When you buy a new espresso machine, many of them often come with an addon called a Coffee or Espresso Tamper. It is basically used for tightly and evenly pressing the coffee grounds evenly into the portafilter. Those that come bundled with espresso machines are usually cheap and flimsy. Sometimes even made out of plastic – but at least they will allow you to get started pulling espresso shots right away.
In the long run for serious coffee aficionados, there is definitely a need for some quality tampers for nice espresso shots.
Why Use A Coffee Tamper
Tamping espresso grounds actually serves three purposes:
- First of all, it evens out the ground coffee inside the filter basket for consistent extraction. Uneven grounds allow water to form channels during brewing, rushing through the portafilter while barely touching the coffee.
- It also compresses the coffee, slowing down the brewing process and maximizing the flavor and crema as the water “fights” to get through.
- Lastly, it creates a small space at the top of the portafilter that is essential to the brewing process. And overall it makes your favorite coffee taste good.
So, if you are serious about your espresso, put the tamper in a cupboard you just got with your new machine for espresso, and grab the one from the collection below.
Best Espresso Tamper – Our Favorites
Which espresso or coffee tamper you choose usually comes down to your own personal preference. If you have small hands, you will likely prefer a smaller handle. If you are strong, you may find that a heavier tamper does grips well, while a less strong individual will find a lighter one easier to work with.
A busy barista is at risk for repetitive strain injuries, so it’s important to have a tamper that is comfortable to use. Usually, espresso machines don’t carry a good tamper in the package, especially the budget machines that are under 200. Once you have a decent tamper, you can start working on using the proper technique to prevent injuries on the job.
1. Motta 8100/B Professional Flat Base 58mm Espresso Tamper
- 2-part tamper made from stainless steel with wooden handle.
- Diameter of base:58 mm.
- Level pressing surface.
- Suitable for portafilter machines:Asteria, Bezzera, ECM,...
This attractive and good-quality 58mm tamper is comfortable to use and won’t break your budget. This is the one that can be found in many homes because of the feasible price tag and built quality.
Features and Specifications:
- Flat stainless steel base (18/10 Aisi 304)
- Solid ash wood handle in black, red or brown
- Made in Italy
- Fits 58 mm basket
- Weighs 14.1 ounces (shipping weight)
If you’re looking for something that will look beautiful on your counter, this Motta tamper is an excellent choice especially if you lean towards traditional design. The metal base is perfectly machined and the subtle engraving of the brand name is a nice touch. All three colors look great, but the brown is particularly effective at showing off the grain of the wood.
But this tamper is about more than just looks. It’s a somewhat lighter-weight tamper, making it easier to control if you’re not super-strong yourself. It’s well balanced and the round wooden handle fits perfectly into most people’s palms.
- All metal parts are made of 18/10 stainless steel
- Perfect space to rest porta filter and tamper
- Set Includes: tamping station, stainless steel tamper holder...
- Made in Italy
Many people like to keep things always in an arranged manner and these tampers too need some docking station to keep them perfect. Motta also sells a complete kit Motta Tamping Station Kit which includes a tamping station, stainless steel tamper holder, and professional flat base 58 mm coffee tamper. This might also be a good option for your kitchen to look perfect.
2. Motta 620 Professional Flat Base 58mm Coffee Tamper
- Aluminum handle
- Made of Stainless Steel 18/10 Aisi 304
- Made in Italy
- Flat Stainless Base
Here is another winning tamper design from Motta, this time with a more modern aesthetic. It looks a well built and durable piece of perfection.
Features and Specifications:
- Flat stainless steel base (18/10 Aisi 304)
- Aluminum handle
- Made in Italy
- Fits a 58 mm basket
- Weighs 14.4 ounces (shipping weight)
This 58mm tamper has many of the same advantages as the Motta 8100/B: it’s well made and well balanced with a good ergonomic design. It is a little bit heavier in your hand, which people with bigger hands may prefer. The aluminum handle gives this item a more contemporary style than the ash handle on the previous model.
Both of the Motta tampers are manufactured in Italy.
3. Devereux 58mm Tamper for Espresso Coffee
- Measurements: 3.74" H x 2.09" D (95 mm H x 53 mm D)
- Weight: 15 ounces
- High gloss finish
- Material: High-fired, glazed ceramic (handle), 304 grade...
