'American coffee'), also known as americano or American, is a type of coffee drink prepared by diluting an espresso shot with hot water at a 1:3 to 1:4 ratio, resulting in a drink that retains the complex flavors of espresso, but in a lighter way.

[8] There is a popular belief that the name has its origins in World War II when American G.I.s in Italy diluted espresso with hot water to approximate the coffee to which they were accustomed.

The term caffè americano entered Italian later than the English or Spanish uses, perhaps as a borrowing from one of the two languages.

[10] The drink consists of a single shot of espresso mixed with added water.

[12][13] In the western U.S., Italiano sometimes refers to a short americano with equal amounts of espresso and water (lungo).