What is Ristretto?
Ristretto can be seen as the little brother of an espresso. So before we start with ristretto, let’s first have a look at espresso. An espresso is a little shot of coffee of 30 ml. High pressure and extreme hot water will be pushed through your finely grinded dry coffee for 25-30 seconds to create an intense beverage with a full body and a crema layer. Lots of people find espressos too strong to handle and like to add milk to their beverages to create a flat white or a cappuccino for example. A ristretto might be the little brother or sister of an espresso, don’t be fooled by the word ‘little’, because this little beverage has a lot to offer.
Ristretto vs Espresso: What is the difference?
A ristretto is a “restricted” espresso shot, made with the same amount of coffee but half the water—typically 15-25 ml instead of 30 ml. This shorter extraction creates a stronger, sweeter, and less bitter coffee compared to a regular espresso, which has a fuller, more balanced flavour due to longer extraction.
How does your barista make a ristretto?
Some baristas and coffee bars make a ristretto in the same way as an espresso. Others like to do it differently. All ristretto shots have the same amount of dried coffee, water pressure and water temperature as espressos. On the other hand they use less water. Baristas will do this by pulling your espresso cup from the machine after 15 seconds or by grinding coffee beans longer so the coffee is finer and it will take them the same time to make a ristretto like an espresso.
How to make a Ristretto?
To make a ristretto, start with the usual amount of finely ground coffee used for a standard espresso. Instead of pulling a full 30 ml shot, limit the extraction to about 15-25 ml by stopping the shot earlier or using less water. This shorter extraction time means the water passes quickly through the coffee grounds, resulting in a smaller, more concentrated shot with a sweeter and less bitter flavour. Using an espresso machine, ensure the grind size and tamping are adjusted properly to maintain the right pressure and avoid under-extraction. Ready to try? Explore L’OR’s range of coffee capsules and brew your perfect ristretto today!
Why a Ristretto?
We can say that your choice of coffee is based on your personal taste. If you are looking for an easy drinkable variant of an espresso, then a ristretto is a nice option. You will appreciate the accentuated sweetness and intensity in a smaller variant, but still experience the same caffeine boost. On the other hand, an espresso can offer you a more complex cup of coffee with light hints of bitterness.
Go and investigate to find out what you like best by trying different types of coffee yourself. Try ristretto and espresso in all forms: with milk, with different beans and different baristas. Take notes and choose your favourite!
Is a Ristretto stronger than an Espresso?
Yes, a ristretto is stronger in flavour than a regular espresso. Because it uses less water and a shorter extraction time, the coffee is more concentrated and intense, with a richer and sweeter taste.
Does a Ristretto have more caffeine?
Not necessarily. Although a ristretto tastes stronger, it usually contains slightly less caffeine than a full espresso shot because less water passes through the coffee grounds during extraction.
Do you put milk in Ristretto?
You can add milk to a ristretto if you like. Adding steamed or frothed milk creates a creamy, intense coffee similar to a strong latte or flat white, but many coffee purists prefer to enjoy ristretto on its own to appreciate its bold flavour.
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