What is a Ristretto?

[Ghost_Who_Walks]

I was at a place that serves coffee tonight, and was bluntly told by someone that has 10 years experience making coffee around the world that a Ristretto was the "Middle" part of a pour.
From what I have read, and the way that I have been trained, the first 15-20ml of the pour is whats known as a Ristretto.
Its a restricted pour, thus being a Ristretto.
I go to places where they know more about coffee than I will ever know, and watch them pour my coffee, and I have never seen a Middle pour.
Which of us is right?

[GregWormald]

Re: What is a Ristretto?

Ristretto--restricted.
Usually restricted to the first part of the shot, i.e. pour cut short, but I guess they could define it any way they wanted.
How did it taste?
Greg

[Ghost_Who_Walks]

Re: What is a Ristretto?

After being told that I had no idea what I was talking about, i went elsewhere.
Maybe if I had have dropped the big names, or had have made coffee around the world, I might know more....
Can you tell Im not that impressed...

[GregWormald]

Re: What is a Ristretto?

AHHH! theres nothing like good customer relations!
Greg

[Ghost_Who_Walks]

Re: What is a Ristretto?

And the customer relations where sadly lacking at that shop, which is surprising, as it always seems to be full of people....
The uneducated masses-Sheep...

[Dimal]

Re: What is a Ristretto?

Hi Ghost....

If you do a search of the forum for "Ristretto" Im sure you will glean a wealth of info on the subject. As youve already gathered, nothing is set in concrete where coffee is concerned...

Cheers,
Mal.

[greenman]

Re: What is a Ristretto?

I asked for a Ristretto once and they said they didnt have rice dishes on the menu!!!

[Koffee_Kosmo]

Re: What is a Ristretto?

I asked for a Ristretto once and they said they didnt have rice dishes on the menu!!!

Haha
Thats funny ;D

KK

[A_M]

Re: What is a Ristretto?

I asked for a Ristretto once and they said they didnt have rice dishes on the menu!!!

Having a mild form of dyslexia, spelling and pronouncing some words get me into strife..

I have on a number of occasions made a mess of;

1: Ristretto and asked for a well known rice disk :-)
2: Affogato in addition to which my mother says as Affo Farto

A restricted time ie. the first 2/3 of the standard time.

However, I also insist that it be from a full double shot and not a single...

As to the middle... I guess some could do it and promote a unique coffee shot... But hell, why waist the first few drops :-) My taste buds would knot know the diff.

[cyrilgoldenrock]

Re: What is a Ristretto?

I was at a place that serves coffee tonight, and was bluntly told by someone that has 10 years experience making coffee around the world that a Ristretto was the "Middle" part of a pour.
From what I have read, and the way that I have been trained, the first 15-20ml of the pour is whats known as a Ristretto.
Its a restricted pour, thus being a Ristretto.
I go to places where they know more about coffee than I will ever know, and watch them pour my coffee, and I have never seen a Middle pour.
Which of us is right?

I thought thats called a middle pour ristretto.
To be honest the guy sounds like a dick.

[ezralimm]

Re: What is a Ristretto?

I digress somewhat...

To me a ristretto is a double shot (14g) of coffee extracted in over 15s (varies by bean.. and how long post-roast the bean has matured), and the shot is "restricted" far before it turns pale/watery --> the opposite of a lungo.

It emphasizes the body of the coffee and subdues the acidic notes. It is very savoury/umami and intense, rather than sour or bitter.


A ristretto requires grinder recalibration to prolong the time to blonding and to get the ~25-30ml in a proper ~30s pour time.

[Ghost_Who_Walks]

Re: What is a Ristretto?

I was at a place that serves coffee tonight, and was bluntly told by someone that has 10 years experience making coffee around the world that a Ristretto was the "Middle" part of a pour.
From what I have read, and the way that I have been trained, the first 15-20ml of the pour is whats known as a Ristretto.
Its a restricted pour, thus being a Ristretto.
I go to places where they know more about coffee than I will ever know, and watch them pour my coffee, and I have never seen a Middle pour.
Which of us is right?

I thought thats called a middle pour ristretto.
To be honest the guy sounds like a dick.

Actually it was a girl, who didnt look old enough to have worked around the world as a Barista...
But then, what would I know? Im only a member of the public, Not a Barista....

[Andy]

Re: What is a Ristretto?

What is a Ristretto?

...what you get when you order an espresso from most of the well known Baristas?
(they are getting better though)

My take on a Ristretto is the same amount of ground coffee and the same pour time as an espresso but its restricted to half the volume.
(it could be a finer grind or an updose or a heavier tamp to get the same punchline in a different way)

[ozscott]

Re: What is a Ristretto?

If you ask for a ristretto at a good coffee shop you should get the best of what they have to offer in a shot I reckon - tight short pour with heaps of rich flavour and low or nil acidity. I ask for them at Naked Coffee or Campos and dont get blank looks...just a very nice coffee. I normally pour ristrettos at home. I love them and even in a standard (itialian standard not typical Australian - except the better cafes) flat white. In slightly larger milk coffees I still like the smoothness of them, although I know a lot of people who prefer the full volume to cut through the milk. Having said that you can always pour a double ristretto for that larger milk coffee...

Cheers

[mahalia]

Re: What is a Ristretto?

Hi Ghost

My understanding of a ristretto that it is a restricted short black - its just the crema of the espresso, served in a warmed demi-tasse cup.

This is about 15ml, and extraction time is 15 seconds - made under correct tamping and grind conditions.
As for gram age, if I ordered one out in a espresso bar/cafe,
I would expect a double = 16gm (8gm per 15ml) any more ground coffee in the basket will result in a over the top syrupy espresso, and can end up tasting like Bonox instead of a sweet mind blowing coffee!

Bean quality and roasting if not perfect will reduce the viciousness’ and mls of the crema.

I hope this information is helpful to your quest!

warm regards,

Mahalia