This results in lower caffeine which can be seen as a downside to some, but more “aromatic” notes in the shot due to the short extraction times. This restriction on water means that less water saturates the grounds. I find it easy to remember “ristretto – restrict” because you are restricting the water supply by about half when preparing a ristretto shot. Ristretto is a variation on the espresso method.

This is tuned to the machine at every shop, so this is only a guideline. The typical American or Italian recipe for espresso usually calls for about 7 grams of finely ground coffee per 25-30ml of water. You get a concentrated, flavorful dose of coffee that highlights aspects of the brew different from other brew methods and also creates the delicious crema on the surface of the shot. The amount of water and coffee is usually slightly variable depending on the espresso machine.īut, the result is the same. Instead, espresso is a method of preparing coffee.Īt its most basic level, espresso is a small portion of water forced through a tightly packed, finely-ground bed of coffee at very high pressures (around 9 bar, for you coffee geeks). What is Espresso?Įspresso is the “shot” we are all most used to at the local coffee shop.Įspresso beans are not very different from the coffee beans we put in our drip machines at home. They are each based on the same fundamental ingredients and the same fundamental processes, but they differ in how exactly the process is completed. To put it simply, these are three different methods of utilizing an espresso machine to pull an espresso “shot”.

Have you ever wondered what all of the different options within your favorite coffee shop’s “espresso” menu are? You might be familiar with a mocha, a latte, an Americano, or a cappuccino, but do you know what makes an espresso different from a ristretto or a lungo? Coffee Guides What’s the Difference Between Espresso, Ristretto & Lungo?

Lungo vs ristretto vs espresso