What is a Ristretto?

A heavy, sluggish, silky and syrup-like espresso 'restricted' to about three quaters of an ounce. The red-brown crema reveals a concentration of the finest flavours and captivating aroma a coffee has to offer.

A Ristretto is 'the purists shot' and simply offers no compromise! It will either bring out the absolute best in your blend or magnify the worst! In addition to a good blend a Ristretto must be brilliantly prepared and executed.

Coffee beans or Ground coffee

Should I buy a bag of coffee beans or should I buy ground coffee? To answer this question we must first of all consider the following question, how serious are you about speciality coffee? If you drink coffee out of habit rather than for the satisfaction and pleasure it offers then for your convenience ground coffee may be the answer!

However, if you are one of a growing number of people who find themselves relaxing with friends in a coffee shop on a regular basis sipping cappuccinos or if you look forward to your daily shot of espresso or long black cup of filter coffee then read on because what you are about to hear will change your attitude towards coffee for ever!

Coffee should be treated like any other fresh food

If you have visited a supermarket for bread the chances are you have squeezed a few to check for freshness and pick the softest loaf. If you want to experience the greatest flavour and aroma coffee has to offer it must be treated like any other fresh food.

Truly fresh coffee, a couple of days out of the roaster will overwhelm you with its aroma and the explosion of flavours will resonate on your palate long after you can see the bottom of your cup!

Once you have indulged in fresh roasted coffee there can be no going back!

Genuine Ristretto coffee will always carry the DATE OF ROASTING on the label. The unique flavours in roasted coffee deteriorate as the weeks go by, so as coffee consumers become more sophisticated the need for absolutely fresh coffee is paramount.

Lets get back to our original question, coffee beans or ground coffee? You are still with me so clearly you take your coffee seriously. For the gourmet coffee enthusiast wishing to make a purchase there really isn't any decision to make, it has to be beans rather than ground coffee.

Coffee Beans

When coffee beans are roasted the beans serve as a protective package for the caramelised sugars and oils that give coffee its flavour. After roasting, carbon dioxide gas gradually works its way out of the bean in a process known as degassing. During the degassing process the flavour oils are temporarily protected from the threat of oxygen which causes staling. When coffee is ground the natural protective package of the bean is destroyed causing the protective gas to disappear more rapidly, resulting in a dramatic acceleration of the staling process. To put it simply, coffee beans remain fresher for longer! I'm sure you have noticed the one way valve on a bag of coffee? This valve allows the carbon dioxide to escape during the degassing process and without it, assuming the coffee is fresh the bag would undoubtedly explode.

Storing Coffee

Coffee should be stored in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight and in a sealed jar. Don't store coffee in a fridge as the dampness will have an effect on the coffee's flavour. Furthermore, odours from other foods in the fridge can compromise the fabulous aromas only available from fresh coffee.

Grind just before you brew

We drink coffee because we enjoy the taste! I know I feel rather 'short-changed' if I go into a café and upon ordering an Americano I get something that is very dull and the crema which harbours the flavours is practically non existent. Aside from the issue of whether or not the beans are fresh there is another factor that could greatly influence just how much pleasure I get from my cup of coffee.

If ground coffee is exposed to the air for too long it simply becomes stale. No longer will you get that beautiful aroma or that blanket of thick crema enveloping a vast array of flavours just about to be released as you take your first sip. Ideally coffee beans should be ground just before brewing in order to maintain their full flavour. Another very important factor when grinding is choosing the right grinder. You may have the finest Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee beans and the best espresso machine money can buy but if you or your grinder are not up to the job of getting a good grind then you may be in for a disappointment when you taste your coffee.

Rather than a blade grinder which simply mutilates the poor bean a good burr grinder will give you an even grind to help you avoid over extraction of the ground coffee that can lead to a bitter taste in the cup. Finally, always remember only to grind the quantity you immediately require.

Now lets get down to business. There is only so much benefit you can get from reading about coffee! I don't know about you but I'm going to put the above into practice and pull myself a rich, aromatic and sweet espresso Ristretto! Enjoy!

Watch out for further Coffee hints to follow soon.