Caffè Americano
/kafËfÉ ameriËkaËno/noun
An espresso diluted with hot water, producing a drink resembling brewed coffee.
Did you know?The drink is commonly linked to U.S. soldiers in Italy during World War II, although the exact moment it was first named remains uncertain.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Arabic
Arabic
qahwa
âA stimulating drink; later specifically coffeeâ
15thâ16th Century
Ottoman Turkish
kahve
âCoffee, borrowed from Arabicâ
16th Century
Italian
caffè
âCoffee, borrowed through Ottoman Turkishâ
17th Century
European languages
cafĂŠ / coffee
âCoffeehouse or coffee, spreading through French, English, and related formsâ
World War II
Italian
caffè americano
ââAmerican coffee,â espresso lengthened with hot water, reportedly associated with American soldiersâ
Modern English
English
Americano
âAn espresso drink diluted with hot waterâ