‘Canadiano’ is Replacing Americano in Coffee Shops as U.S.-Canada Tensions Rise

As tensions between Canada and the U.S. escalate, some Canadian cafés have renamed “Americano” “Canadiano” in a patriotic move.

According to The Washington Post(WP), a movement to stop labeling coffee as Americano is spreading across Canada.

This trend began when Kicking Horse Coffee, a company headquartered in British Columbia, announced on social media earlier this month that it had been quietly calling Americano-style coffee Canadiano for the past 16 years. The company encouraged others to join them.

For the past 16 years, Kicking Horse Coffee has referred to espresso diluted with water—typically Americano—as Canadiano.

The movement has resonated among Canadians who hold strong anti-Trump sentiments. According to WP, many cafés have already joined, and more are adopting the term each day.

Café Belém in Toronto also removed Americano from its menu and replaced it with Canadiano. Café owner William Oliveira stated that while he did not intend for his café to become a political space, he believed it was necessary to show support for Canada at this moment.

He emphasized that reminding people not to push aside or harass is a positive step.

However, some critics argue that renaming Americano as Canadiano is inappropriate given the historical origin of the name Americano.

The term Americano is believed to have originated during World War II, when American soldiers stationed in Italy found the local espresso too strong and diluted it with water. Some accounts suggest that the name implied condescendingness, mocking Americans for being unable to handle strong coffee.

Meanwhile, President Donald Trump has declared a tariff war against Canada, despite its status as a long-standing ally and the U.S.’s largest trading partner. He has even provocatively suggested that Canada could become the 51st state of the United States. Trump referred to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as the Governor of Canada and posted an image on social media merging the maps of the U.S. and Canada with an American flag superimposed.

Canadians have not hidden their displeasure. Following Trudeau’s call for citizens to buy Canadian, a nationwide movement to cancel trips to the U.S. and prioritize domestic products has gained momentum.

In Ontario, souvenir shops have begun selling clothing with slogans like “Canada Is Not for Sale.” Entrepreneurs have also developed apps to help consumers identify Canadian-made products.

Meanwhile, Trump recently granted a one-month delay on the planned 25% tariff on Canadian goods, and negotiations between Canada and the U.S. over tariffs are ongoing.