Gourmet Preparations

Espresso is served in a very small, thick cup, known as a "demitasse," which helps maintain its temperature. The beverage is a "dark and concentrated" coffee, with an intense flavor and strong aroma. Its most distinctive characteristic is the **crema**, a layer of dense, golden foam that forms on the surface during extraction and is essential to its flavor and body. It is drunk in one or two sips, as its purpose is to be a small, powerful coffee.

A ristretto is a concentrated espresso prepared with the same amount of ground coffee as a traditional espresso, but using half the water. The word "ristretto" means "restricted" or "limited" in Italian, reflecting the shorter extraction time, which results in a darker, more intensely flavored beverage with more body and notes of cocoa and nuts, compared to a standard espresso.