"Don't Use the Word Americano Anymore"... Canadians Angry, Saying 'We Must Raise Patriotism'

"Canada to Become the 51st State of the U.S.?"
Canadian Cafes Assert: "We Must Show We Refuse to Be Bullied"

As the United States continues to pressure Canada with tariffs, some cafes in Canada are changing the name of 'Americano' to 'Canadiano.' Previously, when U.S. President Donald Trump suggested incorporating Canada as the 51st state of the United States, it sparked backlash in Canada. Canadians are now responding by using the term Canadiano as a way to boost patriotism, following a boycott of American products.

Some cafes in Canada are changing the name of 'Americano' to 'Canadiano'. Getty Images

According to the U.S. daily The Washington Post (WP) on the 25th (local time), Belem, a cafe in Toronto, Canada, has replaced the traditional Americano name with Canadiano. The cafe owner, William Oliveira, said he did not want his store to become a 'political place,' but emphasized that showing support for Canada was important. He stressed, "It’s good for us to remind those around us that we should not be pushed aside or bullied."

There are even calls to officially rename the espresso shot diluted with water as Canadiano. Kicking Horse Coffee, headquartered in British Columbia in western Canada, posted on social media earlier this month urging coffee shops across Canada to change the menu name from Americano to Canadiano. Kicking Horse Coffee has been calling the Americano Canadiano for the past 16 years.

A menu at a cafe in Ottawa, Canada lists "Canadiano" instead of "Americano." Instagram capture

However, some argue that renaming it Canadiano is inappropriate. The name Americano is said 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 claim the name carries a mocking tone, implying 'Americans who don’t even know how to drink coffee.'

"Canada to Become the 51st U.S. State?" Trump’s Provocation Sparks Canadian 'Anger'

After his election, President Trump pressured that if Canada did not resolve issues related to illegal immigration into the U.S. and trade imbalances, he would impose a 25% tariff on all Canadian products starting from his first day in office.

In response, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau visited the U.S. in November last year and had dinner with President Trump at the Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida. However, it is reported that during this meeting, Trump told him that if it was difficult to meet the conditions to avoid additional tariffs, "become the 51st state of the United States." Later, Trump even referred to Trudeau as a 'U.S. governor' on social media.

Canadians have not hidden their displeasure at President Trump’s remarks. When Prime Minister Trudeau urged people to "choose Canadian products," a nationwide movement to cancel trips to the U.S. and buy domestic products spread widely.

A petition to revoke the Canadian citizenship of Elon Musk, Tesla’s CEO and a close ally of President Trump, also gained momentum. The number of petitioners has now exceeded 240,000.

WP noted that the movement to rename Americano to Canadiano is reminiscent of the 2003 U.S. effort to rename 'French Fries' to 'Freedom Fries.' At that time, France was in conflict with the U.S. over the Iraq War. Republican lawmakers proposed changing the name of the French-named food as a form of protest, and some restaurants adopted the name Freedom Fries.