The not-so-secret secret to the best Americano lies in the beans. If you buy good quality beans, grind them freshly, and don’t burn them with over-hot water, you’ll be making Americanos to rival coffee shops. If you have an espresso machine, you’re already most of the way there. Use your espresso machine to produce a double shot of coffee and add that to hot water, which should be around 195 to 200 degrees.. If you don’t have a machine, but you do have a French press, you can still make an excellent Americano-style coffee. Just add coffee grounds to the base, add hot water, and let it steep for pour minutes before plunging. You’ll see the coffee crema, which is a great indicator of quality.