For these simply beginning their espresso journey, there’s a number of gear to think about. Selecting the greatest espresso machine on your wants is a should, together with buying an espresso grinder. Enjoyable demitasse cups and espresso beans are additionally apparent selections. However tamping, which is arguably a very powerful step in espresso brewing, is routinely ignored.

“The aim of tamping is twofold: firstly, to compress the grounds tightly collectively, and secondly, to create a mattress of grounds of constant depth and levelness,” explains Madeline Jones, account supervisor and coach at Uncommon Breed Espresso. Correct tamping ensures that the pressurized water exerted by the espresso machine flows by means of the grounds evenly. “If the grounds should not compressed sufficient, the areas between the grounds might be inconsistent in dimension,” Jones says. “This enables water to circulate extra shortly by means of some areas of the mattress of grounds and extra slowly by means of others, which impacts how a lot taste is pulled from the grounds.”

Many dwelling espresso machines come pre-packaged with a tamper. Usually, they’re constituted of flimsy plastic and don’t correctly match the portafilter. If you need an excellent tamper, you’re going to have to purchase it individually. I took on the duty of discovering the very best ones, testing just a few completely different kinds at a wide range of value factors. 

The Winners, at a Look

This high-end tamper is a favourite amongst dwelling baristas for good purpose: It’s fashionable, sturdy, ergonomically designed, and pleasantly weighty. Better of all, the deal with size is adjustable. It’s expensive, however with a easy machine like a tamper, the little particulars matter and the Pullman BigStep will get all the pieces proper.

Calibrated, spring-loaded tampers apply constant strain by simply pushing within the deal with. The Normcore’s construct high quality is top-notch with a contemporary, matte black end and a sturdy, ergonomic, tapered deal with. It consists of a number of calibrated springs that help you alter the strain.

We’ve advisable this tamper earlier than. The 2-in-one leveler and tamper delivers completely leveled espresso and takes a number of the guesswork out of the tamping course of. For the espresso nerds on the market, you may nonetheless tweak the depth of the tamp and the leveler utilizing the inner threading mechanism to dial issues in as exactly as you’d like.

This tamper from LuxHaus offers a extra reasonably priced different to the Pullman BigStep, however sacrifices little or no when it comes to construct high quality or design. It’s hefty and durable with a deal with design that makes it comfy to make use of. In our checks, it produced constant outcomes, with stage pucks, no channeling, and scrumptious espresso.

The Checks

• Construct High quality Take a look at: Whereas utilizing every tamper, I assessed its construct high quality, noting its dimensions, form, supplies, and weight.
• Tamping Take a look at: I used every tamper to tamp after which brew a shot of espresso, weighing the grounds pre-tamping to make sure consistency from mannequin to mannequin. I famous how lengthy it took to drag the shot and whether or not the water flowed by means of the portafilter on the proper charge. I additionally taste-tasted every shot.
• Again-to-Again Shot Take a look at: Following the entire similar parameters because the above tamping take a look at, I tamped and pulled back-to-back pictures utilizing my profitable tampers. I wished to see if they might ship the identical outcomes each time.
• Ergonomics Take a look at: I famous how straightforward every tamper was to make use of and the way comfy it was in my palms. Although not more likely to occur at dwelling, accidents of the wrist and hand should not exceptional amongst skilled baristas as a result of repetitive movement of tamping. An ergonomically designed deal with helps stop this. 
• Cleanup Take a look at: For essentially the most half, cleansing tampers is an easy matter of wiping dry espresso grounds off of the bottom, however when testing, I famous any design nuances or flaws that made cleansing harder. 

What We Discovered

Consistency Was Every thing

Tamping is without doubt one of the most important variables in brewing espresso and by far the best step to mess up. The very best tampers constantly and uniformly stage and compress pucks each time. Any fashions which might be cumbersome or don’t match the portafilter effectively can result in an uneven tamp and poor extraction. For instance, tampers with uncomfortable handles made it harder to evenly apply strain to the portafilter, which typically results in channeling. Spring-loaded tampers keep away from this by having a lip that retains the tamper stage with the portafilter’s partitions.

Which Tampers Had the Finest Construct High quality? 

