Italian culture has a great history in coffee beverages. That’s the reason you find a lot of coffee drink names in Italian such as espresso, cappuccino, doppio and latte etc. One of these interesting coffee drinks is coffee ristretto. It is important to know about the recipe well before you try to brew at home. So, first we will explore what is ristretto.

What Is Ristretto?

Ristretto is also referred to as a short form of caffè ristretto in Italian. Caffè ristretto means short shot which is around 20 ml (or 0.7 fl oz). It is a high concentrated espresso, it is made with the same amount of coffee grounds as espresso but using less water makes it more strong and intense in taste and flavor.
The grind size also adds intensity to the flavor as finely grounds are used to make this recipe. Although, the temperature and pressure are maintained the same as espresso. Since less water is used in this drink it only fills half the cup compared to a single espresso shot.

Coffee Ristretto Recipe at Home | Step by Step Guide

If you have learned how to brew espresso then you are already ready to pull a ristretto shot. But there are some aspects you must take care while making the ristretto recipe at home. Here is the step by step guide. 

 

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 0 minutes

Total Time: 5 minutes

Servings: 1

Equipment

• Espresso machine
• Coffee cup

Ingredients 

• Coffee beans (dark roasted, fine or medium to fine) 9 gm
• Water

Preparation

• Grind The Beans: Use a buzz grinder to grind coffee beans. For espresso/ristretto, the ideal grind size is fine grind. But it depends on the roast level and brand. We are using dark roast level for this recipe, it will be ideal to grind finely.

• Place and Temp The Grounds: Place coffee grounds in portafilter. Press the grounds evenly using a temper. Make sure to press tightly for the perfect temping.

• Careful with Temping: Placing coffee grounds in portafilter and pressing them with temper is necessary for a perfect ristretto shot. Be careful while pressing the grounds as you might damage the portafilter. Always place a portafilter on a folded cloth before pressing the grounds.

• Pull Ristretto Shot: Place portafilter in espresso machine and turn manual mode on. Press the button and start pulling ristretto shots that must last 15-20 seconds. Unlike a standard espresso which lasts around 25-30 seconds.

The Best Coffee Beans For Ristretto

The type of coffee beans are prominent in a coffee recipe. There are four most famous types of beans Arabica, Robusta, Excelsa and Liberica. The best coffee beans used to make espresso or ristretto are Arabica and Robusta. Then it depends on your choice to use any of them.

Arabica coffee beans taste a bit sweet with fruity and floral notes. While robusta has a bold and intense flavor with earthy notes. Robusta has more caffeine content than Arabica. That’s why they taste slightly bitter compared to Arabica coffee beans.

Ristretto Vs Espresso Vs Long Shot?

The key difference between ristretto vs espresso is the amount of water used for brewing. The less amount of water makes ristretto more intense and bitter than a regular shot of espresso. That also results in less amount of brewed coffee i.e. in the case of espresso we get around 30 ml of coffee while ristretto only gives us only 18-20 ml of coffee.

The key distinct factor between ristretto vs long shot is ratio of coffee beans to water. In long shot it is 1:3 ratio. That’s the reason long shot tastes less bitter and like diluted espresso compared to ristretto and espresso itself.

The Best Espresso Machine For Ristretto

To make ristretto coffee, it is recommended to use the best espresso machine for precise results. One of the best espresso makers is Breville Barista Express Espresso Machine. This machine has both automatic and manual options for operation along with grinder, steam wand and water tank. Here is the list of key-features of the following machine.

• Auto & manual operation
• Water tank with the capacity of 67 oz
• Pressure gauge
• Built-in Grinder
• Stainless steel body for more durability

Final Words

Ristretto is an Italian word which stands for “restricted” or “shortened”. While making ristretto, less amount of water is used compared to regular shots of espresso. That’s why it is called caffè ristretto. The other distinguished thing is the brewing process, ristretto must be pulled in around 15 seconds unlike espresso (which needs 25-30 seconds).
Less amount of water makes the taste bold and heavy but it doesn’t make it highly bitter. But it still has an intense flavor than long black and espresso drinks. It will be more acidic with fruity notes and slight bitterness. Ristretto has around 60 mg of caffeine content in it.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Ristretto Coffee

What is espresso ristretto?
Espresso ristretto or caffè ristretto is an espresso based coffee beverage. This drink is made by using less water than regular espresso. But the amount of coffee grounds will be the same as espresso.

What’s ristretto shot?
It is a high concentrated espresso, it is made with the same amount of coffee grounds as espresso but using less water makes it more strong and intense in taste and flavor.

What is espresso style coffee?
It is a concentrated espresso with rich taste and intense flavor made with finely ground coffee beans (dark roast level). Using less water makes it unique from other fellow drinks such as long black coffee and espresso. It can be brewed using different brewing methods. The most common practice is using an espresso machine to brew ristretto.

How to make ristretto?
To make ristretto, place dark roast level finely grinded coffee beans in a portafilter. Tamp them with a tamper carefully. Place the portafilter in the machine and press the start button to pull a shot manually. The process must last around 15 seconds. The perfect ristretto shot is ready.

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