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Matt Perger's nutating tamping technique

Hi Cremas,

Since I saw the World Barista Championships this year on Livestream, I took a keen interest in Matt's nutating technique and subsequently adopted it in my daily shots at work and at home with great results.

Basically the technique goes like this: Dose/ collapse grinds/distribute/ tamp with nutating, rotating twirl, ensuring to keep the puck level with a twist to finish/ wipe and clean then lock in portafilter and brew.

The nutating twirl distributes the grounds around the basket, forces down and compacts them while allowing air to escape.

Ran a half dozen blind A/B comparison tests with the shots. One using conventional straight tamping technique, and the other using the nutating tamp.

My colleagues tasted and found distinctive differences. The nutated tamp created a fuller, sweeter and more flavoursome shot.

The pour from the group was more syrupy and deeper in color with a slightly longer time extracting before blonding.

The differences should be obvious regardless of whatever type and quality of grinder.

Have found the grinder needed be adjusted coarser when shots became too tight and the dosing increased slightly.

In the working environment I found the frequency of channeling is now very minimal.

Here's a link, which may describe it better than what I wrote, and hopefully, you will find improvements in your espresso.

Comments

  • Interesting ... I have just run a couple of shots using this technique and it appears to be giving me a longer pour .
  • Do the A and B comparison test. Run a shot using conventional way then run the other using the nutating technique, then get someone to taste. When you say longer pour, you mean it takes a longer time to fill the required amount?
  • I've used the nutating tamp with VST baskets to great effect. 
  • I have been doing this or something similar for as long ask can remember Didn't know it had a name  ;D KK
  • on 1379145384:
    When you say longer pour, you mean it takes a longer time to fill the required amount?
    More volume before blonding , Maybe the nutating tamp helps if the distribution is a bit off.
  • on 1379152382:
    I have been doing this or something similar for as long ask can remember
    Ditto, or +1 as they say nowadays
  • I do understand the technique has been around for quite a long time now. A few of the long term members have adopted this style. There are some who are not aware of the nutating tamp. Their discovery will perhaps bring some sort of improvements in their coffee making.
  • on 1379227603:
    I do understand the technique has been around for quite a long time now. A few of the long term members have adopted this style. There are some who are not aware of the nutating tamp. Their discovery will perhaps bring some sort of improvements in their coffee making.
    Quite right to start a thread on it Every bit of quality information to help in ones coffee journey is welcome KK
  • Love the nutating tamp...have doine it for years and find it  much easier than the straight-down-straight-away. Changing over to this way of tamping made a huge difference in the shot quality, indeed more sweet and longer 'slow' thick pour. ;) L
  • on 1379227603:
    I do understand the technique has been around for quite a long time now. A few of the long term members have adopted this style. There are some who are not aware of the nutating tamp. Their discovery will perhaps bring some sort of improvements in their coffee making.
    Agreed, I think Another Jim over at Home Barista was the first to use the wonderful term 'nutating', about 10 years ago from memory. The interesting thing to me is that a technique which was apparently developed and used in the domain of the enthusiastic home coffee tragic, has now made it into the forefront of professional barista competition! Its not the only one, Matt has also used single dosing (from a bulk grinder) as have other competitors, dose weighing and I think I have seen shot weighing too. I guess the keen amateur has a lot more time to play round with developing techniques and also can just tip sink shots down the drain after a sip, doesn't work so well with paying customers!
  • I found that even though the nutating tamp does take up an extra second in comparison to straight tamping, it does make up for it in less channelling and less sink shots in a commercial environment, not to mention saving a few dollars in coffee too. Shots seem to have little to no striping in the pour, it comes out in a uniform color from the ristretto to the end of the espresso stage. You don't have to tamp down too hard to finish off. Just ensure to level off the puck with the tamper after the nutating sequence, polish and clean, brew. Feedback has been very favourable.
  • Have noted it works especially well with VST baskets since the method slows the extraction down. Has anyone had to adjust their grinder a bit coarser?
  • I use the same technique from time to time but I didn't know it had a special name for it Can't say I've noticed a significant difference in shot quality but i have not been looking that closely I would imagine that if your espresso machine has automated pre infusion it would probably negate the benefits of this technique anyway Anyone had any luck with that?
  • I use the Marzocco Linea at work. Does make a difference on that particular machine, same for the Silvia and Oscar at home.  :thumb: Pity I couldnt try that technique on a Strada ( with pre-infusion) I used to work on, anyway..
  • it works on a Lever like my Izzo, with pre infusion.
  • just tried it with a double espresso based latte and was impressed with the results, too soon though to say if its better than my usual dose, collapses, flat tamp, and polish routine - and will probably need to taste a couple of 'spros side by side to do a 'proper' evaluation but that will have to wait till later in the week when Im back at work coz now I just need coffee! P
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