The handle of this tamper is distinctive in both its shape and the material it’s made from. It will add a pop of color to your kitchen counter area.
Features and Specifications:
- Stainless steel base (304 grade) with a high gloss finish
- High fired glazed ceramic handle
- Made in England
- Fits a 58 mm basket
- Weighs 15 ounces
At first glance, the square handle of the Devereux tamper looks like it might sit uncomfortably in your hand. However, the softly rounded corners make it unexpectedly ergonomic to use. People’s preferences vary a lot, but some find that the square shape even helps make the tamper easier to grip and control. This is a fairly heavy tamper, weighing in at almost a pound.
The combination of the glossy steel finish and the bright color ceramic handle is striking, but just be careful to look after it properly. The tamper is not dishwasher-safe, and in fact, it shouldn’t be immersed in water at all. A quick wipe with a damp cloth is all you need to keep it clean.
4. Rattleware Long Round-Handled Tamper
- PREMIUM ERGONOMIC GRIP: Experience comfort and precision...
- PERFECT FIT FOR ESPRESSO MACHINES: Our 53mm tamper is...
- DURABLE & HYGIENIC DESIGN: Built with high-quality stainless...
- IMPROVE YOUR COFFEE EXPERIENCE: The right tools make all the...
This mid-range steel and plastic tamper is a popular choice for home baristas who are upgrading from the cheap plastic tamper that came with their machine. It’s a safe choice that works well for the majority of people. It’s a little smaller from the above at 53mm, so a good choice for smaller hands.
Features and Specifications:
- Stainless steel base
- Round easy-grip handle made of ABS plastic
- Weighs 13.5 ounces
- Slightly polished base for clean tamp
- Fits a 53 mm portafilter basket
This durable tamper fits comfortably into your hand and is well-made enough to stand up to a lot of use. Its ergonomic design gives you plenty of control over how much pressure you apply when you tamp.
The contrast between the high polish of the stainless steel and the black handle makes it a good choice if you’ve got a contemporary style in your kitchen. After all, an important part of a tamper’s job is looking good!
5. Espro Calibrated Espresso Tamper Flat Base
- Consistent espresso, every time - Amazing espresso needs a...
- Ergonomic Design - Just like the perfect espresso, the...
- High-Quality Construction - This stainless steel espresso...
- Coffee bar essentials - The ESPRO Calibrated Tamper is an...
This 58mm coffee tamper costs quite a bit more than the others on our list but has a pretty clever trick up its sleeve. It’s the same brand that manufactures a few of the best French Press coffee makers too!
Features and Specifications:
- Calibrated to deliver 30 pounds of force
- Stainless steel base
- Anodized aluminum handle, black
- Weighs 16 ounces
- One-year factory warranty, no questions asked
This tamper is calibrated to deliver exactly 30 pounds of pressure every time. When you press on it, you will feel a subtle but distinct click when you reach 30 pounds. This takes the guesswork out of tamping and allows you to control one of your variables perfectly.
Espro is a perfect espresso tamper even for a relatively new home barista who hasn’t quite mastered even tamping pressure yet. It would also be a good choice for a low-volume café or restaurant where you want consistent results but your staff doesn’t get much chance to practice pulling shots. For a really high-volume café, this tamper may not be sturdy enough to last in the long run, and experienced baristas may prefer the flexibility of a non-calibrated tamper.
6. LuxHaus Calibrated Tamper for Espresso – 53mm
- YOUR ESPRESSO WILL TASTE BETTER - For perfectionists who...
- FOOD SAFE STAINLESS STEEL - Your health is our #1 priority....
- SAVE TIME AND MONEY - Step up to by far the highest quality...
- IMPRESS YOUR FRIENDS - The elegant red velvet pouch makes...
LuxHaus is the new edition to the family of calibrated tampers. If you are one of the coffee purists judging every step to be perfect then this one might be your right pick.
It’s calibrated so well that you get even pressure all the way to your portafilter at every particle. The result is the great shot of espresso, of course. It might not sound that important step, but yes, it is one that can ruin your coffee cup.
7. ApexstoneEspresso Tamper & Distributor
- 58mm Adjustable Distributor-58mm base designed to work with...
- Low profile makes it easier for barista to tamp with...
- Height is adjustable by it's screw mechanism (no grub screws...
- Solid Food 304 Stainless Steel Base enable you to feel...
