Peeking at the Differences between Espresso, Ristretto, and Lungo in Manual Brew Coffee, Which One is Your Favorite?

Kapanlagi.com - Rows of espresso-based coffee menus have mushroomed in various coffee shops in the corner of the city. The espresso brewing technique itself is very popular because it can be processed into various menus ranging from classic black coffee such as Americano to combined with milk such as Cappuccino.

However, coffee brewing techniques are not just limited to espresso. There are other brewing techniques that can produce delicious coffee menus such as ristretto and lungo. So, what are these three coffee brewing techniques like?

1. Espresso

Espresso is one of the most popular coffee brewing techniques in Indonesia. This is evidenced by a row of espresso-based menus in many coffee shops.

Espresso itself is made by extracting ground coffee. The coffee powder is extracted by spraying high-temperature and high-pressure water, and in a relatively short time.

This extraction process only takes 30 seconds and can produce one shot of espresso as much as 30ml. The resulting espresso extraction also has a thicker density and crema, making it suitable for making menus such as latte to cappuccino.

2. Ristretto

The word ristretto is taken from the Italian language which means limited. Indeed, ristretto is a coffee brewing technique with a limited duration.

The ristretto extraction process only takes 15 seconds. This duration is shorter than espresso, which requires a 30-second extraction time.

Generally, ristretto is chosen as a coffee base when customers want a menu that is not as strong as espresso. The resulting taste sensation is sweeter and smoother. However, because the ristretto extraction only produces a 15ml coffee base, many coffee lovers order a double shot of ristretto for their drink.

3. Lungo

Unlike espresso and ristretto, lungo is a coffee brewing process that requires a long extraction time. Lungo can be extracted for up to one minute, depending on the coffee beans and espresso machine pressure used.

With a longer extraction time, the standard shot size of lungo is around 130ml-170ml. The taste produced by lungo is generally bitter but smooth. At first glance, a lungo shot has similarities to an americano or long black.

(kpl/jef)