Ristretto (), known in full in Italian as ''caffè ristretto'', is a "short shot" ( from a double basket) of a highly concentrated

espresso Espresso (, ) is a concentrated form of coffee produced by forcing hot water under high pressure through finely ground coffee beans. Originating in Italy, espresso has become one of the most popular coffee-brewing methods worldwide. It is cha ...

coffee Coffee is a beverage brewed from roasted, ground coffee beans. Darkly colored, bitter, and slightly acidic, coffee has a stimulating effect on humans, primarily due to its caffeine content, but decaffeinated coffee is also commercially a ...

. It is made with the same amount of ground coffee, but extracted (also in from 20 to 30 seconds) using half as much water. A normal short shot might look like a ristretto, but in reality, would only be a weaker, more diluted, shot. The opposite of a ''ristretto'' (Italian for 'shortened, narrow') is a lungo ('long'), which has double the amount of water. In France a ristretto is called ''café serré''. Regardless of whether one uses a hand-pressed machine or an automatic, a regular double shot is generally considered to be around of ground coffee extracted into about 40 ml (2 fl oz; two shot glasses). Thus, a "double ristretto" consumes the same amount of coffee beans but fills only a single shot glass. Coffee contains over a thousand aromatic compounds. A ristretto's chemical composition and taste differ from those of a full-length extraction for three reasons: # More concentrated: the first part of any extraction is the most concentrated, its color typically lying between dark chocolate and

umber Umber is a natural earth pigment consisting of iron oxide and manganese oxide; it has a brownish color that can vary among shades of yellow, red, and green. Umber is considered one of the oldest pigments known to humans, first used in the Ajant ...

, whereas the tail end of shots are much lighter, varying from the color of dark

pumpkin pie Pumpkin pie is a dessert pie with a spiced, pumpkin-based custard filling. The pumpkin and pumpkin pie are both a symbol of harvest time, and pumpkin pie is generally eaten during the fall and early winter. In the United States and Canada it is u ...

to varying shades of tan (see photo, above right). This is an important factor when drinking straight espresso shots. # Different balance: different chemical compounds in ground coffee dissolve into hot water at different rates. A ristretto contains a greater relative proportion of faster extracting compounds, proportionally fewer of the compounds characteristic of over-extraction, and thus, a different balance. # Fewer total extracts: relative proportions aside, fewer total coffee compounds—

caffeine Caffeine is a central nervous system (CNS) stimulant of the methylxanthine chemical classification, class and is the most commonly consumed Psychoactive drug, psychoactive substance globally. It is mainly used for its eugeroic (wakefulness pr ...

being just one—are extracted into ristrettos versus full length shots. This is an important factor when diluting shots into water or milk. Straight ristrettos—shots that are traditionally drunk from a demitasse and not diluted into a larger cup containing milk or water—could be described as bolder, fuller, with more body and less bitterness. These characteristics are usually attributed to espresso in general but are more pronounced in a ristretto. Diluted into a cup of water (e.g., americano or long black) or milk (e.g.,

latte Latte () or caffè latte (), also known as , or , is a List of coffee drinks, coffee drink of Italian cuisine, Italian origin made with espresso and steamed milk, traditionally served in a glass. Variants include the chocolate-flavored ''caf ...

cappuccino Cappuccino (, ; from German ) is an espresso-based coffee drink traditionally prepared with steamed milk, including a layer of milk foam. Variations of the drink involve the use of cream instead of milk, using non-dairy milk substitutes ...

), ristrettos are less bitter and exhibit a more intense espresso character. A ristretto shot or shots with whole milk is referred to as a flat white. Image:Manual Elektra espresso machine.jpg, A manual

espresso machine An espresso machine brews coffee by forcing pressurized water near boiling point through a "puck" of ground coffee and a filter in order to produce a thick, concentrated coffee called espresso. Multiple machine designs have been created to produ ...

File:RANCILIO SILVIA espresso machine.jpg, A semi-automatic (electrically pumped) espresso machine

References

External links

WikiHow: How to Make a Ristretto (Espresso Coffee)
{{Authority control Coffee in Italy Coffee drinks Espresso

See also

References

External links