Ristretto

Ristretto, which means restricted in Italian, is half of a single shot of espresso. It differs from a standard espresso not only in the amount of water used for its preparation, but also in flavor, which is less bitter than regular espresso.

When prepared in an espresso machine, the regular amount of finely ground coffee is extracted with half the amount of water used for classic espresso. The result is a more concentrated beverage with a different balance of compounds than in standard espresso.

The color of ristretto is reminiscent of dark chocolate, while the crema is much lighter than in regular espresso. Ristretto is typically served straight in a demitasse cup.