In light of growing tensions between Canada and the United States, some Canadian coffee shops are encouraging a shift in thinking.
BY BHAVI PATEL
BARISTA MAGAZINE ONLINE
Featured photo courtesy of Kicking Horse Coffee
On February 6, British Columbia, Canada-based roastery and café Kicking Horse Coffee announced in an Instagram post, “For 16 years, the Kicking Horse Café has been quietly calling Americanos ‘Canadianos.’ Today, we’re officially making it a thing and asking coffee shops across the country to make the switch. Join us. Call them Canadianos.” In this seemingly simple yet powerful move, Kicking Horse has sparked a movement amongst Canadians rebelling against the recent re-election of Donald Trump as the president of the United States.
Growing Tensions Spark the Shift
The current tensions between the United States and Canada are reported to be the most serious since World War II, with Trump imposing additional 25% tariffs on all imports from both Canada and Mexico. In spite of this, President Trump has still stated that he is serious about wanting Canada to become the 51st state—a prospect deeply unpopular amongst Canadians. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, along with other high-ranking Canadian officials, has assured that this would never happen.
“The current trade war is very unfortunate because the current sitting president is unfavorable by the majority. America really has us tuning in for a reality show and checking on them almost every week,” says Monica Leung, lab manager and senior barista at Milky’s, a café based in Toronto. “However, keeping out of the political points, the current economy would also set off even more raised prices on imported goods, versus the local market.”
Since Kicking Horse first made its announcement about the “Canadiano,” Toronto’s Le Petit Pain and Café Belem have since joined the rebellion, and every day, more coffeehouses are adding themselves to the list.
Before the ‘Canadiano’—How the Americano Got Its Name
In light of Kicking Horse’s recent announcement, one is left to wonder: How did the Americano even become known as the ”Americano” in the first place?
The Americano’s origins trace back to World War II, when American G.I.s stationed in Italy found traditional espresso to be too strong for their tastes. To re-create the coffee they were accustomed to drinking back home, they began diluting Italian espresso with hot water. Italian baristas dubbed this modified drink the ”Americano”: a playful nod to their American customers who couldn’t handle the intensity of straight espresso. This wartime adaptation has since become a café staple worldwide.
“I find this push to change the name (of the Americano) interesting, and I actually had to look up why it’s called an Americano,” says Stacey Lynden, cupping lab manager at Canada‘s Swiss Water. “I was originally under the impression that it was named by the Italians to make fun of the Americans because they couldn’t handle an espresso, and they needed the espresso to be watered down. But the Italians didn’t necessarily create it just to make fun of Americans.”
“The name ‘Americano‘ does carry a bit of playful irony, essentially meaning ‘American-style coffee,’ which to Italians might have seemed like a weaker, less refined version of their beloved espresso,” Stacey continues. “So, while it wasn’t an outright joke, there was probably a little eye-rolling involved!”
The Takeaway
The “Canadiano Rebellion” reminds one of the “Freedom fries” situation from 2003, when several American restaurants and cafeterias proposed changing the name of French fries in response to France’s opposition to the Iraq War. Just like the Americano was invented in Italy and not America, French fries were not invented in France. They also have a connection to World War I: When arriving in Belgium, American soldiers assumed the dish to be French, which was likely a reference to the cooking method of “Frenching.”
Renaming the Americano to the Canadiano may not change the trade war that has been unleashed between the countries, but it sure encourages people to come together during turbulent times. The name may take some time to roll off the tongue, but in times like these, it might just be what the people need to come together. After all, isn’t that what coffee is all about?
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Bhavi Patel is a food writer focusing on coffee and tea, and a brand-building specialist with a background in dairy technology and an interest in culinary history and sensory perception of food.
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