How to cook and serve ristretto?

Ristretto is often mistakenly called a type of reduced-volume espresso. However, this is completely wrong, since Ristretto has its own characteristics in the technology of preparation, which causes differences in its composition and taste.

Ristretto is a classic Italian drink with a rich taste. The name literally translates as “narrow”, which is interpreted as “saturated”. It is distinguished by a dark shade, viscous, thick taste, richness.

The standard portion of ristretto is 25-30 ml, and 7-10 g of ground coffee is added to this amount of water. A coffee machine is used to prepare the drink, since the correct ristretto is prepared under the condition of a short-term (no more than 15–20 seconds) extraction. During this time, water manages to pick up taste, aroma and useful substances from pressed ground coffee beans.

An important point is that ristretto contains almost no caffeine, since this alkaloid simply does not have time to stand out in large quantities during surgical extraction. The composition of the drink fall only essential coffee oils.

Ristretto is considered the strongest coffee, it perfectly invigorates and tones. The classic recipe does not involve the addition of sugar, milk or cream. Barista believe that it ruins the taste of the drink. Ristretto drink on the run, because his portion is the smallest (usually it is half an espresso).

An indicator of a properly prepared ristretto is a brown foam called “cream” by the Italians. It must be dense, homogeneous, it is unacceptable to see through it the main mass of the drink.

Although the ristretto is pretty close to espresso, there is a big difference between drinks. However, we first point out the properties that make them related.

• Both types of coffee have a rich, with a characteristic bitter taste and invigorating aroma. In the classic recipe is not supposed to use them with additives and sweeteners.
• Both types are prepared using a coffee machine, due to the need for short-term extraction of grains. However, espresso involves a slightly longer (up to 25-30 seconds) extraction. This, in turn, contributes to its caffeine saturation, while a more short-term extraction of ristretto suggests that it contains 2-3 times less caffeine.

At the same time, the taste of the latter turns out to be more vivid, saturated. This is due to the fact that for its preparation is taken as much raw coffee (7-10 g), as for the preparation of espresso. However, a ristretto is 25–30 ml, and an espresso is 30–40 ml. It turns out that the differences relate to the volume of servings of drinks.

Another drink based on coffee beans and water, which is also prepared in a coffee machine - American. In short, it is an espresso diluted with water, and from 1 to 3 parts of water can be added to 1 portion of it. If we compare the ristretto with the americano, it is obvious that the difference concerns the saturation and volume of the serving. In addition, sugar and milk or cream are usually added to the US.

From such types of coffee as cappuccino, latte, mocha, which are also prepared on the basis of a portion of espresso, ristretto differs caffeine content, saturation, lack of additives and volume. All of these drinks involve the addition of milk, cream, sugar, possibly chocolate, syrups and are served in glasses of 120-300 ml.

Ristretto is often confused with double espresso. However, the latter involves an increase in the number of all components (coffee and water) by 2 times. As a result, the strength of the espresso remains the same, only its volume increases.

Ristretto with long espresso is not interchangeable, which implies an increase in boiling water by 2 times while maintaining the volume of grains in the 7-10 mg.

To make Ristretto, as the Italians say, you need to “add up" 4 factors - quality grains of the desired grinding, purified and soft water, a coffee machine and barista skills.

For making Ristretto, you can use both Arabica and Robusta, and better a blend. The presence of Robusta makes coffee stronger, bitter. However, you should not put Robusta more Arabica, the finished drink will be rude.

Grind grain is recommended immediately before use. In this case, the coffee will be especially fragrant and tasty. You can grind grain for the future not more than 1-2 days. Be sure to keep them in a hermetically sealed container, excluding the proximity to fragrant products, tea.

For ristretto, the grinding degree is the same as for espresso or a little smaller. Optimally check the degree of grinding to the touch. If the raw material resembles sea sand or fine salt like “Extras”, then such grains are suitable for further cooking. In this case, Robusta is usually crushed a little smaller than arabica.

It is important to obtain a tasty drink water quality. It is better to take filtered or bottled. If it is not possible to use such, then ordinary tap water should be infused in banks or other open containers for at least 8-10 hours. Then the upper volume of water is drained, and the remaining “middle” can be used to make coffee. Water from the bottom of the dish should also be poured into the sink.

Soft water is suitable for coffee. By the way, the use of such a liquid allows you to extend the life of the coffee machine. The latter is required for making ristretto, since no other method can provide a 15-second extraction. Extraction to this value can still be provided by a geyser coffee maker, however, the beverage prepared by this method is still inferior in its taste to its counterpart from the coffee machine.

A coffee machine should provide a pressure of 8-9 atmospheres, as well as an extraction time of no more than 15-20 seconds. Technological map involves the laying of 7 g of grains in 25 ml of water. Before laying the beans, they are abated, and the horn of the coffee machine is wiped dry. After that, it is placed in coffee raw materials and tamped with a templer.

Ristretto portion is small, so it is important to maintain its temperature. For the drink, only thick-walled dishes are used, preferably porcelain. Classic ristretto dishes are thick-walled conical-shaped cups with thick walls. In the absence of such, you can serve the drink in espresso cups, called demitass.

The coffee cup must be placed on a saucer. To put even an empty cup from under the coffee immediately on the table is bad form.

From the ristretto coffee machine immediately served in a cup, and then - to the table. Transfusing it from one dish to another is fraught with rapid cooling and deterioration of taste.

Because of the small portion of portions, it is not customary to serve desserts for wristretto, as already mentioned, they even drink it, not sitting down at the table, often at the bar, on the run. If we talk about the additions to the drink, then it may be small oriental sweets like candied nuts, coffee beans in chocolate.

Traditionally, milk or cream is not served to Ristretto, sugar is not put into it. In European restaurants, coffee is served with a glass of water. Contrary to an erroneous opinion, it is necessary not to “drive out” the bitterness in the mouth after tasting the ristretto and not to rinse the mouth.

Coffee is drunk at 2-3 small sips, not allowing the drink to cool.

Due to the acids contained in coffee, it has the ability to improve digestion, facilitating the digestion of meat, as well as heavy, fatty foods. In this regard, Italians prefer to use ristretto after lunch or lunch. In addition, the drink invigorates well, driving away sleepiness that often occurs after a hearty meal.

It is not recommended to drink ristretto on an empty stomach, it can cause heartburn and abdominal pain. Concerning reception of coffee of this grade for the night of opinion differ. In principle, the drink contains almost no caffeine, which can cause insomnia. On the other hand, it contains essential oils and other components that provide a tonic effect. In this regard, we can say that the ristretto can be drunk in the evening, but not later than 2-3 hours before bedtime.

Since coffee is able to stain tooth enamel, after its use it is recommended to rinse your mouth or brush your teeth.

You can learn more about how to prepare and serve the ristretto in the next video.