The Ultimate Guide to Choosing the Perfect Coffee Tamper

A coffee tamper might seem like a simple tool, but it plays a crucial role in the process of making espresso. A good tamper ensures proper extraction, resulting in a delicious cup of coffee. With the plethora of options available in the market, choosing the right coffee tamper can be overwhelming. In this comprehensive guide, we'll delve into the key factors to consider when selecting a coffee tamper, helping you make an informed decision.

What exactly is a coffee tamper?

A coffee tamper is a tool used in the process of making espresso. It is designed to compact or "tamp" freshly ground coffee into a dense and evenly distributed puck within the portafilter basket. This step is crucial for preparing espresso because it creates resistance to the high-pressure water forced through the coffee grounds during extraction.

What are the factors to consider when buying a coffee tamper?

Base Size

The most important thing to get right when starting your search is to make sure you get the correct size tamper for your portafilter basket. Ensure that the tamper's base diameter fits snugly into the portafilter basket for uniform tamping. Common sizes includes 51mm, 53mm, 57mm and 58mm. So make sure you measure the diameter of your basket and search for tampers matching that size.

Weight

The weight of the tamper influences the amount of pressure exerted during tamping. Heavier tampers require less force to achieve proper compaction, providing consistency in tamping pressure. However, the weight should feel comfortable in your hand to avoid fatigue during prolonged use.

Flat or Convex Bottom

When tamping, it's important to make sure you push down on the grounds to create a solid coffee base that prevents an uneven extraction.

Most tampers have flat bottoms, however some do have a curved bottom instead. The curve shape has a slight hump in the middle which helps create a better seal between the coffee puck and the side walls of the basket. Helping to prevent any channelling (water flowing down the side of the puck creating an uneven extraction).

It's questionable as to whether using a flat or curved tamper has any effect on the drink taste so choice is down to personal preference.

Image Credit: Barista Champion

Handle Design

Comfort: Choose a tamper with an ergonomic handle design that feels comfortable to grip. Consider factors such as handle shape, texture, and size to ensure a secure and comfortable hold.

Grip: Look for tampers with textured or knurled handles to provide a firm grip, especially when your hands are wet or oily.

Detachable Handle: Some tampers feature detachable handles, allowing you to interchange handles of different materials or styles according to your preference.

Precision and Calibration

Some advanced tampers feature precision calibration to ensure consistent tamping pressure. These tampers may include built-in pressure gauges or adjustable mechanisms to achieve precise compression of coffee grounds.

Customization Options

Some manufacturers offer customization options, allowing you to personalize your tamper with engraved initials, logos, or custom designs. This adds a unique touch to your coffee equipment and makes for an excellent gift option.

Types of Tampers

1. Dual-Head

These are great if you have 2 different sized filter baskets and regular switch between them. The dual head features a different sized base either side of the handle allowing you to switch between sizes without changing your tamper.

We recommend the Ezebesta Dual-Sized Tamper (Shop on Amazon)

2. Handled Tamper

These are probably the most common and traditional when it comes to tamping.

They have comfortable handles often made from wood or metal to sit nicely in your hand.

We recommend the USEAMIE Coffee Tamper (Shop on Amazon)

3. Weight Calibrated 

When tamping, it can take a lot of practice to ensure you apply the right about of pressure (approx 30 lbs) to your coffee.

The weight calibrated tamper will click as soon as you reach the amount of pressure which helps remove the margin of error for a more consistent tamp.

We recommend the Normcore V4 Tamper (Shop on Amazon)

Summary

In summary, a coffee tamper is a fundamental tool for espresso preparation, used to compress freshly ground coffee into a uniform puck within the portafilter basket, thus enabling the extraction of flavourful espresso shots.

These are all the main factors to take into account when shopping for a tamper. As long as the size is correct for your portafilter basket, the rest is just down to personal preference and what helps you create an even and consistent puck. Each type of tamper has their own pros and cons to its useful to just experiment until you find what works best for you.