Ever wondered what the real difference is between an Americano and regular coffee?
At first glance, they might seem similar—both are black coffee drinks that are, by default, without milk or sugar.
But they’re brewed in completely different ways, and the flavor, strength, and caffeine content can vary more than you’d expect.
I put a lot of effort into comparing these drinks side-by-side—brewing Americanos with espresso and a Moka pot, testing pour-over methods like Chemex, AeroPress, and French press, and analyzing caffeine content using trusted sources.
As someone who brews coffee daily and experiments with different methods weekly, this guide reflects both hands-on experience and careful research.
Quick Answer: What is the difference between an Americano and coffee?
The main difference between an Americano and regular coffee is that an Americano is made using espresso shots and hot water. In contrast, coffee can be made using various brewing techniques but doesn’t have extra water added.
In this guide, you’ll learn exactly how Americano vs. coffee compares in terms of flavor, strength, brewing method, and caffeine—so you can choose the right one for your taste and routine.
Let’s get into it!
Americano vs. Coffee: What’s the main difference?
Before getting in-depth about how these delicious coffees differ, you can have a look at the overview below to see their main differences:
| Comparison | Americano | Regular Coffee |
| Flavor Notes | Slightly bitter, robust | Full-bodied, varies by method |
| Coffee Used | Espresso shot(s) | Brewed coffee grounds |
| Water Added | Yes (about 60 ml per shot) | No additional water |
| Milk Added | No additional milk | No additional milk |
| Caffeine | 136 mg (for 2 shots) | 170–220 mg (depending on brew) |
| Calories | 0 (no milk/sugar) | 0 (no milk/sugar) |
As you can see, there are quite a few differences between an Americano and regular coffee.
To make things even clearer, you can see the differences in the image below:
An Americano is made using espresso shots and hot water at a 1:2 ratio. Double the amount of hot water is used for each shot of espresso.
While regular coffee can be made using various brewing techniques, an Americano can only be made with espresso coffee.
To make regular coffee, you can choose to use a pour over technique, such as brewing with a Chemex or Hario V60.
You could even get a fuller coffee while brewing with a French press.
If you want to learn more about brewing coffee at home, you can check out my beginner’s guide to brewing coffee.
The best espresso coffee is made using an espresso machine, which is what most baristas use.
However, you can easily make espresso-like coffee at home using an AeroPress or Moka pot.
These smaller coffee brewers make excellent espresso coffee that comes close in flavor compared to an espresso machine.
“I enjoy reading about coffee and how to improve my technique.”
Which has more caffeine: Coffee or Americano?
Many people wonder, does an Americano have more caffeine than coffee? The short answer is no—brewed coffee typically contains more caffeine than an Americano.
While an Americano with two espresso shots has 136 mg of caffeine, brewed coffee ranges between 172 and 223 mg of caffeine.
When comparing filter coffee to espresso, using the same 18 grams of coffee grounds and identical extractions, the entire filter coffee yields approximately 170 milligrams of caffeine, whereas a double shot of espresso contains about 110 milligrams.
James Hoffmann, World Barista Champion and author of The World Atlas of Coffee
This means filter coffee can deliver nearly 50% more caffeine than espresso.
A single shot of espresso has 68 mg of caffeine. To compare, I’ve doubled the espresso to get 1 cup (0.24 l) of Americano coffee, which has 136 mg of caffeine.
On the other hand, the caffeine content of regular coffee varies greatly depending on the technique used.
For example, according to an Australian study, the French press extracts more caffeine than the pour over method.
I’ve made a table so you can check what the caffeine content will be while using one of these brewing techniques:
| Brewing technique used: | Amount of caffeine for 1 cup (0.24 l) |
| Chemex | 172 mg |
| Hario V60 | 185 mg |
| French press | 223 mg |
As you can see, regular coffee will have more caffeine than an Americano, even while doubling the amount of espresso used to get the same amount of liquid.
If you want to lower your caffeine intake, it’s best to pick an Americano over regular coffee.
You could also ask for decaf coffee instead if you prefer to drink regular coffee.
