This morning I ordered an Americano – that’s a single or double-shot of espresso combined with between 1 and 16 fluid ounces (30 – 470ml) of hot water – to be precise.

In some places I get a “long black” but most of the “baristas” (i use the term loosely) I regularly encounter wouldn’t know the difference and don’t realise what they are doing. I watched closely and today was one of those days, buts that ok.

I ordered my “Americano” and as I fumbled for the exact money the friendly assistant said “for 30 pence less you could get a filter coffee and its exactly the same as an Americano.”

Whoa!! What the chuff? I have to say, this threatened to ruin my day a wee bit. Such a lie, probably unintentional and due to the assistant being cheery and friendly I found myself being quite forgiving, but seriously………….I mean……………..C’MON!!

Drip/filter is different from french press which is different from Americano and so on and so forth – frankly, I expect you to know this otherwise I need to question your ability to make me good coffee!

So I ordered an Americano, got offered a Filter coffee (yuck) which I refused and actually ended up with a Long Black! sigh!

Having said that, it was great coffee and I was shaking mildly by the time I’d finished it – mission accomplished!

P.s – if you call an “Espresso” an “EXpresso” I will have no choice but to kill you with a moka pot!