Do you find the regular espresso drink a tad underwhelming and yearn for a bolder experience? If a full-bodied coffee is your desire, then ristretto might just be what you’re looking for. Appreciated for its intense palate presence, this seemingly modest drink can enthral ardent coffee aficionados. In this article, we’ll not only talk about what a ristretto shot is, but we’ll also do a ristretto vs espresso comparison before, finally, going over how to make a ristretto that will knock your socks off.
What is Ristretto Coffee?
What does ristretto mean and how does it taste?
A ristretto is the smallest amount of coffee you’ll find. Its name comes from Italian and means “restricted” in English. The power of this coffee comes from its quantity, as it is made up of around 22 ml of intense espresso. Very finely ground coffee helps to release all its aromas in such a small quantity.
In the UK, ristretto is not usually many people’s first choice when ordering coffee and is instead often sought after by coffee purists for its unrivalled fullness. In Italy, on the other hand, it is so widely consumed that it is almost part of the Italian way of life.
So, in short, a ristretto is small, strong and dark.
Ristretto vs. Espresso: Is a ristretto stronger than an espresso?
Choosing between ristretto and espresso will depend on your coffee tastes.
Despite looking almost the same, in all but quantity, the taste is very different. And the quantity makes all the difference!
They are both ‘short’ coffees, but a ristretto will have a stronger intensity due to its smaller size. As a result, a ristretto is a smaller short shot that is much richer in intensity and flavour.
That’s why you need to try it in different versions to determine your preferences: with a variety of coffee beans or even specially prepared by a barista in your favourite coffee shop.
Ristretto vs. Espresso: The Differences
#1
Extraction Time: A ristretto is pulled with a shorter extraction time, making it more concentrated than an espresso.
#2
Volume: Ristretto shots are smaller, typically around 15–25 ml, while an espresso is about 30 ml.
#3
Taste Profile: A ristretto has a sweeter, more intense flavour, while espresso is more balanced with a touch of bitterness.
#4
Brewing Ratio: Ristretto uses less water in the brewing process compared to espresso.
#5
Caffeine Content: Despite its smaller size, a ristretto has slightly less caffeine than an espresso because of the reduced brewing time.
How to make a good barista-level Ristretto?
If you have a bean-to-cup coffee machine (or espresso grinder machine)
2 min.
Easy
1 pers.
Ingredients
Italian roast coffee beans are best if you want a traditional ristretto.
Material
A bean-to-cup coffee machine
A ristretto cup
Preparation
Step 1Add coffee beans to your espresso grinder.
Step 2If you have a conventional automatic coffee machine, you have several options. Either your machine has an automatic ristretto button, or you can choose the quantity and adjust the amount of your drink to the size of a ristretto. (22ml).
Step 3Simply watch your machine pour a ristretto into your dedicated coffee cup.
Step 4Enjoy it straight away !
Step 1
Add coffee beans to your espresso grinder.
Step 2
If you have a conventional automatic coffee machine, you have several options. Either your machine has an automatic ristretto button, or you can choose the…
Step 3
Simply watch your machine pour a ristretto into your dedicated coffee cup.
Step 4
Enjoy it straight away !
1 / 4
2 min.
Easy
1 pers.
Ingredients
Italian roast coffee beans are best if you want a traditional ristretto.
Material
A coffee grinder
A tamping mat
A grind distributor
A tamper
A scale
A ristretto cup.
Preparation
Step 1Grind 5 to 7 g of coffee into your portafilter.
Step 2First, distribute and even out the ground coffee in your portafilter, more or less evenly, using your hands.
Step 3Then use the grind distributor to ensure that the coffee is evenly packed (2 to 3 turns).
Step 4Use your tamper to apply 15-20 kg of pressure to your grind to compact it.
Step 5Before switching on the your percolator, perform a flush (this means cleaning the filter of any grounds that may have remained from previous coffees and emptying the water unit).
Step 6Insert the portafilter into the brewing unit and start the extraction. Launch a timer.
Step 7Stop your extraction after 25 to 30 seconds from the time the flow has started.
Step 8Enjoy immediately !
Step 1
Grind 5 to 7 g of coffee into your portafilter.
Step 2
First, distribute and even out the ground coffee in your portafilter, more or less evenly, using your hands.
Step 3
Then use the grind distributor to ensure that the coffee is evenly packed (2 to 3 turns).
Step 4
Use your tamper to apply 15-20 kg of pressure to your grind to compact it.
Step 5
Before switching on the your percolator, perform a flush (this means cleaning the filter of any grounds that may have remained from previous coffees and…
Step 6
Insert the portafilter into the brewing unit and start the extraction. Launch a timer.
Step 7
Stop your extraction after 25 to 30 seconds from the time the flow has started.
When it comes to the quantity of ground coffee, stick to between 5 and 7g of coffee, depending on the intensity you want to give it. The most important thing is to choose a very fine grind size, otherwise, the extraction time will either be too long or not long enough.
Maxicoffee’s Recommendations For Making A Ristretto
The coffee you choose when making a ristretto is very important, as its intense, pronounced flavour will take over. Here are our selections of coffee beans to help you make the best choice according to your preferences.
Making a good ristretto is not easy, but with the right knowledge and preparation techniques, you can avoid getting it wrong. You can tell how good your extraction is by looking at 2 things: the crema and the coffee puck in your portafilter.
A successful ristretto is synonymous with a thick crema. If this is not the case, you have not respected the extraction time, which is between 25 and 30 seconds.
Another important point is that the coffee puck in your portafilter must be dry. If it’s not, you’ve under-extracted, which means that the coffee flows too quickly and doesn’t reveal all its flavours.
There’s nothing like a bit of practice before you find the perfect dosage, even for such a small cup, and don’t hesitate to change coffees to try something different. Take notes each time you drink and find your favourite ristretto. Discover all our coffee beans on MaxiCoffee.
