<Preface>
- The importance of
choosing the right tamper for a perfect cup of espresso
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| Theoretically, everything can be a tamper, the
bottom of a glass cup, plastic pot.......anything
whichever the diameter of the object is fit for
your portafilter. Alhtough everything can be a tamper,
it doesn't mean it's a GOOD tamper.
The job of a tamper is transferring the power evenly
applied by a barista to compress the coffee powder
into "coffee cake" which provide even
compact for preventing the pressurized water from
creating channels in the coffee during brewing.
As you will say, most of the responsibility for
the quality and consistency of the tamp falls on
the barista themselves. I have started to use a
"Terry's Aluminum Tamper" since 2001,
but I still found my shots aren't elapsed evenly
most of time until I got my Reg Barber Tamper on
March 2005 (like an adv :P).
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| - Fresh from Canada! - |
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<<Comparsion
of Different Tampers>> |
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| Rancilo
Original Plastic Tamper |
Terry's
Aluminum Tamper |
Reg
Barber Tall Bubinga
Tamper |
It's
the plastic rounded bottom tamper included with my Silvia.
As I knew, most of other home or professional espresso
machines are also attaching this type of plastic tamper
in their package.
I don't know why Rancilo
and other decent coffee machine manufacturers invest huge
resources in the R&D of the water pressure and temperature
control, but overlooking the importannce of this little
tamper. |
It's
the first tamper I bough for my "Steam" home
espresso machine on 2001.
It's made by aluminum with
flat packing surface. The lower packing surface measures
55mm, and the upper grip measures 50mm.
I used the larger side for
my Silvia for around a year. (Remark: Silvia portafiler
diameter is 58mm) |
It's
the latest and most expensive tamper I got. The handle
is made by Bubinga (African Rosewood). Bubinga is a deep
red African hardwood with a dark grain. All wooden handles
are polished to a beautiful finish and have white inlayed
crowns.
The base shape is flat. The
base metals is stainless steel (304 food grade) in 58mm
diameter. Height: 85mm (3.3in) Weight: 528g (18.5oz) |
At least they should supply the tamper which fit their
portafilter.
(See the dust on the top,
I have never used it since it's here) |
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<Test
On Shot>
- Do it make a better
taste ?-
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Bean for testing:
Pokka Italian Espresso Blend (Dark Roasted, Full
Arabica Bean)
Production Date:
17/02/2005
Testing Date: 11/03/2005 |
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First Test:
Using Terry's Aluminum Tamper |
Tamping
: First light tamping 20lbs power, followed
by a light tap on the portafilter side and then
the 30 lb tamp with a twist, plus a few light tamps
around four sides.
Elapsed Time for the Shot
: 28s |
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As you can see, I have
tested 2 shots by using the same tamping method,
both of them elsape from the same single side since
the undersized&weight tamper can't provide even
compact for preventing the pressurized water from
creating channels in the coffee during brewing.
The coffee cake is collapse and uneven
water flows can be found from the mark on the portafiler.
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Second
Test: Using Reg Barber Tamper |
Tamping
: First light tamping 20lbs power, followed
by a light tap on the portafilter side and then
the 30 lb tamp with a twist.
Elapsed Time for the Shot
: 28s |
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This time the full and rich crema
are elsaped from the both side evenly and the coffee
cake is flat and smooth. Even water flows also can
be found from the mark on the portafiler.
The fit-sized and heaey weight provides a packed
cake of coffee that is an even thickness. And the
balance tamper body between gloss rosewood and stainless
base give me comfort and effective with improved
shot-to-shot consistency and better quality and
quantity crema.
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Other than using it to make espresso,
admiring this fine finishing and outlook is also an
enjoyment.
- No Perfect Shot; No Excuse
Again -
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More About Reg Barger
Reg Barger Enterprises Inc. is located on Vancouver
Island, off the coast of British Columbia, Canada.
They have been designing handcrafted Espresso Coffee
Tampers since 1995.
Their tampers are one of the most famous tampers
on the international market and are often used as
the trophy or prizes in regional, national, and
world Barista competitions. |
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