The De’Longhi Magnifica S ECAM 22.110.B can make an Americano, even though it does not have a dedicated Americano program. To prepare one, you first brew an espresso and then add hot water separately using the machine’s hot-water function.
This method is very close to the traditional preparation of an Americano and gives you the advantage of adjusting the amount of water to your personal taste.
Does the De’Longhi Magnifica S Have an Americano Function?
The De’Longhi Magnifica S does not have a dedicated Americano button. Instead, espresso and hot water are prepared separately.
For everyday use, this only adds one additional step. The machine first prepares the espresso from freshly ground coffee beans. You can then use the hot-water function to dilute the espresso.
This means that the Magnifica S provides everything you need to make a traditional Americano, even without a dedicated drink program.
How Do You Make an Americano with the De’Longhi Magnifica S?
Preparing an Americano with the Magnifica S is simple.
First, place a sufficiently large cup under the coffee spout and prepare an espresso. Once the espresso has been brewed, use the hot-water function and add the desired amount of hot water.
A good starting point is around 40 ml of espresso combined with 80 to 120 ml of hot water.
If you prefer a stronger Americano, use less water. If you prefer a milder and larger coffee, simply increase the amount of hot water.
What Is the Best Espresso-to-Water Ratio?
There is no fixed ratio that you have to follow when preparing an Americano. A ratio between 1:2 and 1:3 is a good starting point.
For example, you can combine 40 ml of espresso with around 80 ml of hot water. This produces an Americano with a total volume of approximately 120 ml.
Adding around 120 ml of hot water instead results in a larger and milder Americano of approximately 160 ml.
The manual preparation method of the Magnifica S makes it particularly easy to experiment with different ratios.
Americano vs. Long Coffee
An Americano should not be confused with simply increasing the amount of water used to brew a normal coffee.
With an Americano, the espresso is extracted first. Hot water is added only after the extraction process has finished.
With a long coffee, more water passes directly through the ground coffee. This changes the extraction and can result in a noticeably different flavor.
If you want a traditional Americano from the Magnifica S, preparing an espresso first and adding hot water afterward is therefore the better method.
Can the De’Longhi Magnifica S Make an Americano Automatically?
The Magnifica S cannot prepare an Americano completely automatically with a single button press.
You have to prepare the espresso and hot water separately.
This is one of the main differences between the Magnifica S and some more expensive fully automatic coffee machines that include Americano as a dedicated drink option.
However, the manual method also gives you more control over the final strength and volume of your coffee.
Can You Make a Large Americano with the Magnifica S?
Larger Americanos are also possible. However, if you want a significantly larger drink, it can be useful to increase the amount of espresso rather than simply adding more water.
Adding too much water to a single espresso can make the coffee taste weak.
For a larger Americano, you could therefore use approximately 60 to 80 ml of espresso and add around 120 to 160 ml of hot water.
This creates a larger drink while maintaining a noticeable coffee flavor.
What Coffee Strength Should You Use?
A medium to strong aroma setting is generally a good choice when preparing an Americano with the Magnifica S.
Because additional water is added after brewing, an espresso that is already relatively mild can become too weak once diluted.
If you normally prepare your Americano with a larger amount of water, choosing a stronger coffee setting can therefore produce a more balanced result.
The ideal setting ultimately depends on your coffee beans and personal taste.
What Grind Setting Is Best for an Americano?
There is no special grind setting required specifically for an Americano.
The grinder should be adjusted so that the Magnifica S produces a balanced espresso. The additional volume of an Americano comes from the hot water added afterward rather than from extending the extraction.
Once you have found a grind setting that produces a good espresso, you can adjust the final strength of your Americano simply by changing the amount of hot water.
How Does the Magnifica S Compare with Other Coffee Machines?
The Magnifica S is one of the more affordable fully automatic coffee machines and therefore does not offer the same number of dedicated drink programs as some more expensive models.
Coffee Machine | Americano | Preparation | Hot Water |
|---|---|---|---|
De’Longhi Magnifica S ECAM 22.110.B | Yes | Espresso + hot water manually | Yes |
Philips Series 2200 | Possible | Espresso + hot water manually | Yes |
Siemens EQ.6 plus | Depending on model | Partially automatic depending on version | Yes |
De’Longhi Dinamica | Depending on version | Automatic or manual depending on model | Yes |
The Magnifica S therefore performs well within its price segment. While some more expensive machines offer additional automatic drink programs, an Americano can still be prepared without difficulty.
The main difference is convenience rather than whether the drink can be made at all.
Is the Magnifica S Good for Americano Drinkers?
The De’Longhi Magnifica S is well suited to people who regularly drink Americano but do not necessarily need one-touch preparation.
Preparing espresso and hot water separately takes slightly longer than using a dedicated Americano program, but it also provides more control over the final result.
You can determine exactly how much water is added and therefore easily adjust the strength and size of each Americano.
For one or two Americanos in the morning, the additional step is unlikely to make a significant difference.
If you regularly prepare several Americanos in succession and value maximum convenience, a more expensive fully automatic machine with a dedicated Americano program may be more suitable.
Conclusion
The De’Longhi Magnifica S can make an Americano without any problems, even though it does not have a dedicated Americano program.
You first prepare an espresso and then add hot water using the machine’s hot-water function. A ratio of approximately 40 ml of espresso to 80–120 ml of hot water is a good starting point.
Compared with more expensive fully automatic coffee machines, the main disadvantage is that the process requires two separate steps.
In terms of the actual drink, however, this is not a major limitation. The Magnifica S provides both freshly brewed espresso and hot water, allowing you to prepare a traditional Americano and adjust its strength exactly to your preference.