I saw a barista in Portland pour a shot directly over ice and it blew my mind.

I was at a small shop called Heart last month and ordered an iced americano, expecting the usual process. The barista pulled the espresso shot right into a cup filled with ice, saying it 'locks in the crema' before the water goes in. Has anyone else tried this method, and does it actually change the flavor compared to adding the espresso last?

3 comments

3 Comments

miles723mo ago

That's actually how you make a proper iced americano.

henderson.vera2mo ago

I mean, "proper" is kind of a strong word for it. It's just one way to do it that some people prefer. The hot water first thing does pull more flavor from the grounds, idk if it's a huge deal but it's not totally made up.

wilson.sam3mo ago

Honestly it's just coffee over ice, not a science project lol. That whole "locking in the crema" thing sounds like a made up reason to seem fancy. Does it really taste any different? Probably not in a way most people could even notice. Seems like barista theater more than anything.