Recipes

A ristretto is a short, concentrated espresso shot pulled with less water than a standard espresso — typically 15–20ml instead of 25–30ml, using the same dose of ground coffee. The result is sweeter, thicker, and more intense, with less bitterness and none of the thin, watery finish of an over-extracted shot. Quick Summary Ristretto Espresso Lungo Dose 7–9g 7–9g 7–9g Yield 15–20ml 25–30ml 50–60ml Ratio 1:1.5–2 1:2–2.5 1:4–5 Extraction Short Standard Extended Flavor Sweet, thick, intense Balanced Thin, bitter Caffeine Slightly less Standard More What Does a Ristretto Taste Like? A ristretto tastes sweeter and more concentrated than a regular espresso. Because the extraction stops early, the bitter compounds that extract later in the pull never make it into the cup. What you get instead is: ...

Japanese iced coffee is hot pour-over coffee brewed directly onto ice — about one-third of the brew water is replaced with ice in the carafe. The hot coffee melts the ice on contact and chills instantly, locking in volatile aromatics that cold brew throws away. Total brew time: about 4 minutes. The result is a cup that tastes like the best version of the coffee — bright, fragrant, clean — served cold. ...

Bạc Xỉu is a Vietnamese coffee drink made with a small amount of phin-brewed robusta coffee, sweetened condensed milk, and a generous pour of fresh whole milk — producing a milkier, sweeter, gentler drink than the classic Cà Phê Sữa. The ratio of milk to coffee is roughly 3:1 by volume, the opposite of a Vietnamese iced coffee where coffee dominates. The name bạc xỉu is a southern-Vietnamese / Cantonese-influenced phrase that translates loosely as “a little white” — referring to the drink’s pale, milky color. The drink originated in Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) in the early-to-mid 20th century, born from the city’s mixed Vietnamese-Chinese coffee culture. It was historically the drink for children, the elderly, and people who wanted the flavor of Vietnamese coffee without the punch of a full robusta serve. ...

A bicerin is a layered Italian drink from Turin made with hot drinking chocolate on the bottom, a shot of espresso in the middle, and a layer of barely-whipped cream on top — served in a small clear stemmed glass and never stirred. The name comes from Turin Piedmontese dialect: bicerin means “small glass” — a diminutive of bicchiere. The drink dates to the early 1700s in Turin, where it evolved from an older drink called the bavareisa (coffee, chocolate, milk, syrup mixed together). The cleanest, most authoritative source is Caffè Al Bicerin, a small café opened in 1763 in Piazza della Consolata in Turin, which still serves the original layered version today and is widely credited with both the formula and the name. ...

Vietnamese coconut coffee — known in Vietnam as cà phê dừa (or cà phê cốt dừa) — is a strong, phin-brewed Vietnamese coffee topped with a thick, frosty coconut slushy made by blending coconut milk or coconut cream with sweetened condensed milk and ice. The coffee sits at the bottom; the icy white coconut slush sits on top. The drink is served in a tall glass, layered, and stirred gradually as you drink it. ...

Vietnamese salt coffee — Cà Phê Muối — is a Hue specialty made with strong robusta coffee from a phin filter, topped with a salted whipped foam of heavy cream and sweetened condensed milk. The salt does not make the coffee taste salty. It cuts the bitterness of the robusta and rounds the sweetness of the condensed milk, so the drink ends up tasting smoother, creamier, and less salty than an unsalted version. ...

A cortadito is a Cuban espresso drink made by combining equal parts café cubano (sweetened Cuban espresso with espumita foam) and steamed whole milk — typically 2 oz espresso to 2 oz milk, served in a small 4 oz glass. It is sweeter and more layered than a Spanish cortado: the espresso is whipped with sugar before brewing finishes, creating a caramelized golden foam called espumita. If you’ve only had a Spanish cortado, the cortadito will taste richer, sweeter, and more dessert-like — and the espumita on top is the giveaway that you’re drinking the real thing. ...

A magic coffee is a Melbourne specialty espresso drink: 2 ristretto shots topped with steamed milk in a small 5 oz glass. It is stronger than a piccolo, smaller than a flat white, and considered the unofficial drink of the Melbourne cafe scene. Many Melbourne cafes don’t list it on the menu — you have to know to order it. The magic occupies a precise sweet spot: enough milk to cut the espresso, but not enough to dilute the ristretto sweetness. Baristas love it because it lets the espresso shine while still being a drinkable milky coffee. ...

A marocchino is a small Italian espresso drink made with a layer of cocoa powder, a shot of espresso, and a topping of dense frothed milk — all served in a clear glass tumbler about the size of an espresso cup. It’s espresso, milk, and chocolate stacked into roughly 3 oz, and it’s one of the most photogenic coffees in the Italian bar repertoire. The drink is named marocchino (“the little Moroccan one”) because the deep brown color of cocoa-dusted espresso reminded its creators of Marocchino leather — the soft, dark Moroccan-tanned leather that was popular in Italy in the early 20th century. It’s not from Morocco. It has no Moroccan ingredients. The name is a leather reference. ...

A caffè shakerato is a hot double espresso shaken vigorously with ice and a touch of sweetener in a cocktail shaker, then strained into a chilled glass. The result is a frothy, silky, cold espresso drink with a light caramel-colored foam that looks like it belongs at a cocktail bar — because in Italy, that’s exactly where it’s served. Here’s the classic recipe, the shaking technique explained, 5 variations, and how it differs from iced espresso, cold brew, and espresso tonic. ...