What Is an Iced Americano? How to Make an Iced Americano at Home?

Whether you’re a coffee lover or a casual drinker, you’ve probably heard of an iced Americano. But what is an iced Americano exactly? In this article, we’ll give you the lowdown on iced Americanos, from what goes into them to how to make your own.

Helena Shaw

January 11, 2023

Espresso – The Heart of Iced Americanos

Contents hide

1 Espresso – The Heart of Iced Americanos

2 What Is an Americano?

3 What Is an Iced Americano?

4 What’s the Difference Between Ice Coffee and Cold Brew Coffee?

5 Iced Americano vs Iced Coffee

6 How to Make an Iced Americano: Coffee Recipe

An iced Americano is made with espresso. Espresso is a type of coffee that is brewed by forcing hot water under pressure through finely ground coffee beans. The result is a very concentrated coffee that has a strong flavor.

To make an iced Americano, you’ll need to start with a shot (or two) of espresso. You can make your own espresso at home with an espresso machine. But, what is an iced Americano?

What Is an Americano?

Before we’ll answer the question “What is an iced Americano?,” it’s important to understand what an Americano is. An Americano is a type of coffee that is prepared by mixing espresso with hot water. It originated in Italy, and the name comes from the fact that American soldiers stationed in Italy during World War II would order their coffee this way – traditional Italian espresso was too strong for them.

Over time, the Americano has become a popular coffee drink in its own right, and can be enjoyed hot or cold. And that brings us to…

What Is an Iced Americano?

So, what is an iced Americano? An iced Americano is simply an Americano that is served over ice. It’s a simple, refreshing way to enjoy a coffee, and is typically not customized with additional flavors like milk. Iced Americano is diluted by either cold water, or ice cubes – and sometimes both. Because of this, an iced Americano can have a weaker flavor than a regular Americano and is definitely not as strong as a straight shot of espresso.

What’s the Difference Between Ice Coffee and Cold Brew Coffee?

Now that the answer to the question “what is an iced Americano” is out of the way, what’s the difference between ice coffee and cold brew coffee? It may seem that all iced coffees are made the same way, but there’s actually a big difference between cold brew coffee and what’s commonly known as iced coffee.

Cold brew is made by steeping coarse ground coffee beans in cold water for 12 to 24 hours, resulting in a less acidic, smoother tasting cup of coffee. Iced coffee, on the other hand, is simply regular hot-brewed coffee that’s been cooled down and poured over ice.

While cold brew coffee requires a bit more time to make than a traditional hot coffee, the end result is worth it if you’re looking for a less acidic cup of coffee beverage. If you’re in a hurry, however, iced coffee is a perfectly acceptable alternative.

Iced Americano vs Iced Coffee

Iced latte, iced Americano, iced coffee – there are so many iced versions of coffees, that it may be difficult to remember them all. But what’s the difference between iced Americano and iced coffee? An iced Americano is made by pouring a double shot of espresso over ice and then adding water to taste. Iced coffee, on the other hand, is made by pouring cold brew coffee over ice.

While both iced coffee and iced Americanos are refreshing and perfect for a hot summer day, the main difference is in the type of coffee used. Iced Americanos are made with espresso, which has a higher concentration of caffeine, while iced coffees are made with cold brew, which has a smoother, less acidic taste.

Coffee shops will often have both iced coffee and iced Americanos on the menu, so it’s up to you to decide which one you prefer.

How to Make an Iced Americano: Coffee Recipe

Now that you know the answer to the question “what is an iced Americano?”, and what goes into it, let’s walk through the steps of making yourself a cold coffee. Many coffee shops, like Starbucks, offer Americano, but you can easily make at home an iced Americano yourself. Here’s how to make it.

First, start by brewing your espresso. If you’re using an espresso machine, this will involve grinding your coffee beans and then putting them in the machine’s filter basket. One shot of espresso is fine – but two shots of espresso are even better.
The ratio of water to espresso will determine how strong your Americano is. It should be 1:1, meaning that if you use 2 ounces of espresso, add 2 ounces of cold water.
Cool the espresso – put it in the fridge for a couple of hours and add cold water and ice cubes. Add the espresso to the glass of ice. You can also add some sugar to your coffee to make it less bitter.

Now that you know what an iced Americano is and how to make your own, enjoy this refreshing coffee drink any time of day!

Helena Shaw

Helena Shaw is an excellent baker. She also loves to cook, and has collected quite a few cookbooks over the years. In fact, she used to bake for hotels before moving on to do special orders for a local patisserie. Helena also enjoys going on coffee trips with her dog, and spending time with her loved ones.