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Magic coffee

Melbourne's double ristretto with steamed milk in a small cup

The magic is a Melbourne café insider's order, born in the city's Fitzroy and Collingwood coffee bars: a double ristretto (the short, intense first part of the espresso shot) topped with silky steamed milk in a 160 ml cup. It is stronger and sweeter-tasting than a flat white because there's less milk and only the richest part of the shot. A common mistake is scalding the milk; above about 65 °C it loses its natural sweetness. Chef's tip: stop the shot early, at about 30 ml for a double, to get that syrupy ristretto.
Total time
5 min
Difficulty
easy
Serves
1
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Ingredients

Serves1

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Method

0/4 done
  1. Step 1: Warm a 160 ml cup with hot water. Dose ⅝ oz finely ground espresso coffee into the portafilter, level and tamp firmly.

    1 min
  2. Step 2: Pull a double ristretto: stop the shot after about 15–18 seconds, when you have around 30 ml of thick, dark coffee.

    1 min
  3. Step 3: Steam ¾ cup cold full-fat milk until the jug is hot to touch, about 60–149°F, with a thin, glossy layer of microfoam.

    1 min
  4. Step 4: Tip the water out of the cup, add the ristretto and pour in the milk until the cup is just full, finishing with a thin layer of foam. Drink straight away.

    1 min

Nutrition per serving

Calories
80 kcal
Protein
4 g
Carbs
6 g
Fat
4 g
Fibre
0 g

Nutrition values are estimates.

K
Recipe by

KrazyBadal

All recipes by this chef →

Good to know

How long does magic coffee take?
About 5 minutes in total: 2 minutes to prepare and 3 minutes to cook.
How many people does it serve?
1 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
Is it vegetarian?
Yes. It has no meat or fish.
Is it gluten free?
Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
What can I use instead of cold full-fat milk?
Oat, soy or almond milk, same amount (use unsweetened for savoury dishes).

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