These tools are now among the favorites for many professional baristas. It’s designed uniquely that it levels the coffee grounds perfectly and precisely on the portafilter.
The package contains this stainless steel tamper/leveler along with a silicon mat to keep you kitchen clean. For more trust, the tamper is backed by a lifetime warranty which signals it’s quality make and longevity.
Basics of Tamping Perfectly
When tamping, it’s important to apply enough pressure, but how much is enough? Generally, between 30 and 45 pounds of pressure is recommended, and people sometimes practice pressing on a bathroom scale to see what 30 pounds of pressure feel like. As with most aspects of espresso-making, it takes practice to get it right and there are a lot of differing opinions about the details. Some expert baristas will even adjust their tamping pressure to compensate for differences in the grind, roast, and other parameters.
Choosing An Espresso Tamper
When choosing a coffee tamper, it’s also important to get the right diameter to fit your espresso machine’s portafilter. If you are buying it in person, bring a filter basket with you so you can be sure you’re getting the right size. The tamper should fit closely but not tightly inside the basket. It’s better to have a tamper that’s a little bit too small than one that’s too big.
If you’re shopping online, check measurements carefully, and don’t hesitate to send it back if it isn’t exactly the right size. The size listed by the manufacturer doesn’t always exactly match the size when measured, either for filter baskets or for tampers.
To summarize, here are the main points you should think about when choosing your best tamper –
- How experienced are you at making espresso? Some tampers are calibrated to deliver a consistent pressure every time regardless of your skill. This is a feature that may not appeal to you if you’re an expert at pulling shots but for novices, this is a golden point.
- What’s the diameter of your Portafilter? A Portafilter comes in various sizes but the most common size is 58mm. Still, one must have a check on this or your purchase can be a complete waste.
- What’s the weight of the Tamper? A good espresso tamper generally weighs more than 200 gm. So, check on this attribute as less anything than 200 gm is not considered as a good.
- How is the handle to hold? The handle of the tamper is going to connect with your body. It should be comfortable, ergonomic and sturdy to hold.
- How big and strong are your hands? Handles come in different sizes and shapes, and tampers can be heavy or light. Generally speaking, the heaviest tamper you can work with comfortably is the best because it exerts more even pressure on the coffee grounds without applying much force. Usually, a 58mm tamper is used widely, while there are other sizes too but are required by professional baristas only.
- How much use will your tamper get on a daily basis? Some of the tampers are built to last for a long time; others will eventually break under heavy use. There’s a reason why the prices vary so much.
- What color and style are you looking for?You may want something that looks good on your machine, or you may prefer to match the look of your kitchen. You are going to spend a decent amount on tamper so also take color, shape, and material as important considerations. Also color reflects your personality, so don’t choose the wrong one.
- How much can you spend? Tampers can cost as little as a few dollars or as much as a couple of hundred dollars. If you understand tampers and how they work, you can find the best tamper available in your price range. If you are going to use it at home, you might not spend that much but if you are looking a tamper for a coffee shop, you might agree to spend a few hundred for it.
With all of these considerations in mind, we have put together a list of our five favorite espresso tampers that are currently in the market and are regarded as the best ones. We have tried to include a broad range of styles, sizes and price points so that, no matter what your needs and preferences, you’ll be able to find the perfect espresso tamper for you.
FAQs
It is a tool used to pack coffee grounds evenly in the portafilter of an espresso machine which if not done properly will result in poor or weak espresso shot.
Obviously and you might already be having a coffee tamper if you are using an espresso machine. Without a tamper, you would not be able to pack the grounds perfectly into the basket of espresso machine grounds.
Measure the grounds with a weighing scale or a guessing scale, whichever you would like. Put them into the portafilter and then press them using the tamper with enough pressure so that your grounds level up evenly with the wall of the portafilter. This is the very basic way about How to tamp espresso grounds.
It’s a very simple process. First of all, look for the specifications in your espresso machine about portafilter or the provided tamper. If the portafiler size is mentioned in mm, minus the size by 0.75 and this is the adequate size for your tamper. If the tamper size is there, straightly go and buy the same. If you find nothing marked, measure the portafilter’s largest distance from inside in mm and reduce it by 0.75 mm , this will give you the best tamper size to buy.
Wrapping Up
Although, there are many other options of espresso tamper available in the market and preciseness varies a lot. In the above list, we’ve tried to include only those which are perfect in giving a precise push to coffee grounds.
