Barista Explains: Ristretto vs. Lungo vs. Espresso
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Understanding espresso shot variations is essential if you’re a home barista or even just a cafe frequenting fool like me.. If you’ve ever stared at a café menu and wondered what separates an espresso from a ristretto or lungo, this article is for you.
Let’s pull some shots. Oh, and there’s a video explainer at the end of the article as well if you would rather watch that.
Classic Espresso: The Gold Standard
The classic espresso is about a 1:2 coffee-to-water ratio, generally brewed in 25-30 seconds. It’s balanced, bold, and the backbone of most coffee drinks. A standard shot is about 30ml (1 oz). I like an 18g in, 36g out shot for most milk drinks that I make.
Ristretto: A Short and Sweet Shot
Ristretto means “restricted” in Italian, referring to a shorter pull—about 15-20 seconds with a 1:1 coffee-to-water ratio. The result? A smaller, more concentrated shot (15-20ml) with a sweeter, less bitter taste. Perfect for those who love syrupy, intense espresso flavors. It’s not for everyone, but it’s worth a try.
Lungo: Go Long
Lungo (Italian for “long”) stretches the brew time to 35-45 seconds with a 1:3 coffee-to-water ratio — sometimes even 1:4. This produces a larger, milder shot (50-60ml) with more pronounced bitterness since the extra extraction pulls additional compounds from the coffee grounds. This could be your gateway into espresso if you find the other two shot styles too overwhelming. I like to pull this for newbies.
Which One Should You Choose?
For bold & balanced: Espresso.
For sweet & intense: Ristretto.
For a lighter, milder experience: Lungo.
Whichever you choose, you should get a good scale if you want to dial your shots in perfectly. I like these three in order of appearance:
Mastering these shot types gives you control over flavor intensity—whether you’re dialing in at home or ordering at a café. Want to improve your espresso skills? Check out my TAMPING 101 article (with video!) for pro-level extraction.
Until next time… Peace. ✌️ -Rob
@rob_mcgee If you drink espresso you should know about the lesser known brew ratios. A ristretto espresso is a 1:1 ratio. A lungo espresso js a 1:3 ratio. I like a 1:2 classic espresso ratio. What do you like? #creatorsearchinsights #espressoathome #homebarista #coffeetiktok ♬ original sound - rob_mcgee
