The 4 Finest Espresso Tampers of 2024, Examined & Reviewed

For these simply beginning their espresso journey, there’s a number of gear to contemplate. Selecting the most effective espresso machine to your wants is a should, together with buying an espresso grinder. Enjoyable demitasse cups and espresso beans are additionally apparent decisions. However tamping, which is arguably crucial 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 Rare Breed Coffee. Correct tamping ensures that the pressurized water exerted by the espresso machine flows by way of the grounds evenly. “If the grounds should not compressed sufficient, the areas between the grounds can be inconsistent in dimension,” Jones says. “This permits water to stream extra shortly by way of some areas of the mattress of grounds and extra slowly by way of others, which impacts how a lot taste is pulled from the grounds.”

Many residence 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 a very good tamper, you’re going to have to purchase it individually. I took on the duty of discovering the most effective ones, testing a couple of totally different kinds at quite a lot of value factors. 

The Winners, at a Look

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

Calibrated, spring-loaded tampers apply constant stress 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 contains a number of calibrated springs that assist you to modify the stress.

We’ve beneficial 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 possibly can 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 inexpensive various 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 assessments, it produced constant outcomes, with degree pucks, no channeling, and scrumptious espresso.

The Exams

• Construct High quality Check: Whereas utilizing every tamper, I assessed its construct high quality, noting its dimensions, form, supplies, and weight.
• Tamping Check: 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 tug the shot and whether or not the water flowed by way of the portafilter on the proper price. I additionally taste-tasted every shot.
• Again-to-Again Shot Check: Following all the identical parameters because the above tamping take a look at, I tamped and pulled back-to-back photographs utilizing my profitable tampers. I wished to see if they might ship the identical outcomes each time.
• Ergonomics Check: I famous how simple every tamper was to make use of and the way comfy it was in my arms. Although not more likely to occur at residence, accidents of the wrist and hand should not unparalleled amongst skilled baristas because of the repetitive movement of tamping. An ergonomically designed deal with helps forestall this.
• Cleanup Check: For probably 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 tougher.

What We Discovered

Consistency Was Every thing

Tamping is among the most important variables in brewing espresso and by far the simplest step to mess up. One of the best tampers persistently and uniformly degree and compress pucks each time. Any fashions which are cumbersome or don’t match the portafilter nicely can result in an uneven tamp and poor extraction. For instance, tampers with uncomfortable handles made it tougher to evenly apply stress to the portafilter, which typically results in channeling. Spring-loaded tampers keep away from this by having a lip that retains the tamper degree with the portafilter’s partitions.

Which Tampers Had the Finest Construct High quality? 

If used recurrently, 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 stress, so be certain that to decide on one which’s stable and durable. Throughout my testing, I discovered that the most effective tampers had chrome steel bases. Not solely did they’ve important weight to them, which helped with making use of the correct quantity of stress, however they had 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 Sort Is a Matter of Choice

Of the three kinds of tampers I examined, every had their very own professionals and cons. Finally, it is best to resolve which works greatest to your wants and espresso machine, however there listed below are some issues to remember:

• The basic fashion of tamper is straightforward. It’s principally a deal with hooked up to a large cylindrical base and is probably the most broadly used kind. Due to its simplicity, it takes a little bit of follow to make use of accurately. It is advisable to be certain that the tamper is degree with the portafilter and apply the correct quantity of stress (30 to 40 kilos of drive) by hand.
• Spring-loaded or calibrated tampers are constructed with an inner spring that, when compressed, delivers a exact, predetermined quantity of stress. Like a basic tamper, it nonetheless must be used accurately to get a wonderfully degree tamp, but it surely removes the stress guesswork. Nevertheless, if used improperly, it’s doable 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 inner 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 stress, which makes them very constant. They usually have a leveler on one facet that helps make sure the grounds are even earlier than tamping. Their tamping depth is adjustable.

Approach Was (and Is) Necessary

Finally, no tamper is foolproof. Studying learn how to use your tamper correctly together with your espresso machine and grinder will enable you pull persistently scrumptious photographs. Listed below are some ideas:

• Use correct type to stop pressure accidents. Hold your wrist straight and your elbow bent at about 90 levels, making use of stress by way of your shoulder and triceps relatively than your wrist.
• Make sure the tamper is degree with the espresso mattress earlier than making use of stress to keep away from uneven extraction.
• Concentrate on reaching constant tamping stress relatively than measuring actual kilos, however a very good rule of thumb is to shoot for 30 to 40 kilos of stress per sq. inch
• If you have to modify the extraction time, modify the grind dimension as an alternative of altering tamp stress.

