The most credible story describing the creation and naming of Caffè Americano, dates back to World War II, when coffee was so important (and necessary) to the troops that the average serviceman was going through more than 32 pounds of coffee each year. The Army had to grind, package and ship tons of coffee to the European theater – but often, there still wasn’t enough to go around. American soldiers stationed in Italy and searching for their coffee fix supposedly hated the local espresso so much that they found a way to make it less bitter and more palatable: they diluted the espresso with hot water to make the taste more familiar. Understandably, the locals called that drink “Caffè Americano.” The name, and the drink itself, stuck and grew more popular over time.