Brewing Methods

Ristretto

Ristretto is a very short and concentrated shot made using the exact same amount of ground coffee as a classic espresso. The barista stops the water flow much earlier, which leaves you with about half the liquid in your cup. Because of this, the water only washes out the flavors that dissolve from the coffee grounds at the very beginning, resulting in a thick texture and clear sweetness. In modern specialty coffee culture, baristas always measure a ristretto by weight on a scale rather than judging it by eye, as the thickness of the crema (the golden foam on top) can easily trick the senses.

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