Last night I came across a thread talking about James Hoffman’s video on perfecting the Americano. Americano/Australian is my drink of choice, so naturally I watched the entire thing.
While I personally enjoy the first sips with crema and don’t mind the overall flavor profile of a classic Americano, I’m up for experimenting to see if different techniques can improve. The steamed water method stuck out to me as something I could try without much fuss at home, so I made it for my morning cup.
I’m stunned.
I legitimately thought James was full of crap. Can steaming the water really change the profile *that* much? Turns out, yes.
The drink was definitely smoother and almost had a tea-like flavor profile without the mouth feel. The boldness of an espresso shot is much more tame. It was cooler at the outset, so I was able to drink it straight away and as it cooled, the flavor profile didn’t change a ton. Overall, an enjoyable experience.
That said, I still prefer the classic americano/australian, especially first thing in the morning. The punch of the espresso and the heat of the drink are a great wake up call. I like to sip my coffee in the morning and the lower temp from the steamed water made me feel like I should almost be chugging the drink.
Where I think this drink can work into my rotation is the afternoon cup when I want something a little smoother.
What about you all? Have you tried this method? Anything else you would note/try?