If used frequently, a tamper goes to be subjected to a number of drive and desires to have the ability to maintain up. The deal with receives a lot of the strain, so be certain that to decide on one which’s strong and durable. Throughout my testing, I discovered that the very best tampers had stainless-steel bases. Not solely did they’ve important weight to them, which helped with making use of the right quantity of strain, however they have been much less more likely to bend, warp, or break. “What to keep away from is plastic or aluminum. They’re too flimsy and light-weight,” Jones says. 

Tamper Kind Is a Matter of Choice

Of the three kinds of tampers I examined, every had their very own execs and cons. In the end, you must determine which works greatest on your wants and espresso machine, however there listed below are some issues to bear in mind:

• The traditional fashion of tamper is straightforward. It’s mainly a deal with connected to a large cylindrical base and is essentially the most extensively used sort. Due to its simplicity, it takes a little bit of apply to make use of accurately. It is advisable be certain that the tamper is stage with the portafilter and apply the right quantity of strain (30 to 40 kilos of drive) by hand.
• Spring-loaded or calibrated tampers are constructed with an inside spring that, when compressed, delivers a exact, predetermined quantity of strain. Like a traditional tamper, it nonetheless must be used accurately to get a wonderfully stage tamp, however it removes the strain guesswork. Nonetheless, if used improperly, it’s attainable to push previous the place the spring stops and over-tamp the espresso. With heavy use, the springs can even break or dislodge. Due to their inside springs, calibrated tampers additionally can’t be washed with water.
• Palm tampers are newer to the house espresso scene. This fashion works by tamping to a predetermined depth within the portafilter as an alternative of a calibrated strain, which makes them very constant. They usually have a leveler on one aspect that helps make sure the grounds are even earlier than tamping. Their tamping depth is adjustable.

Approach Was (and Is) Vital

In the end, no tamper is foolproof. Studying use your tamper correctly along side your espresso machine and grinder will make it easier to pull constantly scrumptious pictures. Listed below are some suggestions:

• Use correct type to forestall pressure accidents. Maintain your wrist straight and your elbow bent at about 90 levels, making use of strain by means of your shoulder and triceps quite than your wrist. 
• Make sure the tamper is stage with the espresso mattress earlier than making use of strain to keep away from uneven extraction. 
• Deal with reaching constant tamping strain quite than measuring precise kilos, however an excellent rule of thumb is to shoot for 30 to 40 kilos of strain per sq. inch
• If you might want to alter the extraction time, modify the grind dimension as an alternative of altering tamp strain.

The Standards: What to Search for in an Espresso Tamper

Since they’re used to use strain to portafilter baskets, the very best tampers are sturdy and have ergonomic handles. Most significantly, the highest tampers ship constant outcomes again and again.

Our Favourite Tampers

What we preferred: The Pullman BigStep tamper is the Ferrari of traditional tampers. Its construct high quality is top-notch and it’s ergonomic, with an important heft and balanced weight distribution. Better of all, it produced constantly tasty espresso over a number of checks. It additionally has spacers you should utilize to regulate the size of the deal with to fit your wants. 

What we didn’t like: At about $130, this tamper is more likely to be too costly for some. However, I wouldn’t suggest it if it was something lower than stellar all through my testing.

Key Specs

• Supplies: Stainless-steel, rubber, aluminum
• Dimensions: 3.5-inch deal with (adjustable with spacers); 53.3-millimeter base
• Weight: 12.5 ounces
• Cleanup: Wipe down with dry fabric

What we preferred: Like most spring-loaded tampers, the Normcore is constructed with two springs and a lip that applies a gentle, constant quantity of strain each time. It additionally avoids spring-loaded tamper’s largest weak spot: It retains the grounds stage with a lip that matches over the portafilter and prevents the consumer from pushing previous the place the spring stops when tamping. The Normcore comes with alternative springs calibrated to fifteen, 25, and 30 psi so the consumer can choose which strain works greatest with their espresso machine. 

What we didn’t like: The strain utilized to the bottom portafilter is determined by the springs and isn’t a variable you may management. For some dwelling baristas, that may be a draw back, however with a little bit of dialing in, the consistency is value it.

