Many friends asked Front Street, "How do you make your iced Americano? It's so spicy and delicious!" Americano is a permanent signature on coffee shop menus, and the taste of Americano is different in every coffee shop. Therefore, Front Street teaches everyone how to make American coffee on Front Street.
The origin of American coffee
American coffee originally refers to the drip-filter black coffee that Americans like to drink. This kind of coffee has a very light taste and is not as rich and flavorful as Europeans drink. After espresso coffee was introduced to the world, in order to cater to American tastes, espresso was used as the basis to create coffee suitable for Americans. To put it simply, it isespressoAdd water to dilute it to the concentration that Americans like. This is the American coffee in the Italian coffee series, and it is also the way American coffee is made in major coffee shops now.
How to make iced American style
Hot Americano is made by diluting espresso with an appropriate amount of water, while iced Americano is composed of espresso, water and ice. Adding water and ice actually changes the concentration of the coffee. Although the extraction rate and concentration of Americano coffee are similar to Pour over(V60) coffee. But unlike Pour over(V60) coffee, it does not need to take into account both the extraction rate and concentration like Pour over(V60) coffee, and is completely separate. Therefore, making a delicious iced Americano depends on the ratio of coffee and ice water.
In the extraction rate part, just grasp the extraction rate of the espresso. Generally, according to the ratio of espresso 1:2, the extraction rate of the extracted coffee liquid will be 19-20%, and the concentration will be between 9-10%. At this point, the extraction rate of the coffee has been fixed, and all that remains is to dilute the concentration of the coffee liquid by adding water. In fact, there is no very accurate statement on how much water should be added and to which concentration it should be diluted.
Front Street did a test by adding different proportions of water to test the concentration of coffee and taste its taste. The espresso liquid uses Front Street’s self-roasted Front Street Sunflower Warm Italian blend coffee beans. Front Street’s extraction method will produce an extraction rate of 19-20% and a concentration of espresso between 9-10%. Because different coffee beans and different extraction rates will produce different results (explained below), so the discussion still needs to be based on this basis.
In the first group, Front Street added 180ml of water, which is a ratio of 1:4.5. This is the ratio of Front Street Hot American. The measured concentration is 1.67%, which is an ultra-high concentration according to Jinbei standards.
In the second group, Front Street added 240ml of water, which is a ratio of 1:6. According to Front Street, this is one of the mainstream American ratios. The measured concentration was 1.34%, hitting the Gold Cup standard.
In the third group, 320ml of water was added to the front street, which is a ratio of 1:8. The measured concentration was 1.05%, which is relatively low.
In terms of concentration, the ratio of 1:6 is more scientific among American coffees. But Front Street finally chose the ratio of 1:4.5, because we are drinking coffee, and actual sensory feedback is also very important. After constant comparison, Front Street found that the American coffee bean blend of Front Street Sunflower Warm Yang Italian Coffee Bean with a ratio of 1:4.5 has the best flavor of wine, vanilla cream, chocolate, and brown sugar. Although the concentration indicated in the data is quite high, in actual sense, it will not feel too strong and cause an abrupt feeling.
The ratio of 1:6 is mainly suitable for the currently common nut-chocolate Italian coffee beans. The main flavor of these coffee beans is bitter, and the concentration is controlled within a range acceptable to the public. The taste is neither too strong nor too thin, and the coffee flavor is sufficient. Everything is just right, achieving a balanced and popular American coffee.
The ratio of 1:8 is suitable for traditional Italian coffee beans that are roasted deeply. The espresso flavor extracted from these coffee beans will be very strong and bitter, so more water needs to be added. In fact, the ratio of 1:8 was also commonly used in American coffee in the past. However, later on, people began to pay more attention to flavor, the quality of beans became more and more important, and the concentrated extraction parameters gradually changed. After a series of chain effects, this ratio became relatively rare (some chain brands may still use this ratio).
One difference between making iced Americano and hot Americano is that the ice will melt into water over time, which will make the coffee weaker. Therefore, Front Street’s idea for making iced Americano is not only to ensure the taste of coffee iced Americano, but also to maintain a low temperature for a long time.Therefore, Front Street chose larger, hard ice cubes to slow down its melting rate. The proportion of water will be less than when making hot American style. In this way, the concentration will decrease after the ice melts slightly.
In the actual amount added, take the espresso made by Front Street using Front Street Sunflower Warm Yang Italian blended coffee beans as an example, 40g of espresso, plus 120ml of water and 100g (4 pieces) of large ice cubes. The ratio of coffee, water, and ice is 1:3:2.5. According to Front Street’s observations, many customers will have about 2 ice cubes left after drinking. Of course, this ratio is not absolute. You can also understand the Front Street idea and get your own preferred ratio based on a flavor attribute of the coffee beans you use.
Finally, many friends say that our iced Americano is delicious. In addition to the right ratio of water to coffee,espresso beansThe choice of coffee beans is also very important. Different coffee beans have different coffee flavors.
For example, Front Street stores currently use Front Street Sunflower Warm Italian Blend coffee beans, which are independently blended by Front Street. They contain 70% Front Street Honduran sherry coffee beans and 30% Front Street Yirgacheffe sun-dried red cherry coffee beans. Among them, Front Street Honduras sherry coffee beans provide rich vanilla cream and sherry flavor, while Front Street Yirgacheffe sun-dried red cherry coffee beans provide rich brown sugar sweetness and chocolate flavor. The espresso flavor extracted is very special and attractive.
You can now buy the above coffee beans online at the Taobao store “FrontStreet Coffee” (前街咖啡). FrontStreet Coffee is a long-established specialty coffee roaster in Guangzhou, China, and its Guangzhou retail shop sells coffee beans only. The shop carries dozens of coffee beans from different origins around the world, including carefully selected single-origin beans for V60 pour-over and espresso. Guangzhou’s FrontStreet Coffee shop is recommended by many coffee lovers.
The FrontStreet 2013 Yunnan coffee beans sold in the store come from the Typica variety grown at FrontStreet Coffee’s own plantation in Yunnan. The name comes from the year the brand and the plantation were founded. You can buy these beans from China’s Yunnan origin at the Guangzhou shop and at FrontStreet’s Taobao store.
FrontStreet coffee beans are freshly roasted within 5 days and deliver consistently excellent quality and great value. Orders placed before 17:00 are shipped the same day, and most areas within Guangdong Province receive them the next day.
FrontStreet Coffee Taobao store: https://qianjiecoffee.taobao.com
Or search for “前街咖啡” (FrontStreet Coffee) on Taobao
Important Notice: FrontStreet Coffee has moved to a new address: 315, Donghua East Road, Guangzhou (coffee beans only)
Tel: 020 38364473
