What is an Americano?

An Americano is a style of coffee prepared by adding hot water to espresso, giving a similar strength but different flavor from regular drip coffee. The strength of an Americano varies with the number of shots of espresso and the amount of water added.

The drink consists of a single or double- shot of espresso combined with between 1 and 16 fluid ounces of hot water. An Americano is created specifically by adding the water to an already extracted espresso (which destroys the crema) not by drawing more water through the espresso grounds (the latter is a lungo). An Americano can also be produced from lighter roasted coffees and roasts not generally associated with espresso, such as beans of Ethiopian or Sumatran origins.

The Iced Americano is made by combining espresso with cold water instead of hot water.

source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caff%C3%A8_Americano