A true home barista knows how to make a good espresso. But it almost feels like, the moment you figure that out, someone starts talking about ristretto. What’s that all about?
In this blog, we explain the difference between ristretto vs espresso and lungo vs espresso. That way, you won’t be caught off guard again.
Table of contents
Ristretto vs espresso
Ristretto and espresso are both coffee drinks you make with an espresso machine. The difference comes down to the ratio you use and the final taste.
A ristretto is up to twice as concentrated as an espresso. That means you use the same amount of ground coffee beans but end up with only half the liquid in your cup.
An espresso is brewed with a 1:2 ratio of coffee grounds to liquid espresso. So, if you dose 18 grams of coffee, you should aim for about 36 grams of liquid espresso in return.
Read more here about how to make espresso.
A ristretto, on the other hand, follows a 1:1 ratio. With 18 grams of fresh coffee, you’ll only get 18 grams (or milliliters) of coffee out.
And if you’re wondering which one is stronger, ristretto or espresso, the answer is ristretto. This super-concentrated shot delivers bold flavor and a powerful kick.
Ristretto: 18 grams in, 18 grams out, 22–25 seconds extraction time
What is a ristretto?
Ristretto is Italian for “restricted” or “limited.” You can think of it as a smaller, more concentrated espresso.
For a ristretto, we recommend using our espresso cups. With a 60ml capacity, they have just the right amount of space for your coffee.
Ristretto has a unique taste and body that you’ll recognize once you know what to look for:
Flavor. Often sweeter and less bitter. The flavors are usually more intense than in an espresso because a ristretto is so concentrated.
Body. Ristretto is thicker and more syrupy compared to espresso.
You make a ristretto by transforming 18 grams of ground coffee into 18 grams of liquid in 22–25 seconds. Note: you’ll need to grind your beans finer than you would for espresso.
Making a ristretto at home instead of an espresso is a fun experiment! It helps you discover more about your own taste preferences and your coffee beans.
Lungo vs espresso
Besides ristretto and espresso, there’s another black coffee you can make with your espresso machine: the caffè lungo.
A lungo sits at the opposite end of the spectrum when it comes to how much coffee ends up in your cup: because a lungo is brewed with a lot more water.
The relatively faster extraction of a lungo ensures that more flavors are drawn from the grounds. As a result, a lungo is often a bit more bitter than an espresso
To make sure your lungo doesn’t turn out overly bitter, you’ll want to grind your beans a little coarser than you would for espresso.
Lungo: 18 grams in, 54 grams out, 45–50 seconds extraction time
What is lungo coffe?
You guessed it: lungo means “long” in Italian. This, of course, refers to the longer extraction time and the larger amount of coffee that ends up in your barista cup.
For lungo, we always recommend our cappuccino cups with a 180ml capacity.
To brew a caffè lungo that perfectly matches your taste preferences, it’s important to experiment a little with your beans, grind size, and extraction time.
That way, you’ll quickly discover which flavors should take the leading and supporting roles in your caffè lungo.
Lungo vs americano
At first glance, a lungo looks quite similar to an Americano. But they differ both in taste and in preparation.
While a lungo comes straight out of your espresso machine, an Americano requires one more ingredient: hot water. An Americano is made with 1 part espresso and 2 parts hot water.
In general, an Americano tastes a bit stronger and a lungo a bit more watery. You can compare a lungo quite well to a classic black coffee.
Also good to know is that you don’t need to readjust your grinder for an Americano, since you simply make it with an espresso
Tip: Iced Americanos are also delicious
Ristretto vs espresso vs lungo
In the overview below, you’ll see exactly what the differences are between ristretto vs espresso vs lungo in terms of ratio and extraction time.
Note: this overview is based on double shots, which means using an 18-gram portafilter basket:
| Ristretto | Espresso | Lungo |
Ratio | 1:1 | 1:2 | 1:3 |
Grams in | 18 | 18 | 18 |
Grams out | 18 | 36 | 54 |
Extraction time (sec) | 22-25 | 25-30 | 25-30 |
When do you drink ristretto, espresso or lungo?
Now you might be wondering: great, all these ways to turn your beans into black coffee, but when should you drink a ristretto vs espresso or a lungo?
In general, you might want to use a ristretto in milk-based drinks like cappuccino, flat white, or cortado. Especially if you like your coffee to really shine through the milk, a ristretto is worth considering.
There is one coffee creation where we always recommend using a ristretto: the affogato. Its syrupy texture and sweeter taste pair perfectly with a scoop of ice cream.
But in the end, it all comes down to personal taste. So experiment, play around, and let your espresso machine sing.
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