A “caffè ristretto” is a concentrated espresso shot with less water, resulting in a bolder flavor.
This drink is ideal for those who prefer a strong, intense coffee experience. It’s served in a small cup and is even richer than a standard espresso.
Choosing a caffè ristretto offers a quick, powerful burst of flavor.
To order it, say, “Vorrei un caffè ristretto, per favore.”
Ingredients
1 Concentrated Espresso Shot
How to order a Caffè Ristretto in Italy?
"Vorrei un caffè ristretto, per favore."
History and Origin
The ristretto – meaning “restricted” or “shortened” in Italian – is espresso’s more intense sibling. It uses the same amount of coffee as a regular caffe but with roughly half the water, creating a smaller, more concentrated shot. The drink emerged in Italy’s espresso bars as a way to capture only the sweetest, most flavorful part of the extraction – the first 15-20 seconds when the best compounds dissolve.
Ristretto has become a favorite among coffee purists worldwide. It’s the shot that specialty coffee enthusiasts swear by because it eliminates the slightly bitter tail end of a normal extraction.
How It’s Made
A ristretto uses the same dose of coffee as a regular espresso but stops the extraction earlier:
- 7-8 grams of finely ground coffee
- Water temperature: 90-96 C
- Pressure: 9 bars
- Extraction time: 15-20 seconds (vs 25-30 for regular)
- Volume: 15-20ml (vs 25-30ml for regular)
Some baristas achieve this by using a finer grind rather than stopping early, which restricts the water flow naturally.
How to Order Ristretto
Say: “Un caffe ristretto, per favore” (oon kaf-FEH ree-STRET-toh, pair fa-VOR-eh). In Italy, this is a well-known order that any barista will understand immediately.
The French equivalent is called a serre – essentially the same concept with a French name.
When and Where Locals Drink It
The ristretto is popular with Italians who want maximum flavor in minimum volume. It’s especially common in southern Italy, where coffee culture tends toward stronger, more intense preparations. Naples in particular is known for its love of concentrated coffee.
It’s typically consumed the same way as a regular caffe – standing at the bar, in one or two sips, any time of day.
Ristretto vs Espresso vs Lungo
These three form the core Italian espresso spectrum:
- Ristretto – 15-20ml, sweeter, most concentrated, least bitter
- Caffe/Espresso – 25-30ml, balanced, the standard
- Lungo – 50-70ml, more diluted, can be slightly more bitter
All three use the same amount of ground coffee – the only difference is how much water passes through.
How to Make Ristretto at Home
With an espresso machine:
- Use the same 7-8g dose as regular espresso
- Grind slightly finer than normal
- Start extraction and stop at 15-20 seconds
- You should get about 15-20ml of coffee
With a Moka pot, it’s harder to replicate – but you can use less water in the bottom chamber and remove from heat as soon as coffee starts to flow.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a ristretto have more caffeine than espresso?
No – it actually has slightly less caffeine because the extraction is shorter. Caffeine dissolves throughout the full extraction, so cutting it short means less caffeine (roughly 50-65mg vs 60-80mg).
Why does ristretto taste sweeter?
The sweet, fruity compounds in coffee dissolve first during extraction. By stopping early, you capture these flavors while avoiding the bitter compounds that come later.
Is ristretto the same as a short black?
In Australia, a “short black” usually refers to a regular espresso. A ristretto is even shorter and more concentrated than that.
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