Water for an Americano?

Post by **aptosca** » Sun Feb 25, 2007 6:05 pm

So, I sat in front of the machine yesterday thinking, how do I pull an Americano? Boiler water or group water? Is boiler water too hot? It is for espresso ... what about Americano?

I looked through the rest of the forums and that is what it seems people do (though one person complained it was too hot.)

Why wouldn't one pull through the group?

Post by **Niko** » Sun Feb 25, 2007 10:20 pm

It's not hot enough through the group.

Try bleeding some water through the spigot first, then draw some more from it and it should be a little cooler. Another trick is drawing water into a clean steam pitcher and it'll cool down perfectly while your pulling your espresso shot.
I don't drink Americanos but I've made them this way for folks and they loved them.

Post by **blacroix** » Tue Feb 27, 2007 8:14 pm

I pull from the water spigot. While it is too hot to drink... IMO - better too hot than too cold!

Post by **padillatim** » Thu Mar 01, 2007 11:49 pm

Water from the hot-water tap is usually too hot and will make the drink bitter. It takes some experimenting to find the right amount, but try an ice cube in the up (6 oz.) to cool the water and then pull the shot direct into the cup.

Post by **blacroix** » Fri Mar 02, 2007 5:14 am

padillatim wrote:Water from the hot-water tap is usually too hot and will make the drink bitter.

I have not experienced this at all. It is my understanding that water being too hot only makes a shot bitter if that overheated water is pulled through the puck, causing overextraction... am I missing something?

Post by **Barry** » Fri Mar 02, 2007 9:25 am

blacroix wrote:
padillatim wrote:Water from the hot-water tap is usually too hot and will make the drink bitter.
I have not experienced this at all. It is my understanding that water being too hot only makes a shot bitter if that overheated water is pulled through the puck, causing overextraction... am I missing something?

I am inclined to agree with you. The bitterness is a result of the application of water that is to hot for the oil in the beans. I make an Americano every morning for my wife and she is a huge pain in the ass if her coffee is to bitter. She has never complained and actually likes the fact that the Americano is very hot, but not bitter. I do put the water in the mug, prior to pulling the shot.

Post by **Niko** » Fri Mar 02, 2007 10:43 am

Barry wrote:I do put the water in the mug, prior to pulling the shot.

Exactly what I said (and do) for the complainers in my household.

Post by **blacroix** » Fri Mar 02, 2007 12:41 pm

One benefit to "extra hot" americanos... if making drinks for a group, I can make them FIRST... then the milk based drinks... then straight espresso and deliver them all at the same time without anything being cold.

FYI: I also pull the water into my cup first; then pull the shot.

Post by **Niko** » Fri Mar 02, 2007 3:39 pm

Water does cool down rather QUICKLY when it sits idle in a cup or pitcher, I once took a temp reading from water pulled from the spigot. It registered 202 degrees after sitting for a very short time.

Post by **woodchuck** » Wed Mar 07, 2007 1:31 pm

I generally pull an americano as I'm heading out the door after a couple of espressos or caps at breakfast. I haven't noticed any bitterness from the hot water tap. I just add 6 oz of water into the cup, pull a shot and go.

Cheers

Ian