Ristretto and espresso - differences
From Italian ristretto translates as “narrow”. The drink can often be called “corto”, which means “shortened”. Ristretto is much smaller in volume than espresso; it is distinguished by dense and uniform foam, without light inclusions. The drink also has names like double espresso, half espresso, shrank, lightrelli.
The taste of this drink is very rich, it seems extremely strong, but it does not contain as much caffeine as espresso. With thirty seconds of preparation, caffeine enters the espresso and washes out a significant amount of essential oils, which form the richness of the coffee taste. The ristretto extraction process stops earlier, at the fifteenth second. If the beans are finely ground, then at the twentieth. In this case, less caffeine gets into the drink, and most of the coffee oil remains. It is these oils that give memorable shades of taste: chocolate, sourness.
This coffee became popular in the eighties of the twentieth year. American David Schomer from Seattle, who was the owner of the Espresso Vivace cafe, called ristretto the most delicious coffee drink. In his opinion, this is the thick, honey-like and aromatic part of espresso. All the richness of taste can be felt in just one sip.
There is no strict recipe for this drink in the world; it is always brewed in different ways.
Ristretto is a drink rarely found on the menu of domestic coffee shops. But its rarity is not because it is somehow sophisticated and difficult to prepare, but because in our latitudes almost no one drinks it. Moreover, they can make you a ristretto anywhere, because...
Ristretto is simply a “short” espresso. That is, a volume of 15-20 ml, and not 30-40 ml.
That is, very strong coffee of small volume. But it's not just about size. Due to the fact that when preparing espresso, different flavors are released from the coffee sequentially, the drink stopped at a volume of 20 ml turns out:
- More sour, less bitter, all other things being equal. Sometimes sweeter.
- Paradoxically, it contains less caffeine. More precisely, it contains almost no caffeine, since caffeine is “washed out” of coffee later. Some sources say that 15 ml of ristretto contains no more than 60 mg of caffeine, but it all depends on the bean, of course. For comparison, a standard espresso/cappuccino made from decaf grain contains up to 15 mg.
But even if you don't drink such strong, concentrated coffee , knowing the ristretto recipe can still be useful to you. For example, you can order cappuccino and flat white made with ristretto rather than espresso (as in the classic recipe). Don't be afraid, any barista will have no problem fulfilling your request. The drink will have a different flavor profile, less caffeine, but all the strength and density will still “dissolve” in the milk. By the way, flat whites are often prepared on the basis of double or even triple ristretto. Here, for example, is the standard Starbucks recipe (photo from their Canadian website, translation is mine):
As for automatic coffee machines or carob coffee makers , if you see somewhere that the ability to “make ristretto coffee” is stated, then know that this is largely a lie. After all, any coffee machine that makes espresso will make you a ristretto, even if there is no separate button for it. Simply adjust the espresso recipe to 20 ml.
The situation is similar with lungo coffee, which is obtained from a standard recipe by simply adjusting it to 50-100 ml. But more about this and the difference between lungo and Americano here.
Although, no, I’m lying. There are rare coffee machines - for example, the new Philips 1200, 2200 and 3200 series - in which the minimum espresso size is limited to 35 ml; you simply cannot set it smaller. But even in this case, you can start preparing espresso and interrupt the process ahead of time manually.
A separate “ristretto” button on the top-end capsule Delonghi Gran Lattissima EN650.
To be fair, the manufacturers themselves - even in advertising materials - rarely artificially increase pure drinks by adding this same ristretto to them.
Basically, descriptions in online stores suffer from this (hello, M.Video!). And all major coffee companies (Delonghi, Philips, Krups, Jura, etc.) include it in the list of recipes only if there is a separate button/item in the menu for ristretto. Yes, the record holder for the minimum volume of a drink is Jura, and even the most affordable models can dispense from 15 ml. Publication date: 03/06/2020.
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What ingredients should you choose for ristretto?
Ristretto coffee will be delicious if you select high-quality coffee beans. Experts recommend choosing 100% Arabica coffee. For a standard ristretto, which takes 15 seconds to prepare, a finely ground espresso would be ideal.
In some cases, beans are chosen that should be even finer than for espresso. This will cause the water to move through the coffee grounds more slowly. As a result, the coffee preparation process takes twenty seconds.
In Northern Italy they like to brew ristretto from medium-roasted beans. In the southern part, dark roast coffee is preferred. This drink can be distinguished by its delicious chocolate flavor, without the characteristic sourness.
It is necessary to choose bottled water for the drink, the mineralization of which is 75–250 mg/l. Tap water will only ruin the taste of the ristretto. It is not customary to add sugar to coffee, otherwise it will turn out to be very high in calories.
The ristretto phenomenon
There is no single approach to preparing ristretto; there is no approved standard for it. This topic causes controversy and discussion among baristas, and coffee shop visitors sometimes accuse establishments of serving espresso instead of ristretto.
