From the States to the European Union to small mountain towns in the middle of nowhere, the coffee beverage "Americano" is printed on any shop menu. Though separate from black drip or espresso, this drink is well-known and revered for its simple ingredients of hot (or cold) water and espresso. The name Americano carries a prestige, suggesting perhaps the drink is a fancier composition than it actually is and stemming from the coffee-rich location of the South Americas. However, this couldn't be farther from the truth.
The Americano, fancy-pants name and all, was first created during World War Two. As legend or rather, fact has it, Americans serving in Italy found the taste of espresso to be too strong, so to cut the intense flavor of the espresso, they added water to recreate their drip coffee from back home. And so, the name "Americano" was born and grew to today's global prominence.
Furthermore, as this phenomenon amongst American soldiers in Italy transpired, coffee shops began selling "Americanos" as an option by adding hot water to the espresso they ordered. Although compliant in accommodating the Americans, Italians refer to this method of drinking espresso as "dirty water," as to err on the side of malicious compliance. Additionally, while classic drip coffee boasts approximately 120 milligrams of caffeine per cup, the Americano only provides around 80 milligrams of that caffeine kick. So, ultimately, the Americano is an order for flavor, not necessarily to be as energized as a traditional cup-o-joe might make one.