If you want to learn more about decaf coffee, how it tastes, and many more questions, you can check out the article I wrote about it here.
Is Americano stronger than coffee?
An Americano tastes stronger than black coffee because it uses a stronger coffee basis. The Americano uses espresso coffee, which has a more robust flavor than black coffee and tastes very different and stronger than black coffee.
While you can change the flavor of regular coffee by using a different brewing technique, espresso coffee usually wins in terms of punchy, full-bodied notes.
I’ve compared the flavor of Americano coffee and regular coffee using the Chemex, Hario V60, and French press.
While the pour over technique has a more balanced but delicious flavor, the French press coffee was much closer in taste to the Americano.
Americano vs. coffee taste comparison
As I’ve discussed above, I came to a few conclusions when comparing these coffees side by side. I’ve listed them below so you can check them out.
- An Americano is more powerful because it uses richer espresso coffee but is also quite balanced because of the added hot water.
- Regular black coffee is more easygoing and usually doesn’t have such powerful flavors; this can change between brewing techniques.
If you love to drink strong coffee, especially in the morning, an Americano is the perfect choice.
I love to drink espresso coffee in the morning, but sometimes, I want to sip on the coffee rather than drink it in two gulps.
This is where the Americano is perfect. Adding the hot water to the espresso shots gives you a more balanced and bigger drink that you can sip on for quite a bit.
Which is better for you: Americano or Coffee?
Now that you know all the differences between these two amazing coffees, you know which you like better, so you can order it the next time you’re out and about.
If you’re still unsure about which is better for you, you can have a look below. I’ve listed a few more notes that I think can help you make a better decision:
- If you prefer a stronger-tasting coffee drink that is lower in caffeine, the Americano is the perfect match for you.
- If you’d rather drink an easy-going coffee with a bit more caffeine to start your day, regular coffee will work wonders for you.
I like both coffees equally as much, and I don’t have a preference. Sometimes, I’ll go for a nice cup of brewed coffee in the morning, but when I feel like drinking a coffee with a bit more punch, I brew an Americano.
Choosing between these coffees can be hard, so it’s all about what flavors you want in your morning cup of joe.
FAQs about Americano vs. Coffee
Before I close off this article, let’s quickly go over a few common questions about Americanos and brewed coffee.
Who knows—maybe this will answer one of the questions you had as well!
What is the difference between an Americano and black coffee?
Americano vs. black coffee comes down to how they’re brewed. An Americano is made by diluting espresso with hot water, while black coffee is brewed directly using methods like pour-over or French press.
Is Americano healthier than coffee?
Both are equally healthy when consumed without added sugar or cream. An Americano has slightly less caffeine, which can be better if you’re watching intake.
They both are low in calories and contain no sugar unless added.
Can I make an Americano without an espresso machine?
Yes! You can use a Moka pot or AeroPress to brew strong espresso-like coffee, then add hot water to make an Americano.
Related coffee comparison articles
Are you wondering how the Americano and normal hot coffee compare to other coffees?
Great! Check out the articles below for more in-depth coffee comparisons:
- Americano vs. Espresso
- Americano vs. Macchiato
- Americano vs. Latte
- Hot Coffee vs. Iced Coffee
- Hot Coffee vs. Latte
And to compare more coffees, visit the coffee comparison hub!
Conclusion
Now you know the real difference between an Americano and regular coffee.
The next time you look at a café menu, you’ll know exactly what sets each one apart and which one best suits your mood.
Do you prefer the bold kick of an Americano or the smooth flavor of brewed coffee? Drop a comment below—I’d love to hear your thoughts.
Coffee recipes to try
Ready to try some new? Here are some delicious coffee recipes to make at home:
2 Comments
Coffee shops often make a big heated vat of regular coffee as that’s what they serve the most of. Unfortunately this means you’ve no idea how long the coffee in the vat has been standing there. I drink Americano as you’re always guaranteed a freshly ground and brewed coffee.
Hi Steve,
Thanks for sharing your opinion!
I hope you’ll keep enjoying that freshly made Americano.
-Jeffrey