> Perhaps the US used to drink espressos in the 1940s, I'm not sure. That's if this fact is even accurate.

Espresso was unknown in America back then. Rumor has it that GIs, when exposed to it, diluted it with hot water, giving us the modern Americano. [0]

[0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caff%C3%A8_Americano