The Americano and the latte are two types of coffee drinks that come from the same ingredient — espresso. But despite their commonalities, they have a lot of differences.
To drink the right one for the right occasion, you need to know all the differences between the two. That’s why I’ve created this comparison guide to help you make a perfect choice.
Read along to find out all the differences between these coffees. In the end, I’ll talk about my favorite of the two, and I’ll also help you to pick yours!
Americano vs. latte, what’s the difference?
An Americano and latte both have espresso coffee as their basis. A latte is made with 1/4 espresso and 3/4 milk, and the milk is steamed and frothed. On the other hand, an Americano is made with espresso and double the amount of hot water.
There are quite a few ways to make a latte at home. But the recipe may also change from coffee bar to coffee bar.
I like to add an extra shot of espresso to my lattes because I enjoy the espresso flavor.
An Americano, on the other hand, can only be made in one way. It’s made by adding espresso coffee into a cup and pouring hot water on top.
Did you know that if you do this the other way around, you create a Long Black? You can check out this comparison article, where I go in-depth about their differences.
An Americano has such a straightforward brewing technique that you can easily make it at home. If you’d like to give it a try, you can check out my full guide here.
Is an Americano stronger than a latte?
An Americano has a full-bodied taste. It’s much stronger in taste than a latte. A latte is made out of significant part milk with a pleasant and well-rounded flavor, with just a bit of robustness by the espresso.
An Americano is mostly made by combining two espresso shots with about 1/2 cup (0.12 l) of hot water. But can also be made with a single shot and less water. It uses a coffee to water ratio of 1:2 at most times.
If you don’t like to strong espresso taste, you can also make an Americano with a 1:3 ratio of coffee to water.
The espresso shots’ strength will reduce by a bit, but the robust flavors are still there.
I like to drink an Americano when I want to enjoy the intense flavor notes of espresso for a prolonged period. By adding the additional water to the espresso, you get to enjoy the taste longer.
Is there milk in an Americano?
An Americano is made by combining espresso shots with hot water, usually in 1:2 or 1:3 ratios of coffee to water. There is no milk added to an Americano.
Of course, you can always ask for a bit of milk to be added to your Americano.
If you like to drink an Americano with a bit of milk, I suggest trying out a Café au Lait the next time around. A Café au Lait is made with equal parts brewed coffee and steamed milk.
It’s the perfect drink if you love strong coffee and love the addition of milk to your coffee. It makes for a well-rounded concoction.
Is an Americano with milk a latte?
An Americano with milk is not a latte. It’s called an Americano Misto. An Americano Misto is made combining espresso coffee, hot water and is then topped with milk. It looks like this:
When ordering a latte, there is no hot water added, but only espresso and milk. This is how you can tell the difference between the two.
If you want to learn how to make an Americano Misto at home, you can check out the article I wrote about it here.
Or, you can check out how to make an Americano with milk, using various techniques that all make your coffee taste differently!
Americano vs. latte calorie difference
There is a big calorie difference between an Americano and a latte. An Americano has no calories, while a latte has 110 calories when using whole milk.
Coffee has virtually no calories, and because an Americano uses only espresso and hot water, it’s a lower-calorie drink.
On the other hand, a latte contains quite a few calories, depending on the milk you like to use.
Most lattes are made with whole milk or lower-fat milk, like 2% fat milk. But in most coffee shops, you can also order it with your favorite milk alternatives, which is awesome. (You can learn more about lattes here)
The number of calories in your latte can change depending on the milk you like to use or if you prefer to sweeten your latte with a bit of sugar or a flavorful syrup.
For the lowest amount of calories in your latte, you can also order a skinny latte, which is made with low-fat milk. You can check out this article where I go in-depth about this drink.
Americano vs. latte, which is perfect for you?
Now that you’ve read about all the differences between these coffees, it’s time to pick your favorite. If you still can’t decide between the two, have a look below:
- If you like a calorie-free coffee with a robust flavor, go with an Americano.
- Do you prefer a coffee with a creamy texture that isn’t strong in flavor? Then you should go with a latte instead.
I hope that picking between these coffees has just gotten a bit easier for you. If you want to have a fun experience, I suggest ordering both coffees and tasting them side by side.
By taste testing the coffees, you’ll notice all the flavor differences for yourself. I’ve done this with many coffees over the years, and it’s a fun way to learn about coffee!
Related coffee comparison articles
Are you wondering how the Americano and latte compare to other coffees?
Great! Check out the articles below for more in-depth coffee comparisons:
- Americano vs. Espresso
- Americano vs. Coffee
- Americano vs. Macchiato
- Latte vs. Cappuccino vs. Macchiato
- Latte vs. Skinny Latte
And to compare more coffees, visit the coffee comparison hub!
Conclusion
This was a great comparison to write about. These two coffees are a staple in most coffee bars around the globe. And I can see why that is.
An Americano and latte are both such delicious drinks. I prefer the Americano over a latte because I love the stronger taste that it gives me.
I hope to have helped you find your favorite coffee out of these two. If you want to learn more about coffee, you can check out the coffee comparisons I’ve listed below.
Which of the two coffees do you prefer? Let me know by leaving a comment down below. If you have any other questions regarding coffee, you can also contact me directly by pressing the “Contact Me” button at the top!
