18 gGround coffeefine, a step or two finer than for espresso
Method
1
Flush the group head and warm the cup.
2
Grind one or two steps finer than for espresso. Dose 18 g into a double basket, level it, and tamp firmly.
3
Pull the shot and stop it at 22 to 25 g in the cup, 20 to 25 seconds after starting.
Shot0:22
4
Drink it straight away, while the crema is thick.
1 cup
Tips
Grind finer rather than simply cutting a normal shot short; stopped early at the espresso grind, it tastes sour and thin.
It makes a good base for a flat white or a piccolo when you want a sweeter, stronger coffee taste through milk.
About this drink
Ristretto means restricted in Italian: the same dose as an espresso, made with less water. It keeps the first and most syrupy part of the shot and leaves out the thinner, more bitter end, so it tastes sweeter and heavier than a full espresso, with a little less caffeine.
