An automatic espresso tamper is an important tool if you are a coffee lover. Baristas often use manual tamper or grinder to compress. A good tamping tool evenly grounds the coffee. This can leave them tired and with sore wrists. Using an espresso machine or a leveller for coffee grounds will not produce the same results.
Every good barista wants to make the perfect cup of espresso by using a coffee tamper. But they get confused when purchasing a tamper. There is so much variety in the market that if you do not have information regarding good tamper you might end up buying a costly and useless tamper.
To give you the best guide, we have listed some properties of good tamper and options for you to discover.
Properties of the Best Coffee Tamper
There is a lot of variety of tampers available in the market to make the best shot of espresso. A tamper puts pressure and compresses the coffee grinds so that the maximum amount of caffeine can be extracted from the powder.
A great selection of tampers can be found in the marketplace to create an ideal espresso. A tamper applies pressure and compacts the coffee granules so that the highest concentration of caffeine can be extracted from the coffee beans.
A good quality tamper is usually made of stainless steel. It has various properties that differentiate it from a basic tamper. A manual tamper causes repetitive motion of tamping. It requires a lot of energy and can leave the barista tired by the end of the day.
Whereas an automatic tamping tool does the work on its own. Without putting much effort you can make coffee at your home espresso machine.
There are various characteristics that differentiate tamper from each other. A vast range of them can be bought. Precisely calibrated tampers produce the perfect espresso if it fits the filter basket of your espresso machine. A coffee tamper is usually small in size.
It can range from 55mm to 58mm depending on your machine size. The tamper comes in different shapes and sizes. For instance flat tamper and convex tamper. Always select a tamper that fits your espresso machine perfectly. and is easy to handle.
It is very important that you choose a tamper with a good range of sizes and features. It should be capable to press the coffee beans evenly so that you can extract maximum caffeine from the beans.
Importance of Espresso Tamper
An espresso machine is not enough to make the perfect shot of espresso. If you use a good quality tamper, it can add value to your coffee. Otherwise, it will create a very unpleasant shot.
When it comes to espresso, it is very important for you to know what role a good tamper plays. A calibrated espresso tamper makes your coffee shot ten times better than the regular one. To level the coffee puck equally, the tamping process is important.
When you are making an espresso shot, you add coffee beans and water to your portafilter. Without proper tamping, tool air is filled between the grinds. This results in spreading the water and making differentiated fronts of water trying to pass through the filter. All this causes your coffee to be bland and under-extracted.
A professional barista knows how to level the coffee evenly before tamping. An even distribution of ground beans and putting a good amount of pressure can make great coffee.
A tamper can make sure that your espresso shots are consistently delicious each time. If you precisely follow the procedure of tamping, you will eventually become an expert at creating ideal shots that even surpass those from your favourite local coffee shop.
Here we have listed some of the best automatic tamping tools that can help you in your purchasing decision.
Best Automatic Espresso Tampers
You need to be mindful of what you are looking for in a tamper, otherwise, it will get very hard to find a tamper of your choice.
A high-quality espresso tamper will enhance the process of creating an excellent espresso. A tamper is utilized to firmly pack the caffeine grounds in the basket. Leading to an even extraction and a tastier shot.
You can use a tamper that is easier to use and saves you time. Tampers on the market are manual tamper, push tamper, and force tamper which is the latest version introduced. Choosing a tamper also depends on your budget, you can always choose cheap ones but they will never give the same effect as a high-quality tamper.
A good tamper is a lifelong investment that definitely pays off. If you are a barista looking for some good options to buy automatic tamping tools, here are a few options for you.
1. Espro Calibrated Tamper
This espresso tamper is one of the most trending tamper available in the market. It is a modern design that comes in various sizes and shapes. The size of the tamper is available in two ranges.
Convex Base Size:
Its size ranges from 49mm and 58.5mm. The convex base can also be adjusted to 51mm and 57mm size, depending on your preference.
Flat Base Size:
The flat base Espro calibrated tamper comes in two sizes i.e 53 mm and 58mm.
Characteristics:
If you are a beginner-level barista, this is the best tamper for you. It is easy to use and come in various size that will fit your machine model perfectly. It is made of stainless steel. This calibrated tamper has a handle that is made of aluminium and weighs around 1lb.
It is calibrated to register at 30 pounds of compressing power. Which guarantees that the coffee grounds are firmly and consistently compressed.
It has a good body and shape. It comes in different sizes and is not very expensive. Also, it is factory calibrated.
The features of this tamper make it unique and demanded by coffee lovers.
2. PUQpress Automatic Tamper
Looking for an automatic tamper? This is the right fit for you as PUQpress is a high-quality tamper that provides significant results. The best thing about this tamper is that it is easy to use and produces quick results.
This device is effortless to use, guaranteeing a flawless coffee shot. It applies the perfect amount of pressure so that the grounds remain in the portafilter while extracting the caffeine.
Characteristic:
This tamper has a non-stick tamper finish that reduces coffee ground waste. It has a classic modern design that adds to its feature. You can adjust the flow rate or speed settings according to your preference.
What makes it different is that it can work with all types of portafilters, even the ones with no bottom. It is highly adaptable and offers a lot of benefits at less price.
It guarantees a warranty so now you know it is a longlisting investment. Without wasting any more time add it to your list!
3. PUQPress Mini Automatic Tamper
These types of tamper are famous for their efficiency and professionalism.
PUQPress mini is an automatic small tamper that can handle around 100 tampers per day. The base of the tamper is solid and it is designed in such a way that even beginners can use it.
Characteristics:
This tamper is easy to use and occupies less space. It is best for office use or small setups. This tiny product has a small footprint, measuring 8’6″ tall and 4’9″ deep.
