten or add milk (optional)
Add sugar (start with 1 tsp) and stir until dissolved, or add 30 ml steamed/warmed milk if you prefer a creamier drink. Adjust sugar or milk to taste.
7
Serve
Give the drink a final gentle stir. Serve immediately while hot. Enjoy as-is or adjust water ratio in future brews for a stronger (less water) or lighter (more water) Americano.