The Standards: What to Search for in an Espresso Tamper

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

Our Favourite Tampers

What we favored: The Pullman BigStep tamper is the Ferrari of basic tampers. Its construct high quality is top-notch and it’s ergonomic, with an awesome heft and balanced weight distribution. Better of all, it produced persistently tasty espresso over a number of assessments. It additionally has spacers you need to use 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 advocate it if it was something lower than stellar all through my testing.

Key Specs

• Supplies: Chrome 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 favored: Like most spring-loaded tampers, the Normcore is constructed with two springs and a lip that applies a gradual, constant quantity of stress each time. It additionally avoids spring-loaded tamper’s largest weak spot: It retains the grounds degree 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 stress works greatest with their espresso machine. 

What we didn’t like: The stress utilized to the bottom portafilter is set by the springs and isn’t a variable you possibly can management. For some residence 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 chrome steel base
• Dimensions: 3.3-inch deal with; 53.3-millimeter base
• Weight: 1.08 kilos
• Cleanup: Wipe down with dry fabric

What we favored: With regards to consistency, this fashion of tamper is as reliable because it will get. This tamper has a distributor device on one facet, which can be utilized to degree the highest layer of the bottom espresso. As soon as flattened, simply flip the tamper over and press all the way down to compress the grinds into a wonderfully leveled puck. For espresso snobs, you possibly can tweak the depth of the tamp and the leveler utilizing the inner threading mechanism.

What we didn’t like: After utilizing normal tampers with handles, palm tampers take a bit getting used to. They compress the espresso within the portafilter basket to a selected depth as an alternative of utilizing stress, so it’s doable 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: Chrome steel and durable plastic
• Dimensions: 2.75-inch diameter by 2-inch peak, 53.3-millimeter base
• Weight: 1.19 kilos
• Cleanup: Wipe down with dry fabric

What we favored: For an inexpensive tamper, I like to recommend the LuxHaus. The deal with is well-shaped and feels sturdy and comfy. All through my tamping assessments, it created constant, degree pucks that pulled scrumptious espresso photographs.

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

Key Specs

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

The Competitors

• The Force Tamper: This spring-loaded tamper labored nicely in my assessments, however at almost 5 instances the worth of our prime decide, I didn’t discover a marked efficiency enchancment.
• MATOW Coffee Distributor & Tamper: Virtually similar 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 like the Normcore tamper, IKAPE’s double spring-loaded produces even, degree pucks of espresso. The Normcore carried out barely higher in subsequent style assessments, however this tamper is a stable various.
• Rhino Coffee 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 stable chrome steel tamper is constructed to final, however the deal with was brief and awkward to carry.
• CreativeWerk Espresso Tamper: I beloved the ergonomic wood deal with on this one, however the weight distribution felt bottom-heavy. It will be an awesome match aesthetically in sure kitchens.

FAQs

Do you have to tamp twice? 

If achieved correctly, tamping twice is pointless. “Undoubtedly don’t tamp, knock the facet 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 must you purchase?  

Completely different espresso machines require totally different sizes of tampers. The scale of the portafilter basket determines what dimension of tamper you want. “It is very important match the tamper to the grouphead, in any other case it received’t match or can 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 stress creates sheared layers contained in the portafilter,” Jones explains. “The aim of tamping is to take away air pockets and create a uniform mattress of espresso.”

Why We’re the Consultants

• Dylan Ettinger is a Critical Eats contributor who focuses on espresso, spirits, cocktails, and barware. With over a decade of expertise within the specialty espresso business, he has spent the final 4 years testing and reviewing espresso grinders, espresso machines, pour-over cones, and different residence espresso home equipment for quite a lot of publications.
• For this piece, he mixed his expertise within the espresso business with that of Madeline Jones, account supervisor and coach at Rare Breed Coffee, with the intention to decide what qualities make the most effective espresso tamper.
• Dylan examined 10 espresso tampers for this overview.