Quick answer
A standard espresso shot runs about twice as much espresso out as coffee in, a 1:2 ratio, for example 18 g in and 36 g out in 25 to 30 seconds. A ristretto is a shorter shot, about 1:1 to 1:1.5, that tastes sweeter, thicker and more intense. A lungo is a longer shot, about 1:3 to 1:4, that tastes lighter and more bitter. A doppio is simply a double shot, about 2 oz. An americano is espresso topped up with hot water, which makes a cup about as strong as drip coffee.
Espresso shots at a glance
| Shot | Ratio | Time | Taste |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ristretto | 1:1 to 1:1.5 | About 15 to 20 s | Sweet, thick, intense |
| Espresso | 1:2 | 25 to 30 s | Balanced |
| Lungo | 1:3 to 1:4 | About 35 to 50 s | Lighter, more bitter |
| Doppio | 1:2, double dose | 25 to 30 s | Espresso, twice as much |
| Americano | Espresso plus hot water | Shot, then water | Like strong black coffee |
What is a ristretto?
Ristretto is Italian for restricted. It’s a short shot: the same dose of coffee as a regular espresso, but with less water run through it, about 1:1 to 1:1.5. From 18 g of coffee, that’s about 18 to 27 g of espresso, usually in about 15 to 20 seconds.
Brewing pulls flavor out in a rough order: bright acids first, then sugars and body, and the most bitter compounds last. A ristretto stops early, so it keeps the sweet, syrupy part of the shot and leaves more of the bitterness behind. Next to a regular espresso, it tastes thicker, sweeter and more intense, and sometimes a little brighter. It isn’t stronger in caffeine, though. A ristretto, an espresso and a lungo pulled from the same dose differ only a little in caffeine. How much coffee goes in matters much more.
What is a lungo?
Lungo is Italian for long. It’s the opposite of a ristretto: the same dose of coffee with more water run through it, about 1:3 to 1:4, or 54 to 72 g of espresso from 18 g of coffee. It takes longer, roughly 35 to 50 seconds, and tastes lighter, thinner and more bitter than a regular shot. Grinding a little coarser keeps it from turning harsh, and lighter roasts often hold up better as a lungo.
A lungo isn’t the same as an americano. In a lungo, all the water runs through the coffee, so it pulls out more of the late, bitter flavors. In an americano, a normal shot is made first and the extra water is added afterward, so it tastes like a regular espresso, just diluted.
What is a doppio?
Doppio is Italian for double. It’s a double shot of espresso, about 2 oz, made with twice the coffee of a single. A traditional Italian single, as the Italian Espresso National Institute describes it, uses about 7 g of coffee for about 25 ml of espresso in about 25 seconds. Most specialty cafés now pull doubles as standard, and the common recipe of 18 g in and 36 g out is a double.
A 1 oz single shot has about 63 mg of caffeine, so a double has roughly 125 mg. Our guide to espresso beans vs coffee beans compares that with a cup of drip coffee.
What is an americano?
An americano is a shot of espresso, usually a double, topped up with hot water, often to fill an 8 to 12 oz cup. It has the same caffeine as the espresso in it, but tastes much milder. The usual story is that American soldiers in Italy during World War II added hot water to espresso to make it more like the coffee they drank at home.
A long black, popular in Australia and New Zealand, is close to an americano but made the other way around: hot water first, then a double shot poured on top, which keeps more of the crema. It’s usually smaller, so it tastes a little stronger.
Americano vs drip coffee
An americano and a cup of drip coffee end up at a similar strength, but they taste different. An americano tastes like espresso stretched out: rich and roasty, with a little crema on top. Drip coffee, brewed slowly through a paper filter, tastes cleaner and lighter and shows more of a coffee’s fruit and sweetness. A double-shot americano has roughly 125 mg of caffeine, a little more than the 95 mg or so in an 8 oz cup of drip.
If you want both, some cafés will add a shot of espresso to a cup of drip coffee. It’s often called a red eye, though names vary from café to café.
How to pull each shot at home
Put a scale under your cup and start with a standard double: 18 g of finely ground coffee in, 36 g of espresso out, in 25 to 30 seconds. If it runs fast and tastes sour, grind finer. If it runs slow and tastes bitter, grind coarser. Then adjust from there:
- Ristretto: keep the same dose and stop the shot at 18 to 27 g. If it stops too early to taste good, grind a little finer so it runs slower.
- Lungo: let the shot run on to 54 to 72 g, and grind a little coarser so it doesn’t turn bitter.
- Americano: pull a double into a mug, then top it up with about 4 to 8 oz of hot water. For a long black, pour the water in first.
Our guide to the best beginner espresso machines covers the gear, and our guide to why coffee tastes bitter or sour explains what each grind change does.
Where these numbers come from
There’s no single official recipe for most of these shots, so we drew on barista guides, espresso machine makers’ guides and the Italian Espresso National Institute’s description of a traditional espresso, and gave ranges where they disagree. The standard 18 g in, 36 g out recipe matches our coffee to water ratio chart, and the caffeine figures come from Mayo Clinic’s caffeine chart.
Espresso shots FAQ
What is a ristretto?
A short espresso shot made with the same coffee but less water, about 1:1 to 1:1.5. It tastes sweeter, thicker and more intense than a regular shot.
Is a ristretto stronger than espresso?
It tastes stronger, because it’s more concentrated, but it doesn’t have more caffeine. A ristretto and a regular shot from the same dose differ only a little.
What is the difference between a lungo and an americano?
A lungo runs all its water through the coffee, so it’s more bitter. An americano is a normal shot with hot water added afterward, so it tastes like a diluted espresso.
What is a doppio?
A double shot of espresso, about 2 oz, made with twice the coffee of a single. The common 18 g in, 36 g out recipe is a doppio.
Is an americano stronger than drip coffee?
About the same in the cup. A double-shot americano has roughly 125 mg of caffeine, a little more than an 8 oz cup of drip at about 95 mg.
What is the best espresso ratio?
Start at 1:2, for example 18 g of coffee in and 36 g of espresso out. Go shorter for a ristretto or longer for a lungo.
How long should an espresso shot take?
About 25 to 30 seconds for a standard shot. A ristretto is shorter, about 15 to 20 seconds, and a lungo longer, about 35 to 50.
Pull a shot with Regions coffee
Espresso Sunrise was built for the espresso machine. It’s our medium-dark espresso blend of Colombian and Ethiopian coffee, and pulled as a shot it’s syrupy and sweet, with brown sugar and cocoa up front and a hint of dried fruit on the finish. Our coffees are listed as coming soon, so tap Notify me on any coffee to hear when it’s ready.
