Monthly Archives: September 2025
September 24, 2025An espresso macchiato and a cortado look similar at first glance: small coffee drinks with espresso and milk. Yet the difference lies in the ratio, flavour and even the origin. While the macchiato comes from Italy and contains just a spot of milk, the cortado is Spanish and much smoother due to the almost equal amount of milk and espresso.
What is an espresso macchiato?
An espresso macchiato is an espresso with a small ‘spot’ of milk or milk foam.
The word macchiato literally means “spotted” in Italian. So the espresso is “spotted” with a dollop of milk foam or a small splash of warm milk. This hardly changes the flavour but softens the sharp edge of the espresso just a little.
In Italy, the macchiato is mainly enjoyed by people who love the intensity of espresso but want just that tiny bit of softness. It’s served in a small cup and remains a compact, powerful drink.
What is a cortado?
A cortado is an espresso diluted with almost equal parts warm milk.
The word cortado comes from Spanish
September 15, 2025A ristretto (±15 ml), espresso (±30 ml) and lungo (±60 ml) mainly differ in volume and extraction time, although they are made with the same amount of coffee. These differences in water amount and time create unique flavour profiles: a ristretto is stronger and sweeter, an espresso balanced, and a lungo milder. Here you’ll find exactly what the difference is, how the preparation varies, and which variant best suits your taste.
What is a ristretto, espresso and lungo?
A ristretto, espresso and lungo are made with the same coffee, but differ in extraction time and water amount.
- Ristretto: the shortest shot of the three. Made with the same amount of coffee as espresso, but half the water (±15 ml), it tastes stronger and sweeter.
- Espresso: the classic of about 25–30 ml. The balance between sweet, sour and bitter makes this the reference point for all other coffee drinks.
- Lungo: the ‘long’ variant. More water passes through the same amount of coffee (±60 ml), making the flavour milder but also
September 01, 2025For a perfect espresso, the right amount of ground coffee is very important. Usually, you use between 7 and 9 grams for a single shot (~30 ml). For a double espresso, this is doubled to 14 to 18 grams. This dosage determines the strength, flavour balance and crema. Here you’ll learn how much coffee you need and how it affects your cup.
How much coffee for a standard espresso?
For a single espresso, you typically use 7 to 9 grams of ground coffee.
This amount yields about 25 to 30 ml of espresso, the classic shot. The ratio baristas usually follow is 1:2: for every gram of coffee, about 2 grams of liquid ends up in your cup.
If you use less than 7 grams, the espresso will be weak and watery. Use more than 9 grams, and the coffee can become too strong or bitter. With a scale, you can easily measure the right amount and pull a consistent shot every time.
How much coffee for a double espresso?
For a double espresso, you use 14 to 18 grams of ground coffee.
A doppio espresso (double espresso)
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