It has 3 modes from speedy to a single and precise mode where pressure is applied to the espresso ground resulting in the perfect cup of coffee.
Moreover, this tamper is an excellent tamping tool that tamps your coffee at a consistent pressure. It can adjust from 20lbs range to 60lbs.
4. Rhinoware Coffee Tamper
Rhino were coffee tamper is my personal favourite tamping tool. It has a classic design and a solid steel body. It has an aluminium handle in addition to a sleek design, that weighs around 1.1lb.
The unique design of this tamping machine makes it stand out and can be used next to any machine. Other than the classy design this tool will help you make espresso like infamous coffee shops.
Size:
The base of the tamper is flat. It comes in 4 different sizes. 53 mm, 57mm , 58mm and 58.4mm.
Characteristic:
This tamper is available in various sizes, so you can choose according to your machine size. It provides a large variety and promising products to buyers. It has a solid steel body which makes it a long-lasting tool. It is affordable and a good tamping tool so you should definitely go for it.
5. PUSH
It is famous for its strong body, entirely made of stainless steel that has no extra flaking. Due to this characteristic, it provides good tamping pressure and makes the perfect cup of coffee. It is a safe tool and is easy to handle.
Characteristics:
It has a base with a diameter of 58.5mm with a variance in height. The height can be 21mm to 33 mm depending on your preference. It weighs around 375g and has a solid steel body.
The coffee tamper with a push function guarantees an ideal tamp each time. Once you’ve brewed the ideal espresso, you can be sure that the tamping factor won’t change for the next shot.
You can customize your push tamper and they come in a selection of amazing colours. You can choose it according to your liking. The only con of this tamper is that it is a bit costly.
6. Force Tamper
This is one of the best tampers on the market. It has a spring mechanism that differentiates it from other tampers. To produce the best coffee this tamper is a tool used to put adjustable pressure on the puck of coffee. It can put around 20 to 40 lbs of pressure, depending on the barista’s requirement.
Base:
This espresso tamper is a tool with 5 different base sizes. The size range is 53mm,54mm,58mm,58.35mm, and 58.5mm. It has a flat base. But the best thing about this tool is that this tamper has a base that can be adjusted. It has thirteen optional bases including convex, ripple, and flat bases.
Characteristics:
To make the perfect espresso shot, a force tamper is used that applies pressure on the puck. It helps in a smooth tamping process that makes the best cup of coffee. It has a unique modern design that will make a beautiful addition to your coffee tools collection.
Force tamper also has a built-in distributor function so you can upgrade your tamper. What else does a barista need? A tamping tool with so many features is definitely worth investing in.
7. Luxhaus Calibrated Espresso Tamper:
Luxus Tamper is an ideal tool available in the market. Due to its unique shape and size, it is popular among baristas.
The best thing about this tool is that it is already calibrated and designed in a way so beginners can easily use it.
Size:
It comes in various sizes and ranges. Its sizes can be 53mm, 48mm, and 51mm. You can choose from these four base sizes available in the market.
Characteristics:
The luxhaus espresso tamper is one of the greatest espresso tampers. It is easy to use as this tamper is calibrated and helps in easy tamping of the coffee mixture. It helps you make quality espresso without much effort due to its easy handling.
It has a handle crafted from plastic and a flat base constructed of stainless steel. The stylish steel body helps the coffee to stay away from any harmful contaminates.
It comes in 4 different sizes as listed above. It applies 30 lbs of pressure while tamping, making the perfect coffee every time. The best thing about this tamper is it is easy on the pocket and weighs less than a pound. This tamper is smaller in size which is perfect for home espresso machines or small setups.
So if you are looking for a good tamping tool this is an excellent option.
8. 2-in-1 Leveller and Tamper:
This 2-in-1 leveller and tamper are famous for their elegant design and unique features. It was designed by Matow. This tamp is designed to last, with a nice adjustable weight. Weighing in at 17.3 ounces, this item is adjustable on both sides to fit a variety of portafilter basket sizes.
Characteristics:
It is constructed from high-quality aluminium and stainless steel . This levelling device and tamper is the tool utilized to even out espresso grounds before pressing down in order to obtain a more uniform extraction.
This tool Grind the coffee into the portafilter basket and compresses it. It applies adjustable pressure when compressing your coffee so you get that perfect shot without putting much effort.
This tool is perfect for use due to its unique features and perfect tamping consistency. You can use it in your office or daily use to get that perfect shot of coffee every time.
How to Choose?
We have listed some of the best tamping tools available in the market. But if you are still confused and can’t choose. Then there are a few key points that you need to look at when finding a tamper.
First, see if you want it for home or office use or a business venture. If you want it for daily use a manual tamper would also work fine but you will have to put in much energy and effort. If you want to start a coffee business it’s recommended that you buy a tamper that is automatic so it is easier to tamp the coffee.
your budget also plays a major role in your decision to buy a tamping tool. I would recommend you get a tamping tool that is not very expensive and have multiple built-in features.
Tamping tools come in various sizes, you can see what suits your espresso machine and fits it perfectly. Choose a tamper with multi features and advanced technologies. Most tampers have an adjustable base so they can be adjusted according to barista requirements.
Conclusion
A flat-bottomed tool called an espresso tamper is used by baristas to press coffee grounds. The coffee maker can evenly distribute water through the coffee grounds when they are compressed into a flat puck. You can make the best coffee with help of a good tamping tool.
The decision depends on your individual taste and the tamping tool in question. Firstly, observe its weight and determine if the tamper looks well-made. It should be easy to use and handle. Make sure the tamper evenly distributes the coffee puck and you get your perfect shot of espresso.
At the end of the day, the most important thing is for you to find your ideal cup of espresso. If you put your faith in our selection of 2022 espresso tampers, we are sure that you will produce an ideal shot every time.
