To make the perfect cup of espresso every coffee maker needs a tamper. Before deciding which tamper is best we need to know what is a tamper.
A good espresso shot cannot be made without an espresso machine, however, a tamper is an essential process in order to ensure the best results. Tamping applies pressure to the ground coffee beans and is a crucial step in making the perfect shot.
If you don’t use a proper tamper, the coffee granules will not be equally distributed. A good temper helps the beans to be compressed in the portafilter. You will not be able to brew a perfect cup of coffee if you do not use a tamper of good quality.
To know the best tampers available in the market we first need to know a few details about this tool. Its significance and a few characteristics before purchasing it.
What is an Espresso Tamper?
It is a tool that is used to compress the coffee beans evenly. It packs the coffee bean into the filter of the machine. Then it puts pressure on coffee grounds so that an equal amount of caffeine is extracted. Most tampers are made of stainless steel. The steel body gives it a shiny look and can be used for a longer period of time.
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 choose a tamper that fits your espresso machine perfectly.
There are characteristic of tamper that makes them different. A wide range of them is available in the market that attracts a coffee maker. Precisely calibrated tampers produce the perfect espresso if it fits the filter basket of your espresso machine.
Your personal preference plays a major role when it comes to choosing a tamper. You can either use an automatic tamper or a manual one. They come in different sizes and shapes. The type of tamper you are purchasing depends on your need. For example, some are convex, others are flat and can give different results based on their characteristics.
Characteristic of the Best Espresso 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.
There is an extensive selection of tampers, ranging from basic plastic tampers to top-of-the-line stainless steel ones. A tamper plays a vital role in making espresso. No matter which tamper you chose to make coffee, Make sure it is capable of pressing the ground coffee evenly with sufficient pressure.
If you buy a cheap tamper the taste of your espresso will be completely different. You can also use a manual tamper. A manual tamper will take a lot of physical energy. It will leave you tired by the end of the day. If you like working with your tamper, you will enjoy extracting caffeine from powdered coffee.
The base of a coffee tamper is important as it plays a significant role in the tamping process. The flat surface also creates an even coffee puck. Then tamping applies pressure and compresses it evenly. So equal caffeine is extracted from it. Make sure the tamping tool is small in size, so it is easy to handle. Moreover use a good quality tamper so it is long-lasting.
Why Coffee Tamper is Needed?
If you are craving a good cup of espresso and you use your coffee maker to make it. I can bet you will not get the same results without an outstanding tamper.
The question is ” why is tampering so important?”. A tamper is an essential tool that compresses the beans in the portafilter, which results in better extraction and a more flavorful cup. It is not necessary to make coffee but the taste can vary a lot.
The process of tampering is all about applying definite pressure. So that there is even extraction of coffee. Tamper is a great process to add a balanced flavour to your coffee. Perfect tamping is not a hard procedure. If you use a good quality tamping tool then it is quite convenient.
The tamper evens out the surface of the coffee puck. It gives the water room to fill the portafilter above the grounds, This procedure improves the effectiveness of coffee soaking. A tamper is essential for enhancing the flavour of the coffee.
A tamper can help ensure that your espresso shots are consistently tasting delicious every time you take a sip of your coffee. If you follow accurate technique and continuous procedure of tamping, You will eventually become an expert at making perfect espresso shots better than your favourite local coffee shop.
Best Tamper Available in the Market
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 coffee grounds in the basket. Leading to an even extraction and a tastier cup of espresso.
There is a wide selection of tampers available in the marketplace, from basic wooden ones to top-of-the-line stainless steel versions, which can make it much simpler to produce a cup of delicious coffee.
A flat base that is equal to the size of the filter basket and good a quality steal tamper is what makes a difference in the espresso extraction process.
This is important to guarantee that all the espresso grounds are packed firmly into the filter holder. Making sure a uniform and even extraction. An excellent stainless steel tamper also helps to stop channelling. This can only happen if the grounds are not compressed uniformly.
You can use automatic or manual tamper which is easier to use and saves you time. Another option is force tamper which is the latest version introduced recently. Choosing a tamper also depends on your budget, you can always choose cheap ones but they will never give the same effect as an expensive tamper.
Below we have listed some of the tampers ranked according to their properties and design.
Best Espresso Tampers 2023
Baristas often get confused when it comes to choosing a good quality tamper. This is because there is so much variety available in the market that it gets hard to select a single one.
The best thing about modern tampers is they can be customized according to your style and machine model. It is always advisable that you invest in good tamper as it is a long-term investment that will definitely pay off.
To make things easier for you, we have listed the top 8 espresso tampers on the market :
1. Espro Calibrated Espresso 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 size of the flat base Espro calibrated tamper is 53 mm and 58mm.
