Long coffee vs ristretto: find our where there is more caffeine

Long coffee, short coffee or ristretto, each of us has our own preferences when it comes to coffee. Sometimes ordering one type rather than another depends not only on taste, but also on the amount of caffeine we think is in it.

Which coffee has more caffeine?

Is there one coffee stronger than another? The answer is yes. And we are talking about the different types of beans found in nature. The two most cultivated and appreciated species and the most useful for coffee production are Coffea Arabica and Coffea Robusta. Each has its own characteristics and peculiarities that, combined, give us the myriad of flavours available on the market.

The Arabica quality is sweeter, lighter and more fragrant, and contains around 1.5% caffeine. Robusta, on the other hand, gives us more creaminess and intensity, a coffee that contains a good percentage of Robusta is a strong coffee, this is also due to the percentage of caffeine that is between 2.5 and 3%. Almost twice as much

Find out whether there is more caffeine  in long coffee or in ristretto one

The ‘caffeine’ question, however, does not end with the variety used in the blends or the type of extraction. In fact, there are many variables that influence the caffeine percentage. The factors that condition it affect the entire supply chain.

We have seen that the type used has its importance, but another aspect to consider is the intensity of the roasting. Whether it is lighter or darker can affect, even if only slightly, the amount of caffeine present. Equally, the type of grinding also allows for a greater (or lesser) extraction.

Returning to the different types of extraction, let us immediately make one, necessary, clarification: short coffee and ristretto are not the same thing. In fact, ‘short coffee’ generally refers to the classic espresso, while ristretto is the ‘reduced’ variant of short coffee.

All that remains now is to find out how much caffeine they have in the cup.

Ristretto coffee is perfect for those who want to enjoy a drink with an intense flavour and a thick, creamy consistency ‘quickly’. And what about caffeine? Here it is easy to run into a cliché. Since it is a ristretto coffee, it is easy to believe that, being a more concentrated version, a higher amount of caffeine is present. In reality, this is not the case. In fact, there is less caffeine in ristretto coffee than in short coffee (espresso) and long coffee, because the percentage is directly proportional to the extraction time.

It goes without saying that there is more caffeine in long coffee because the extraction time tends to be longer.

There is a more correct way to prepare it without increasing the caffeine

If you like to sip coffee calmly, in a pleasant break for breakfast or during the day, long coffee is a great solution!

To prepare an excellent long coffee, it should be made like a normal espresso (i.e. with the same extraction time) and served with hot water on the side. Naturally, this drink will be less dense than short coffee, but it will still have its perfect aroma and, at the same time, you will not increase the amount of caffeine.