Key Specs

• Supplies: Anodized aluminum deal with with stainless-steel base
• Dimensions: 3.3-inch deal with; 53.3-millimeter base
• Weight: 1.08 kilos
• Cleanup: Wipe down with dry fabric

What we preferred: Relating to consistency, this fashion of tamper is as reliable because it will get. This tamper has a distributor software on one aspect, which can be utilized to stage the highest layer of the bottom espresso. As soon as flattened, simply flip the tamper over and press right down to compress the grinds into a wonderfully leveled puck. For espresso snobs, you may tweak the depth of the tamp and the leveler utilizing the inner threading mechanism.

What we didn’t like: After utilizing customary tampers with handles, palm tampers take somewhat getting used to. They compress the espresso within the portafilter basket to a selected depth as an alternative of utilizing strain, so it’s attainable to over- or under-tamp in the event that they’re not calibrated correctly. Fortunately, as soon as dialed in, it produced the identical outcomes each time.

Key Specs

• Supplies: Stainless-steel and durable plastic
• Dimensions: 2.75-inch diameter by 2-inch top, 53.3-millimeter base
• Weight: 1.19 kilos
• Cleanup: Wipe down with dry fabric

What we preferred: For an reasonably priced tamper, I like to recommend the LuxHaus. The deal with is well-shaped and feels sturdy and comfy. All through my tamping checks, it created constant, stage pucks that pulled scrumptious espresso pictures.

What we didn’t like: Though performing effectively, the burden distribution felt somewhat off, although it’s solely noticeable when evaluating the LuxHaus side-by-side with different tampers.

Key Specs

• Supplies: Stainless-steel, arduous plastic
• Dimensions: 4-inch deal with; 53.3-millimeter base
• Weight: 14.4 ounces
• Cleanup: Wipe down with dry fabric

The Competitors

• The Power Tamper: This spring-loaded tamper labored effectively in my checks, however at practically 5 occasions the worth of our high decide, I didn’t discover a marked efficiency enchancment.
• MATOW Espresso Distributor & Tamper: Nearly equivalent to the highest palm decide, the MATOW tamper carried out equally, however I discovered the Crema was barely simpler to regulate correctly.
• IKAPE Espresso Tamper: Very similar to the Normcore tamper, IKAPE’s double spring-loaded produces even, stage pucks of espresso. The Normcore carried out barely higher in subsequent style checks, however this tamper is a strong different.
• Rhino Espresso Gear Black Tamper: Although sturdy, I discovered the deal with on this Rhino tamper to be cumbersome and top-heavy.
• FusedLine Sage Barista Tamper: This strong stainless-steel tamper is constructed to final, however the deal with was quick and awkward to carry. 
• CreativeWerk Espresso Tamper: I liked the ergonomic picket deal with on this one, however the weight distribution felt bottom-heavy. It might be an important match aesthetically in sure kitchens.

FAQs

Do you have to tamp twice? 

If achieved correctly, tamping twice is pointless. “Positively don’t tamp, knock the aspect of the portafilter with the tamper, and tamp once more,” Jones explains. “Not solely are you disturbing the evenly distributed espresso mattress, you danger damaging the portafilter and tamper within the course of.”

What dimension of espresso tamper do you have to purchase?  

Completely different espresso machines require completely different sizes of tampers. The dimensions of the portafilter basket determines what dimension of tamper you want. “You will need to match the tamper to the grouphead, in any other case it gained’t match or might be too small to correctly compact the espresso grounds evenly,” Jones explains.

Do you have to twist whereas tamping? 

No, twisting can disrupt the grounds and trigger an uneven mattress. “Twisting whereas making use of strain creates sheared layers contained in the portafilter,” Jones explains. “The objective of tamping is to take away air pockets and create a uniform mattress of espresso.”

Why We’re the Specialists

• Dylan Ettinger is a Severe Eats contributor who makes a speciality of espresso, spirits, cocktails, and barware. With over a decade of expertise within the specialty espresso trade, he has spent the final 4 years testing and reviewing espresso grinders, espresso machines, pour-over cones, and different dwelling espresso home equipment for a wide range of publications.
• For this piece, he mixed his expertise within the espresso trade with that of Madeline Jones, account supervisor and coach at Uncommon Breed Espresso, with a purpose to decide what qualities make the very best espresso tamper. 
• Dylan examined 10 espresso tampers for this assessment.