If you’re looking for something stronger than a regular espresso, a “cafe serre” is your top choice.
This French coffee drink uses the same amount of coffee as an espresso but with half the amount of water, resulting in a darker and more concentrated drink. It is essentially a French version of what Italians call a ristretto.
History and Origin
The cafe serre has been part of French coffee culture for as long as espresso machines have been around in France – roughly since the mid-20th century. The word “serre” means “tight” or “pressed” in French, which perfectly describes what this drink is: a tighter, more compressed version of a standard espresso. While Italy gets credit for the ristretto, France developed its own terminology and its own appreciation for this concentrated shot. It became popular among coffee connoisseurs and those who found even a regular espresso too diluted for their taste.
How It’s Made
A cafe serre uses the same amount of finely ground coffee as a regular espresso – about 7 to 9 grams – but the extraction is stopped earlier, using only about half the water. Where a standard espresso might be 25-30 ml, a serre is typically 15-20 ml. The shorter extraction time means that fewer bitter compounds are pulled from the grounds, while the sweet and aromatic compounds are fully present. The result is a smaller, more concentrated, and often sweeter-tasting shot compared to a regular espresso.
How to Order
In France, say: “Je voudrais un serre, s’il vous plait” (zhuh voo-DREH uhn seh-RAY, seel voo PLEH). You might also hear it called “un cafe serre” or “un express serre.” In some cafes, the barista might not know the term, especially in more casual establishments. In that case, you can describe what you want by asking for “un espresso court” (a short espresso) or simply “un espresso avec moins d’eau” (an espresso with less water).
When and Where Locals Drink It
The serre is a drink for serious coffee lovers. You will find it ordered by people who genuinely appreciate concentrated espresso – the kind who stand at the counter of a cafe rather than sit at a table. It is appropriate at any time of day, just like a regular espresso. After a meal, a serre can serve as a powerful digestif substitute. It is more commonly found in quality cafes and specialty coffee shops than in casual chain establishments, since making a proper serre requires the barista to adjust the machine’s extraction time.
Variations
The main variation is the double serre, which uses two doses of coffee with a restricted water amount – essentially a double ristretto. Some cafes also offer a serre noisette, which adds a tiny drop of steamed milk to the concentrated shot. In specialty coffee shops, you might find a serre made with single-origin beans, where the concentrated extraction brings out unique flavor notes. Outside France, this drink is almost always listed as a ristretto on the menu.
Serre vs Ristretto
The serre and the Italian ristretto are essentially the same drink with different names. Both use a standard dose of coffee with about half the water of a regular espresso. If there is any difference, it is cultural rather than technical. In France, the serre is just another option on the espresso spectrum, while in Italy, the ristretto carries its own distinct identity and traditions. The flavor profile is identical – a sweeter, more concentrated shot with less bitterness.
How to Make a Serre at Home
If you have an espresso machine, making a serre is straightforward. Use your normal amount of coffee (about 7-9 grams for a single) and grind it fine, as you would for espresso. Start the extraction and stop it early – after about 15-20 ml of liquid, roughly half of what you would normally pull. The shot should take about 15-20 seconds instead of the usual 25-30 seconds. If you are using a Moka pot, brew with slightly less water than usual and stop the process earlier. The key is getting the timing right – too short and the shot will be sour, too long and it becomes a regular espresso.
Ingredients
1 Concentrated Espresso Shot
How to order a Serre in France?
"Je voudrais un serre, s'il vous plait."
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a cafe serre?
A cafe serre is a French concentrated espresso made with the same amount of coffee as a regular espresso but with half the water. It is the French equivalent of an Italian ristretto – smaller, more intense, and often sweeter than a standard espresso.
Is a serre the same as a ristretto?
Yes, they are essentially the same drink. Both use a standard dose of ground coffee with approximately half the water of a regular espresso. The difference is purely linguistic – serre is the French term, ristretto is the Italian term.
How much caffeine is in a serre?
A serre actually contains slightly less caffeine than a regular espresso because the shorter extraction time pulls fewer caffeine molecules from the grounds. Expect about 40-50 mg per shot compared to 60-80 mg in a standard espresso.
Can I order a serre at any French cafe?
Most quality cafes and specialty coffee shops will know what a serre is. In more casual establishments, you may need to describe it as a short espresso or espresso with less water.
