A café Americano, consisting of espresso with added boiling water, is a staple in most coffee houses. Some say it acquired prominence during WWII. American soldiers in Italy found the espresso offered quite different than that of the brewed coffee they were accustomed to drinking at home. By adding hot water to their Italian espresso, the drink became much more palatable. The amount of water added varies by location. In the United States, the ratio is typically one part espresso to one part water, although some prefer one to two. The addition of water to espresso results in a beverage with similar strength to that of brewed coffee, but retaining the distinct flavor of espresso. To find your preferred ratio a bit of experimentation may be needed. Here I prepare an Americano using the one to one ratio. My version is decidedly sweet due to the addition of caramel cream topping. Enjoy!