In the Barista Hustle educational course, a small paragraph is devoted to preparing ristretto, where the authors explain the reason for the popularity of ristretto. Industrial roasters often work with low-quality commercial coffees. This coffee is roasted dark to hide defects, which is why it tastes bitter. You can get rid of excess bitterness in a cup by either reducing the volume of the finished drink, or adding milk, or doing both. At the dawn of specialty coffee shops, baristas worked with dark roasted beans and, preparing ristretto, neutralized the bitterness. This is how ristretto became popular.
Ristretto, as defined by Barista Hustle, is a drink with a reduced yield with a reduced pouring time, prepared with a coffee to water ratio in the range of 1:1 - 1:1.67.
Delicious cocktail “Baby Peppino Ristretto”
- Heat tequila (20 ml). Preferably in a water bath.
- Add cane sugar.
- Mix with Mexican coffee liqueur Kahlua (10 ml).
- Pour into a glass glass, which must be heated beforehand.
- Do not whip the cream too much.
- Cook ristretto (15 ml).
- Pour the coffee into the resulting mixture of liqueur and tequila.
- Add on top in a thin stream.
- Decorate with grated chocolate.
What and how to serve it with
To serve the drink, use special small thick-walled conical cups without a handle made of porcelain, glass or ceramics. They do not allow the small volume of ristretto to cool quickly. Before filling, the cups are heated with hot water or a stream of steam.
To experience the true taste and aroma of the drink, serve it with a glass of cold water. Alternately take a sip of prepared coffee and a sip of water to refresh your taste buds. No desserts, sweets or pastries are offered with ristretto, this is not customary. The minimum you can allow is chocolate-coated coffee beans or candied nuts.
Having tried this coffee only once, it is impossible to get used to it. However, it is not recommended to drink it on an empty stomach; it is best to choose the time after breakfast or a hearty lunch - the substances in the composition activate metabolic processes and normalize the digestion of food.
Composition and caffeine content, calorie content
The classic drink contains only water and coffee beans. The calorie content of 1 serving (15 ml) without added sugar is only 1.35 kcal. If you add 1 tsp. granulated sugar, the energy value increases to 19.35 kcal. Ristretto is usually consumed without sweeteners.
The calorie content of 1 cup of ristretto without sugar is 1.35 kcal.
The caffeine content depends on the degree of grinding of the beans used to prepare the corto.
The more they are crushed, the lower the concentration of the tonic component will be.
How to cook properly
To prepare ristretto, as in the photo in coffee shops or on the Internet, grind the beans 5-10 minutes before cooking. This way they won’t have time to give off the aroma and taste to the air - the water for the drink will get it. And its consistency will be thick.
Ristretto is brewed in a special espresso machine. The pressure in the espresso chamber should not be lower than 9 bar, the pump pressure should not be less than 15 bar.
Which machines are suitable for brewing coffee are described in the article “Pressure in a coffee maker: how much bar should it be.”
Take out the horn holder and wipe it thoroughly so that it is completely dry. Return the cone to its original position, fill with 8-11 grams of ground coffee and soak for 3-5 seconds.
Turn on the water flow for 15-20 seconds, resulting in 15-20 milliliters of drink. If you did everything correctly, a dense, thick, light brown foam appears on the surface of the drink, which is similar in consistency to cream.
Coffee Ristretto in Russian
Our compatriots like to sip coffee drinks slowly. Therefore, lattes and cappuccinos are more to your taste. But Italians also have Russian versions of ristretto. Our tourists often indulge in such drinks.
There from 7 to 9 grams. coffee and up to 30 ml of water. The drink is prepared in 15 seconds and is obtained in the form of caffeine-free nectar.
The nuances of serving and drinking the finished coffee drink
It is customary to serve the drink in small porcelain or clay cups or glass shots. At the same time, be sure to serve a glass of water cooled to room temperature. The liquid should not be hotter than 25°C. A spoon or sugar is not included, since it is not customary to sweeten or stir korto.
Ristretto coffee is served with a glass of chilled water.
Literally should be taken after meals. First you need to take a sip of water to cleanse your taste buds. You should drink coffee only in a situation where you didn’t like the drink and needed to get rid of the unpleasant taste in your mouth. You shouldn't have a snack.
Historical reference
Ristretto coffee was invented in Italy, where most residents understand not only coffee varieties, but also drinks made from beans. Ristretto is a kind of ritual of vivacity that can be consumed in a couple of seconds and immediately get a boost of energy for the whole day. It’s not for nothing that the name of the drink is translated as “short” or “limited.”
Ristretto coffee is the thickest, richest and strongest, but surprisingly it does not contain a significant dose of caffeine. And all thanks to unique technology and cooking time, which is only a couple of seconds.
