Americano v latte – everything you need to know

Are you looking to explore the world of espresso-based coffee drinks? If so, then you’ve probably heard of both americanos and lattes. But what is the difference between these two popular coffees? In today’s post, I’m going to walk you through the differences between an americano and a latte. I’ll tell you about their origins (if you don’t already know – you’ll be, shocked to find out where they BOTH come from!). I will tell you what they both taste like and which is best for you and when. So keep reading to learn about americano v latte – everything you need to know!

What is an americano

Americano coffee was first drunk during World War 2 when American soldiers stationed in Italy wanted to reproduce the drip coffee they were used to. So they asked for a cup of espresso with added hot water. The Italians responded by calling it an “americano”. When the soldiers went home, they took their new coffee with them. From there, americanos have spread around the world. They are on coffee shop menus everywhere.

Today, an americano consists of 1-2 shots of espresso combined with hot water and served in a small cup or mug. It has become increasingly popular among coffee enthusiasts as it provides more flavor than regular drip-brewed coffee. Plus it’s less intense and bitter than a traditional shot of espresso.

Can’t wait to try an americano? Check out my super simple recipe to make your own americano at home.

What is a latte

A latte is another really popular coffee originating from Italy. The word “latte” means milk in Italian, and lattes are made by combining espresso and steamed milk. It has become one of the most popular drinks on cafe menus around the world, often served with flavored syrups or topped with foam art.

The genius of a latte is that it’s not just a strong coffee with milk poured on top – that’s a cafe au lait. To make a latte you need to froth the milk to a rich creamy texture. Then pour the milk into the espresso, holding back some foam to lay on top.

The foamy topping gives lattes a visual appeal as well as an instant rich texture as soon as you take a sip.

By the way, there are so many different types of latte that I had to write a list of the very best lattes you can make at home.

And don’t even get me started on how to personalise your latte! You can use flavored syrups to create your perfect latte.

Interested in doing just that? Check out my selection of super easy to make at home flavored syrups.

If all this has you reaching for your coffee maker, have a look at my list of amazing lattes you can make at home.

The taste test: cafe latte vs americano

The taste of americano

Americano’s flavor comes directly from the coffee beans used to make the coffee. So it can be dark and smoky with bitter notes, or even a little bitter-sweet with tastes and smells of chocolate, caramel and even citrus fruit.

Have you ever tasted a really strong coffee and thought ‘it’s too strong for me’ or ‘wouldn’t it be better if it was a bit less intense?’. Well, americano is precisely the coffee for you. It’s made with full-strength espresso which is diluted with hot water.

So, americano tastes like a strong black coffee, with all the depth of espresso, but because it’s a longer drink, you get to enjoy it for more than a few small sips.

The taste of latte

A latte is usually made with intense espresso and rich, creamy milk. Its got a smooth and foamy texture that makes it one of the most popular coffees in the world.

The combination of strong espresso and sweet, creamy milk creates an indulgent flavor profile that’s hard to resist. Whether you’re looking for something to help wake you up in the morning or just want a delicious pick-me-up throughout your day, a latte is sure to satisfy your taste buds!

Americano vs Latte: the pros and cons

The pros of americano coffee vs latte

• It has a strong, bold taste that comes from its 1-2 shots of espresso.
• Americanos are much quicker to make than a latte because there are fewer steps in the brewing process. You just need to brew a short strong coffee and boil some extra water.
• They contain just 10-20 calories per cup compared to 130 – 200 for a latte.
• If you are on a budget, then americanos save you the cost of buying and heating the milk you’d put into a latte.
• An americano can give you a refreshing energy boost. So first thing in the morning or mid-afternoon I sometimes need the energy hit of an americano.

The cons of americanos

• The raw intense strength of espresso in an americano may be too strong for some people
• Americanos lack the rich creamy sweetness of a cafe latte.
• Some espresso coffee beans give a harsh bitter taste with an unpleasant acidic aftertaste if not brewed correctly. That can leave your americano tasting too strong. Then the only option is to add more water. But then you run the risk of being left with weak, watery coffee. Yuk!

