

The strong earthy undertones of the basic espresso method come from the extraction time and the high pressure. But, those notes will manifest differently against the earthier background and risk being drowned out. It gives smooth chocolate, marzipan, and cream notes.Īll of this is not to say that espresso will not have the floral notes of the same coffee prepared differently. The crema, the tan-white foam that forms on the surface of the espresso shot, is often one of the sought-after parts of espresso and a defining characteristic thereof. In fact, some of the best espresso shots I have ever had strongly display chocolate and cocoa flavors enough to convince me, in only briefly, that I was drinking melted chocolate. Espresso FlavorsĮspresso features the darker, earthier, nuttier notes that exist in all coffees. The major differences manifest themselves in flavor and caffeine concentration.

ESPRESSO VS LUNGO NESPRESSO REDDIT FOR LATTE HOW TO
Flavor Differences and How to Use ThemĪs I previously mentioned, espresso, ristretto, and lungo are variations on the same basic technique of preparing coffee. The typical lungo recipe would be 7 grams of coffee per 50ml of water. If one is seeking to maximize caffeine intake or avoid off flavors common at short extraction times, lungo may be the way to go. Lungo, like a ristretto, are less common than espresso simply because few people know this is a possibility. Most, if not all, of the high notes of the coffee will be complete dissolved away through the longer extraction. This time, we use double the normal amount of water per 7 grams of coffee.īy using double the water, more caffeine will be extracted, as will more “deeper” notes of the coffee. It is based, again, on changing the amount of water used in the typical espresso recipe.

Lungo is another method of preparing coffee using an espresso machine. Expect a yield of about 11ml on the generous side. So, the typical recipe for an American ristretto shot would be about 7 grams of coffee per 12.5-15ml of water.

If one were seeking to develop a deep understanding of a coffee’s individual performance at all levels, a ristretto would show some more delicate notes that longer and more “wet” extractions would not. It would seem to me, in my experience, most American coffee purchasers are not after espresso for the flavor nuances. Ristretto shots are less common than espresso, simply because of the smaller yield and the lack of a caffeine kick. Less water flows through the bed of grounds, but it flows through quicker leaving some of the more floral, “higher” notes of the coffee itself intact. Ristretto focuses, in fact, on those more “aromatic” aspects of the espresso preparation method. This results in lower caffeine which can be seen as a downside to some, but more “aromatic” notes in the shot due to the short extraction times. This restriction on water means that less water saturates the grounds. I find it easy to remember “ristretto – restrict” because you are restricting the water supply by about half when preparing a ristretto shot. Ristretto is a variation on the espresso method. This is tuned to the machine at every shop, so this is only a guideline. The typical American or Italian recipe for espresso usually calls for about 7 grams of finely ground coffee per 25-30ml of water. You get a concentrated, flavorful dose of coffee that highlights aspects of the brew different from other brew methods and also creates the delicious crema on the surface of the shot. The amount of water and coffee is usually slightly variable depending on the espresso machine.īut, the result is the same. Instead, espresso is a method of preparing coffee.Īt its most basic level, espresso is a small portion of water forced through a tightly packed, finely-ground bed of coffee at very high pressures (around 9 bar, for you coffee geeks). What is Espresso?Įspresso is the “shot” we are all most used to at the local coffee shop.Įspresso beans are not very different from the coffee beans we put in our drip machines at home. They are each based on the same fundamental ingredients and the same fundamental processes, but they differ in how exactly the process is completed. To put it simply, these are three different methods of utilizing an espresso machine to pull an espresso “shot”. Have you ever wondered what all of the different options within your favorite coffee shop’s “espresso” menu are? You might be familiar with a mocha, a latte, an Americano, or a cappuccino, but do you know what makes an espresso different from a ristretto or a lungo? Coffee Guides What’s the Difference Between Espresso, Ristretto & Lungo?