It is recommended to drink the drink in 1-2 sips and without additives in order to experience the full depth of taste. This volume is designed for hasty Italians who don’t even sit down at the bar, but drink coffee on the run.
Not everyone likes its strength, but it is a real find for coffee lovers who may not limit themselves to a couple of cups a day
Beneficial features
The drink has a number of useful properties:
- invigorates and tones the body;
- lifts your spirits, helps cope with apathy and depression;
- warms, stimulates blood circulation;
- accelerates metabolism, promotes weight loss;
- increases productivity (especially during the training process);
- normalizes liver function;
- Helps stabilize the condition of oncological pathologies and diabetes.
Ristretto can only be prepared in a coffee machine
Ristretto can only be prepared in a coffee machine. French press, Aeropress and Turk are not suitable for this.
Hot water (maximum 95 degrees), under pressure of about 9 bar, flows through the coffee powder. This process is called extraction.
The result depends on many variables: bean size, freshness, blend, country of origin of the coffee beans, degree of roast, temperature and water quality. But the most important thing is the contact time of water and coffee powder.
Simply because the amount of caffeine is proportional to the extraction time, so the less time the water is in contact with the coffee powder, the less the amount of caffeine in the drink.
Ristretto is therefore a reduced espresso that concentrates all the flavors of the espresso. A strong-flavored coffee that is chosen for its intense creaminess and lower concentration of caffeine, which is desired only for enjoyment. It's a pity that it runs out quickly due to the small volume.
Short coffee is nothing more than regular coffee, sweet, aromatic, rich. Has an intense creaminess.
coffee
Drink ingredients
Beans: variety, grinding and roasting
The taste and aroma of ristretto depend on the type of coffee beans. Better take 100% Arabica. If you prepare the drink using the correct method, the taste of high-quality single-origin coffees - selected types of coffee from plantations in Asia, America, and Africa at an altitude of 1000 meters above sea level - will be revealed more widely.
For Arabica, a medium grind is suitable, for Robusta, a finer grind.
In northern Italy, they prefer to brew coffee from medium-roasted beans, which produce a drink with a slight sweetness and velvety notes of flowers.
In the south of the country, they choose full roasting: such a drink will lack sourness, but there will be notes of chocolate.
Store grains at room temperature between 22 and 27 degrees. It is important that they do not come into contact with oxygen and water. Therefore, use plastic bags that have many layers and have a valve. Keep ground coffee powder in vacuum bags and jars.
Interesting! What is mocha coffee and how to make it?
Read the other rules in the article “How to store coffee beans at home.”
What kind of water is suitable
To brew ristretto, use water in glass or plastic bottles with a mineral content of 90–150 milligrams per liter.
The liquid from the tap contains chlorine, which affects the flavor of the coffee.
Selecting grains for cooking
Experts advise choosing medium or dark roast coffee for ristretto. The flavor of the future drink depends on the specific type. When made with lighter beans, it will have soft floral notes and a slight sweetness. Darker roasts provide a bold coffee flavor. In this matter you need to rely on your own preferences.
Special attention should be paid to grinding the grains. As mentioned earlier, for this you need to use only freshly ground coffee. Since ristretto is prepared in a coffee machine, you should not grind it too finely, “into dust” - because of this, the filter of the device may become clogged. If, on the contrary, the grinding is very coarse, then the rapid exposure to hot water will not have time to impart the taste and aroma to the drink.
You may be interested in: Brewing coffee in a French press
There is one more feature that depends on the type of coffee. For Arabica coffee, a medium grind is traditionally used, while Robusta requires a finer grind. When using a mixture, you need to select the degree of grinding experimentally. When the choice is made correctly, the drink flows into the cup in a continuous thin stream. Interruption of the flow by drops indicates that the grind is determined incorrectly.
Adherents of ristretto note its high concentration, but at the same time, the almost complete absence of characteristic bitterness. It has a slightly viscous consistency and a rather expressive aroma of coffee beans. A small volume of this drink can easily fill you with energy and vigor for the whole day ahead, despite the fact that it contains much less caffeine than espresso. This effect is due to the high concentration of essential oils, on which the tonic effect depends.
Benefit
It is generally accepted that strong coffee is the most harmful. However, this is an established myth. There is a debate among gourmets, which is healthier - espresso or ristretto? The latter definitely has an advantage. A short period of bean extraction allows vitamins, minerals, and essential oils to be released into the drink, while unnecessary components, including caffeine, are deposited in the filter.
Therefore, ristretto is safe even for those for whom caffeine is contraindicated. It has a very gentle effect on the nervous and cardiovascular systems and it is almost impossible to overdo it. The only limitation is the time of use. Drink the drink after a large meal, and not on an empty stomach, so as not to provoke irritation of the gastric mucosa.
