Americanos

How are Americanos made?

The Americano comes together with just three simple ingredients: Campari, sweet vermouth, and club soda, typically mixed in equal parts over ice in a rocks glass. You'll build it right in the glass by adding the Campari first, followed by the sweet vermouth, then topping with chilled club soda and giving it a gentle stir. The drink gets finished with a twist of orange peel or an orange slice, which adds a bright citrus aroma that perfectly complements the bitter-sweet profile.

How do you drink Americanos?

Americano vermouth is most commonly enjoyed as an aperitif served over ice with a splash of soda water and a twist of lemon or orange peel, creating a refreshing low-alcohol drink perfect for afternoon sipping. While it can be sipped neat to appreciate its complex herbal character, Americano really shines in classic cocktails like the Negroni (where it replaces sweet vermouth) and the Americano cocktail itself, which combines it with Campari and soda. These bitter-sweet cocktails are ideal for warm weather entertaining and pre-dinner drinks, making spring and summer the perfect seasons to explore Americano's bright, botanical flavors that stimulate the appetite before a meal.

How do I choose good Americanos?

The key to a great Americano lies in selecting quality vermouths that complement your base spirit—whether you're using Campari for the classic version or exploring alternatives like Aperol for something lighter and fruitier. Consider the occasion and your mood: a traditional Campari Americano brings bold, herbal bitterness that's perfect for late afternoon aperitivo, while substituting Aperol creates a more approachable, sunset-friendly drink. Pay attention to your vermouth's freshness too, since an oxidized bottle will muddy those bright, crisp flavors that make this simple three-ingredient cocktail shine.

Nutritional Information

Typical Calorie Range per Ounce: 0-1 calories

Typical Carbohydrate Range per Ounce: 0-0.2 grams

Typical Sugar Range per Ounce: 0 grams

Typically Gluten Free: Yes

An Americano is essentially espresso shots diluted with hot water, making it one of the most diet-friendly coffee drinks you can order. The minimal calories come from the coffee beans themselves, and there are virtually no carbohydrates or sugars unless you add sweeteners or milk.

While coffee is naturally gluten-free, always check with your barista or coffee shop about their brewing equipment and any flavored syrups if you have celiac disease or severe gluten sensitivity. Cross-contamination can occur in commercial settings where equipment is shared with other products.

Scrolled this far? Your reward? Americanos Trivia!

1. The Americano was actually invented in Italy during the 1860s, originally called the "Milano-Torino" because Campari came from Milan and sweet vermouth from Turin. It only became the "Americano" when American tourists started ordering it constantly during Prohibition, when they desperately needed something legal to drink while traveling abroad.
2. James Bond ordered an Americano in his very first literary appearance in Casino Royale (1953), not a martini. Ian Fleming wrote Bond as requesting "an Americano" at the bar, making it officially 007's first documented cocktail choice. The famous martini preference came later in the films.
3. The Americano contains zero alcohol from the Americas despite its name. Both Campari and sweet vermouth are Italian spirits, making this "American" cocktail completely European in origin. The only truly American ingredient is the ice and maybe the orange slice garnish.
4. Gaspare Campari originally created his famous bitter liqueur in 1860 using cochineal insects to achieve that brilliant red color. These tiny bugs were crushed to produce carmine dye, meaning early Americanos got their gorgeous hue from beetle juice. Campari switched to synthetic coloring in 2006, but some traditionalists still miss the "bug factor."
5. The Americano spawned the Negroni purely by accident when Count Camillo Negroni asked his bartender to strengthen his usual Americano by replacing the soda water with gin in 1919 Florence. What started as a customer complaint about a weak drink accidentally created one of the world's most beloved cocktails.