Differences between Ristretto, Espresso, and Lungo

Distinguishing Ristretto, Espresso, and Lungo

Meaning of Ristretto

Ristretto, which comes from the Italian word 'Ristretto' and is related to the English word 'Restrict' meaning 'to limit', refers to a coffee made by compressing the amount of water and extraction time of espresso.

Meaning of Espresso

The origin of the word 'espresso' has various explanations, but one story suggests that it derives from the concept of applying pressure (Press) to extract (ex-, es-). In other words, it means 'to extract quickly'

Meaning of Espresso

Lungo, which means 'long' in Italian, literally refers to 'long extraction'.
According to the meaning mentioned above, when extracting coffee from a machine, the coffee extraction is referred to as lungo, espresso, and ristretto in order of decreasing coffee volume. The amount of coffee increases as the extraction time becomes longer. Therefore, the coffee extraction time and coffee volume can be considered as important criteria for distinguishing these types of coffee.

Differences between Ristretto, Espresso, and Lungo

When extracting coffee from an espresso machine,
the initial extraction yields the most concentrated coffee,
and as the time increases, the concentration decreases.
However, as the extraction volume increases,
more coffee components are extracted, resulting in
higher caffeine content and a stronger bitterness.
Ristretto, Espresso, and Lungo each have different
extraction volumes, leading to variations in taste and aroma.

Differences in Extraction Volume

Coffee flavor varies depending on the time interval of
extraction from the machine.
If extracting 30ml, during the initial 10ml extraction,
you may experience sweetness, acidity, and a rich body.
In the middle 10ml extraction, you'll notice a balanced
flavor with a good body.
Finally, in the last 10ml extraction,
the body decreases, and a slightly bitter taste emerges.

Ristretto, being extracted for a short duration,
doesn't incorporate the bitter taste from the latter part
of the extraction, resulting in a cleaner taste compared
to espresso. Ristretto tends to be relatively stronger,
with a rich body and higher acidity compared to espresso.

Espresso, with its optimal extraction time and volume,
offers the most balanced flavor profile.
Acidity and sweetness are blended seamlessly,
making it the benchmark for well-balanced coffee.

Lungo, although having a larger volume, has a longer
extraction time, resulting in a slightly bitter taste
and a relatively lighter body. However, for those finding
Americano too weak or espresso too strong,
Lungo might be the ideal choice.

Differences in Concentration

Ristretto means 'concentrated' or 'short' in Italian. It has
a shorter extraction time and less water than espresso.
As a result, it produces a more syrupy concentration
with a sweeter and more concentrated flavor.
Ristretto has less bitterness compared to espresso
due to its shorter extraction time, making it preferred by
those who enjoy a richer and zestier coffee experience.

Espresso has a higher caffeine content compared to
its concentrated flavor and volume.
Therefore, it is often considered the strongest coffee.
Its concentration is weaker than ristretto but stronger
than Lungo. This balanced concentration contributes
to the creation of crema and a balanced profile
with notes of sweetness, acidity, and bitterness.

Lungo, with its longer extraction time,
has the lightest concentration. It falls between
espresso and Americano in terms of intensity.
Lungo tends to have stronger bitterness and tartness,
while reducing sweetness and acidity in coffee.