What do I do with a tamper?
The point of a tamper is to tamp, of course! Seriously though, tamping just means pushing down evenly on the coffee grounds in a filter basket. By properly using a tamper you can seal the ground coffee in so the pressurized water in your espresso machine is forced through all the grounds, sucking the yummy coffee flavors out into your cup.
When do I tamp?
You tamp right after grinding and before snapping the portafilter handle (with the filter basket filled with coffee) into your espresso machine's group head. See the espresso machine diagram if you didn't quite get that, unfortunately there's no better way to explain.
Do all cafes use tampers?
If you've watched a barista at work and didn't see them use a tamper, don't assume they forgot! Many cafes use plunger-style tampers (instead of hand held tampers.) Sometimes these are built into coffee grinders, and I've seen speed baristas tamp with one of these in the blink of an eye.
But some cafes do not use tampers, believe it or not! These days some cafes go with these newfangled pressurized portafilters in lieu of tamping altogether. This relatively new practice produces weaker espresso, but it's faster, allowing cafes to churn out more.
Posted in Tamping
Tamping is rather difficult to describe, not so much because it's hard to do or involves many steps, but because it's considered to be a very complex art and anything I say here will be disputed by self-described tamping "experts." Before I even try to describe tamping, let me just say this: if a certain tamping method works for you, that's all that matters. So just shut up and drink your espresso.
And now, back to the information.
Wait, did you say "tamping"?
Tamping is Espressonian for "packing ground coffee into a filter basket." Short of a shrink-ray, there's no way you could fit seven grams of grounds into a single shot basket. While you could just tamp with your spoon, or if you're really lazy -- your thumb -- it's best to pack the grounds evenly. For this, a special utensil has been developed: the tamper. Yes, at this point humans have a specialized tool for any task possible.
If you're interested in purchasing a tamper, or if you just want to know what's available, check out my tamper buying guide on this very website.
Tell me how, dammit, HOW!
So, how should one push on coffee? Don't put too much pressure on the coffee, or your pump won't be able to get water through. Just level out the grounds with your finger and then pack them down firmly in one swift motion. Teach those damn coffee grounds a lesson, but don't scar them (that's what the scalding hot water is for.)
About thirty pounds of pressure is typically considered ideal, although the important thing is to try and tamp with the same pressure every time. Consistency helps because if you encounter a problem with your espresso technique, you can troubleshoot one step at a time independently. If you have a bathroom scale, you can practice pushing about thirty pounds. That's about how hard you should tamp each time. I know this sounds anal, but bad tamping will produce lousy espresso.
Let's twist again
A common argument is whether or not you should tamp with a slight twisting motion. This important and life-changing decision is up to you, try it both ways and see what works. In my experience, a little twist prevents coffee from sticking.
Getting coffee stuck to the bottom of your tamper may not sound like a big deal, but it is! That stuck coffee just made a pit in your otherwise evenly packed ground coffee, and now the water won't flow through evenly. That's why I always twist as I tamp.
And then?
Once you've got the ground coffee firmly packed, snap the portafilter into the group head and pull your shot.
Posted in Tamping
Why buy a tamper?
To get coffee evenly distributed and firmly packed into your espresso machine's filter basket, you need a device called a "tamper."
But before you get too into this shopping experience, it would be a good idea to familiarize yourself with the art of tamping.
What's available
There are two types of hand held espresso tampers; the cheap kind and the not-so cheap kind.
Economy tampers are solid metal or plastic, shaped like a thin axle holding apart two solid plates and provide two separate tamping surfaces (often in different sizes.) Most espresso machines come with one of these. And yes, they work alright, but they're awkward to hold and you don't get your coffee snob satisfaction of having a carefully-designed instrument blessed by a certified coffee pope.
Expensive tampers typically feature one tamping surface and a fancy handle that's easy to grip.
Features and considerations
Size: The most important aspect of purchasing a tamper is getting one which fits your filter basket. Measure your filter basket carefully (you have a metric caliper right?) or bring it to a store to find a tamper of the appropriate size. There are several sizes of filter baskets (and corresponding tampers) with diameters ranging from around 49 to 60 millimeters. Aren't you glad you learned the metric system?
Weight and mass: It's easier to use a tamper that has some mass to it than a cheapie plastic one. You probably won't find a tamper that's too heavy to use, so go for a nice heavy one.
Rounded vs. flat bottom: Some tampers have a convex tamping surface, others are flat. This is a matter of preference, get whatever suits your fancy.
Feel: Yes, the feel of a tamper is something you should consider. If you manage to get a repetitive stress injury just touching one model, try a different one.
Looks: Hey, you want to impress your friends, and I hate to say it but your 1992 Toyota Corolla isn't much of a looker. That's why you need a tamper that not only matches your espresso machine, but
Places to buy
Uh oh. Good tampers aren't too easy to come by. Most major stores that sell espresso machines don't sell tampers. It's their loss. Since you're probably going to be stuck buying online, I have, well, one little suggestion. Good luck!
eBay isn't such a bad place to look for tampers -- there are a few people selling new and used tampers most of the time, including professional tamper dealers. (Sorry, I can't offer any suggestions as to who to buy from, and I do not sell anything on eBay or elsewhere online.)
Posted in Tamping
