Is Ristretto Better Than Espresso or Lungo? The length of the espresso shot is where the other terms come in. The result is typically a thicker drink than other coffee beverages, with a satisfying crema on top. When making espresso shots, the beans are pushed down tightly in the permafilter to promote and even penetration of water. If you need to differentiate between types, it is also referred to as espresso normale or “normal espresso”. It is made by forcing hot water with high pressure through finely ground, compact beans.įor the purpose of ordering the classic espresso shot, not smaller or larger than the most widely-known espresso, most people just order an espresso shot. It is the in-between of the two, so if you find ristretto to be too concentrated, and lungo to be too weak, a classic espresso shot is probably what you should be going for.Įspresso is the method for brewing coffee, and also a beverage itself. Whether it is better than the other two drinks comes down solely to personal preference. Espresso by nature has more caffeine per volume than most coffee drinks. This is the baseline for the different variations of drinks. If you’ve ever ordered a typical shot at a cafe, you’re probably familiar with espresso. Is Espresso Better Than Ristretto or Lungo?

The general ratio for water to ground coffee is one-to-one for ristretto, one-to-two for espresso normale, and one-to-three or one-to-four for lungo. Or, you can experiment at home with an espresso maker or instant machine like Nespresso. You can expect variations on each drink from different cafes based on the barista’s preference.

The three terms are all relative, lacking an exact measurement or guideline. It has a strong bold taste, less bitter than lungo, but more bitter than ristretto. This is because the extra water extracts more components than espresso, adding more of a bitter taste as it brews.Įspresso is the middle ground between the ristretto and lungo, and the most common and widely ordered drink of the three. The result is a more bitter, weaker coffee than espresso. A normal shot of espresso usually takes under 30 seconds to pull, whereas a lungo shot can take up to a minute. Lungo goes the other way than ristretto, brewing a larger coffee that uses more water than espresso. The result is a more concentrated beverage with a different balance in flavors than the typical espresso shot. The proper way to prepare a ristretto is by getting the finest grind with fresh beans, and using pressure to extract the normal amount of ground coffee for espresso with about half the water. Ristretto is more concentrated than espresso or lungo. It is definitely the most well-known of the three. Main Differences Between Ristretto, Espresso, and Lungoīefore we lay out the main features of each of these brew methods, we should take a look at what sets them apart.Įspresso is the baseline, the shot you’ve probably had if you’ve ever ordered an espresso-based drink at a coffee shop, like an americano or latte. They completion of the process differs slightly per brew type, and that’s where ristretto, espresso, and lungo come in. There are various techniques which produce different espresso drinks, all using the same roast and processes. Making espresso is a skill, a technique that the barista or coffee connoisseur must familiarize themselves with before being able to make quality cups. Ristretto and lungo are two terms that many people are unfamiliar with. Most are familiar with the word espresso, although familiar with the term doesn’t always mean understanding what it means. Ristretto, espresso, and lungo are three terms you’re bound to hear as you venture further into the world of coffee. If you’re diving deeper into the world of coffee, whether that means visiting new shops or buying a Nespresso, you’re eventually going to run into some unfamiliar terms. I’ve stumbled upon coffee shops with menu language so out of my range of knowledge I felt I better leave since the only word I could think of was “latte”.

Ristretto vs lungo vs espresso