Characteristics:
If you are a beginner-level barista, this is the 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. The handle 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.
No doubt it is a complete package for a barista.
2. Luxhaus Calibrated Tamper
Luxhaus 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.
3. Rattleware Round Handle Tamper
The Rattleware Coffee Tamper has a traditional classic look, is made of stainless steel, and has an ABS handle. Its handles come in different sizes from small to large depending on the barista’s liking.
It is extremely lightweight, weighing in at less than 1 lb, which makes it very easy to work with and its classic design sets it apart. The flat surface of the tamper base ensures a consistent tamp each time. The solid 1lb weight offers enough pressure for efficient tamping.
Base Size:
It comes in 3 different sizes: 53mm, 54mm, and 58.5mm.
Characteristic:
It has a classic traditional design with two different sizes of handles available. It has a solid body that evenly compresses coffee and makes the tamping process easy.
Using rattle wear tamper will improve the experience of making great espresso at home.
4. Motta Flat Base Coffee Tamper
This professional flat-base coffee tamper is famous for its design and wooden handle. It is cheaper than other tampers available in the market and is a great tool for tamping.
It is unique in design as particular emphasis has been put on its wooden grip. You can use your thumb to press down on it instead of solely pushing with the handle. It weighs less than 1 pound and is very convenient to use.
Base Size:
The Motta tamper is designed in such a way that it has a flat base of 58mm. It is made of steel which makes its body stronger.
Characteristics:
You can make a cup of espresso at home using this tamper. It is easy to use and handle as it weighs only 14 ounces.
It is an Italian-made tool that has a fine stainless steel body and applies good pressure to coffee. Moreover, it is cheaper in price. What else does a barista need?
5. Barista Hustle Tamper
Barista tamper is famous for its elegant design. It was designed by the famous Matt Perger. This tamp is designed to last, with a replaceable base and a pouch for storage. It is constructed from high-quality aluminium and stainless steel flat surfaces.
It reduces channelling by suction technology. It eliminates the vacuum and provides a more stable space for tamping.
Base Size:
It has a flat base and the size is 58mm.
Characteristic:
It has a sleek design with modern features. it weighs only 0.5lb and is a great tamping tool.
It has an easily replicable base and comes with a free case. The best thing about this tamper is that it is not very expensive. It is a longlisting tool so every barista can buy it.
6. 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 the best coffee.
Size:
The base of the tamper is flat. It comes in 4 different sizes. 53 mm, 57mm , 58mm and 58.4mm.
Characteristic:
This tamper comes 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.
7. Purple Mountain Tamper
Purple mountain tamper 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 espresso. It is a safe tool that can also go in the dishwasher.
Base Size:
It has a flat base that comes in 3 different sizes. The sizes are 53mm, 54mm, 49mm and 58mm.
Characteristics:
This tamper is light weighted. It weighs around 1.5 lbs. It is easy to use and applies good pressure while tamping the coffee.
8. Force Tamper
As the name says, force tamper is famous for the force it applies while tamping. It has a spring mechanism that applies force. The pressure ranges from 20-40lbs. You place your tamper and push it downwards. The base automatically goes down and tamps the coffee.
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 the force tamper has a base that can be adjusted. It has thirteen optional bases including convex, ripple, and flat bases.
Characteristics:
It has a sleek elegant style that makes it stand out. It has unique features for example adjustable pressure and auto leveller technique. Due to its spring mechanism, it produces consistent tamping, which makes the perfect cup of coffee.
If you are looking for a good competitive tamping tool in the market. this is definitely the one.
Coffee Leveller vs Automatic Tamper?
There are different types of espresso tampers available in the market. Baristas often get confused about whether to buy a leveller or tamper when it comes to espresso making.
The question is: does a leveller produce the same coffee as produced by a high-quality tamper? The answer is clearly no. A leveller simply flattens the surface of coffee so it is easier to tamp the beans. It produces the polished surface of a puck of coffee which can hold its shape when it comes out of the portafilter.
Using a leveller makes the tamping process easier. It also enhances the flavour and aroma of coffee making the ideal espresso coffee. Some baristas prefer levelling the coffee first with the help of a leveller. They also use espresso distribution tools in addition to the tamping process.
So without a tamper, you won’t be able to get a puck of ground coffee. This can produce different results.
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.
People often invest in new espresso machines for better results but end up using cheap tampers. The right tamper will help you brew the perfect coffee.
Remember to choose the tamper that has a good design and features. Make sure it fits your machine size. other than that it all comes down to your choice.
The only thing that matters at the end of the day is getting your perfect cup of espresso. If you trust our choice and choose one of the espressos tampers of 2023 listed, we can bet you will get the perfect shot of espresso every time.
