Ristretto

An espresso contains on average 30 millilitres of coffee. That's enough for an intense, full coffee shot packed with flavour. But where does that amount come from? And how many ml are in a double espresso or a ristretto? Here you'll read how those volumes are determined and why the millilitres have more impact than you might think.

What determines the amount of an espresso?

The amount of espresso is determined by the ratio of ground coffee, pressure, temperature and extraction time.

An espresso isn't just any amount of coffee, but the result of a precise process. According to the guidelines of the Specialty Coffee Association, you use about 18 to 20 grams of finely ground coffee, from which in 25 to 30 seconds under 9 bar pressure about 30 millilitres of concentrated coffee is extracted.

How finely you grind the coffee, how hard you tamp, how hot the water is and how long the water flows through: all these factors determine whether your shot ends up at 25 ml or closer to 35 ml. More water