I don’t think it’s that they couldn’t handle it. It was soldiers during WWII in Italy, and they wanted drip coffee, like they’d have back home. The only thing available in Italy was espresso, so they watered it down to make something similar to drip coffee.
It’s a little bit different in Korea. You notice it even more if you watch newer K-dramas. They’ve (mistakenly? Unintentionally?) started calling what you’d normally consider a latte an americano. It’s become extremely trendy at cafes to offer americanos that are definitely not just espresso and water.
I remember heard a story that says that is called “americano” because USians people can’t handle espresso and had to dilue it with water.
Yep, Italy during/after WW2. Soldiers wanted drip coffee, and this was the closest they could get.
More that they weren’t used to espresso than not being able to handle it
I don’t think it’s that they couldn’t handle it. It was soldiers during WWII in Italy, and they wanted drip coffee, like they’d have back home. The only thing available in Italy was espresso, so they watered it down to make something similar to drip coffee.
It’s a little bit different in Korea. You notice it even more if you watch newer K-dramas. They’ve (mistakenly? Unintentionally?) started calling what you’d normally consider a latte an americano. It’s become extremely trendy at cafes to offer americanos that are definitely not just espresso and water.