The pros of caffè latte

• The absolute top pro of caffè latte (for me) is the rich creamy milk. Lattes are made with steamed milk, giving a creamy, velvety texture. Altogether the frothed milk and intense espresso flavors help me to unwind and relax at any time of day.
• Because of the combination of espresso and steamed milk lattes have a milder smoother flavor than americanos. Making them easier to drink if you don’t like bitter coffee.
• It’s the most customisable coffee you can buy. Coffee shops offer flavored syrups that you can add to your latte for extra sweetness and unique tastes such as peppermint, mocha, caramel or vanilla. And you can enjoy these at home – check out my list of syrups for coffee.
• Beyond flavored syrups, you can also add foam art (such as hearts and flowers), cinnamon sprinkles and even cocoa powder for an extra burst of flavor to your cup!

The cons of latte

• Lattes are more expensive than Americanos to buy and to make. That’s because to their additional ingredients and effort to make.
• It has a higher carbs and fat content than an Americano, thanks to the added dairy or plant-based milk used in its preparation. For example, Starbucks caffe latte grande with whole milk contains 12.6g fat and 16.8g of carbs. While their Tall americano contains 0.3g fat and 1.5g carbs.
• If lattes are made with too much milk, it can smother the flavor of the coffee – so you might as well be drinking hot milk.
• Experts will tell you you need a good quality espresso machine with a steam wand and frothing pitcher to make a latte. Totalling out at $100’s – £1000’s. But that’s not true. you can easily make espresso-like coffee with pretty much any coffee maker – or even a jar and a spoon! Check out my post on How to make espresso without a machine.
• Some people don’t like dairy milk or have allergies so to it. Happily lattes can be made with non-dairy milk. Check out my posts on the Best dairy milk for lattes and the Best non-dairy milk for lattes.

FAQs about the difference between americano and latte

Which one has the most caffeine?

• This one is a complete draw. If you make your americano with one shot of espresso and one shot in your latte, guess what – they have the same amount of caffeine.
• The differences come in whether you use expresso beans with higher caffeine levels in, say, americanos and not in your lattes.

Which one is better for different occasions

• For me, americano coffee helps me get going. Whether I need an early start or a mid-afternoon pickup, it works better than a latte.
• But when I’m stressed or want to relax with friends, lattes all round work great to chill the mood. There is something comforting in the warm creamy taste, with just enough depth of coffee coming through.

Is an americano with milk a latte?

• A white Americano is not the same as a latte because they are made with different ingredients. Lattes are made with espresso, steamed milk and a small layer of foam. While white Americanos has espresso, hot water and a small amount of milk.
• Because the milk is foamed, the taste and texture of a latte is creamier and sweeter than a white Americano.
• With a white americano the taste of the espresso is stronger than a latte – that’s down to the amount of milk. There’s a lot more milk in a latte than in a white americano.

The bottom line

This is where I sit on the fence – for me, there is no right or wrong answer. I love lattes as much as I love americanos. So it comes down to what I want to drink when the need for coffee strikes.

But don’t get me wrong. There are lots of good reasons to prefer either lattes or americanos. You may just not like coffee with milk – whatever milk. I’ve been there, for years I thought the only pure coffee was a straight-up cup of Joe right from my trusty French press.

Then I met Sophie, and she introduced me to the joy of a well-made latte. And you know what? I really got the smooth creamy taste, and wow I loved the foamy texture of the milk.

You may be on a completely different journey with coffee. But I ask you to give both a try. You may find there is something unexpectedly good in both latte and americano. So it’s less about latte v americano and more about latte and americano!

Some other great coffees compared

You are not alone if you struggle to decide which coffee to drink. I am forever changing my mind in mid brew. So I have put together some great coffee vs coffee posts to help you decide. Take a look at these for some inspiration:

• Americano vs long black coffee. Probably the toughest choice because these seem to be so similar. But are they really?
• Americano vs espresso. Yes americano is made with a shot of espresso, but you would never believe how different it tastes.
• Americano vs cappuccino. Two of the all time classics. I regularly make both and love them. But they are for very different occasions.