Tampers - Which one?

EliotR

Ok, heres the Question.

Which is better?  A flat tamper?  Or a curved one?  If its curved?  Why so?  What does a curve do? I am looking at getting a reg barber tamper off the net, should I just get a flat one? But I will wait for my new machine first, still leaning towards an ECM Giotto I think and an MACAP M5 Mini...  MmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmM

Remus

i have both and i don;t notice the difference between either in the coffee. i prefer the flat one though.

mattyj

the best tamp is one that fits your baskets perfectly. There's a guy in Adelaide who makes tamps to fit - they have nice Jarrah handles, and a heavy s/s base, that he fits to your baskets ... you can either send your baskets to him, or measure them for him, and he makes them to fit. I thnk Reg Barber do this, but being a company based in the states, it would probably cost heaps in postage, and would take a long time... Greg (the guy in Adelaide) seems to think that flat is best, but from what I've read, it seems like an age-old debate that's never been fully resolved.

Remus

now thats interesting. cos my tamp does miss by a mm or so. doesn;t sound like much but it can get messy and annoying if your in a rush. a perfect fit may be a good investment. not fussed on the timber handles. i kinda like my plain steel one. matty i bet yours has your name engraved on it doesn't it mate ?

EliotR

Does Greg in Adelaide have a website or anything along those lines, I am pretty interested, Contact details would be useful.

sharkboy

If you Australian Google search Pullman tampers I think you find what you are looking for... Not wanting to sound melodramatic, but I'm not sure about commercial posting rules. No vested interest here just trying to help out. -Stephen-

EliotR

thanks  ;D

Reschsmooth

I have a Pullman tamper (which I got for my birthday - thanks again Pab). It has the jarra handle. I love the weight of it and the fit in my hand. I have also tried the all aluminium ones and find the weight of the pullman one gives me [the perception of] more control. The other benefit is that Greg Pullman is now (or has for a while) including markings around the base to give you an idea of how level your tamping is. Cheers P

mattyj

...not fussed on the timber handles. i kinda like my plain steel one. matty i bet yours has your name engraved on it doesn't it mate ?

I don't have one yet! My tamp is a cheapy from a homeware store, an incasa one that's really heavy ... but a mm too small. My wife is getting me one for our wedding anniversary (a few weeks away!), and it won't be engraved with my name, it'll be engraved with '30th October, 2004' or something like that, so I don't ever forget wedding anniversaries...

mattyj

actually, to elaborate a bit on the flat/convex debate, apparently convex tamps are a bit more forgiving in the cafe's when there's a rush - I guess when you're working quickly, it could be easier to mess up the distribution, or not get it as good as when you're not rushing. The convex base sort of pushes more coffee grinds to the edges of the basket, evening out the distribution a bit from the middle lump that grinders seem to put out. Also, I've noticed that my shower screen and the bottom of my double basket are ever so slightly convex, so in theory, a slightly convex tamp would match the screen and basket, creating a more even puck ... in conformity ...

Gonzo

Some machines have flat showers, other have slightly rounded showers. a) Ideally, purchase a tamper that is suited to your machine but b) Accept that ultimately, it probably doesnt matter which you use because there are going to be other deciding variables if you start "analysing" the process in such minute detail. G.

pab

I've had a Pullman tamper for over a year now for my Giotto (thanks again Pat), and it is a wonderful piece of equipment - nice look, weight and feel. As for thebuying experience, I got my brother, aka, Reschsmooth, one for his brithday and it took around a week to manufacture and receive (including engraving). Can't complain!!!

JM

The theory I read was that slight curve pushes coffee against the sides of the portafilter better than a flat one will - which may therefore lessen the chance for water to take a fast-track shortcut down the inside.

mattyj

that's one of the theories, but the danger is having the centre of the puck less thick/dense, and directing all the channelling there. like I said, long argument that's never really been sorted out.

FreshCoffee2

Yes this is true, But I personally am a fan of the "JM" theory. I wont use a tamper with a big curve in it however, preferring  just a slight curve. Perhaps this is the best of both worlds. Regardz FC.