Anyone make/sell coffee tampers?

[Ron Dunn]

A coffee tamper is used to press ground coffee into the spigot of an espresso machine. They're usually made with a turned wooden handle, and a face of a disc of metal such as copper or brass.

I was about to go and hunt for one in local shops, but it suddenly occurred to me that there might be someone in the forum who would rather have the money.

Let me know if you're in this business

Ron.

[Sawdust Maker]

I haven't but have seen examples and had thought of making a couple for something to do. Better then the plastic one which came with my machine.
Any idea what shape you would like? and timber? With a hardwood I don't think a metal disc would be required.

[starr]

I turned one up from a small piece of Jarrah, finished with bees wax. There is no need for a metal bottom.

It works well. The shape can be whatever is pleasing to the hand, as long you turn the bottom to fit the coffee holder exactly.

[BobL]

Here is my tamper set (I have a bunch of plastic and toy tampers but these are for serious coffee making.

From the left

Hand carved sandalwood, full thread here.
This one is my favorite by far.

Next is a commercial one in Jarrah (this is the first one I bought and the only serious one I have with a flat base, all the others are curved)

The next one is hand carved spalted pear wood

Then a blackboy and cork model

Lastly my only turned handle in crapiata - I was going to give this one away but I decided to keep it and as I had a spare base I mounted it - I will replace it with either Huon, apricot or apple WIGRTI.

A curved metal base is near essential to evenly generate the 13.63 kg down force across the coffee in the basket. The shape of the curve varies with shape and depth of the base and the length of granny's nose

To see "the guru" of coffee tampers go to http://www.coffeetamper.com/

No I am not a coffee geek, well not as much as I am a ww geek these days.

[Ozkaban]

that's a nice collection, Bobl.

I'd love to make some tamps, but I don't have a decent way of making a metal base. How do you do yours - do you make your own? I know you can use wood, but I would prefer the metal.

There's a lot of argument about whether the base should be slightly curved, or flat. But like most things in coffee, I tend to find whatever way tastes good to me and stick to that!!!

This guy makes and sells them - very expensive though (but they are brilliant)
http://www.coffeetamper.com.au/

Cheers,
Dave

[rsser]

Curved as in concave or convex?

[Ozkaban]

convex - usually by about 1.5mm or so across the width of the tamp.

[Sturdee]

I'm not so much interested in the tampers but rather a base for holding the spigot thingy onto. Currently have to usethe edge of the kitchen table.


Peter.

[BobL]

This guy makes and sells them - very expensive though (but they are brilliant)
http://www.coffeetamper.com.au/

That's where my Jarrah handled one is from - Pullman Tampers.

One very sensitive test of how well a barista tamps is to get them to use a naked or crutchless portafilter. Like this.


If you do it right the coffee looks like this dripping honey coming direct from the basket.


If it's not freshly roasted, ground or tamped correctly it will come out as little squirts and jets. These cannot be seen with a conventional portafilter handle. The crutchless portafilter teaches you to do all these things right which in turn makes a better coffee.

[BobL]

I'm not so much interested in the tampers but rather a base for holding the spigot thingy onto. Currently have to usethe edge of the kitchen table.


Peter.

This is what I use - twas made for me as a birthday present but one of the guys at work. The portafilter (or Spigot) sits in between the two bits of wood on the LHS. Works great!

[Ozkaban]

Hi Bob,

Is that a picture of you extracting coffee or a stock photo ???

Like your knock box. Is it the bottom half of a 2l milk carton in there? Very nifty.

cheers,
Dave

[BobL]

Hi Bob,

Is that a picture of you extracting coffee or a stock photo ???

Like your knock box. Is it the bottom half of a 2l milk carton in there? Very nifty.

I took those photos back in about 2004 when I made my first crutchless.

The knock box has a plastic insert - cut down from a taller plastic box to fit the space. It's about the same size as a 2L milk carton. It stops the water from any sloppy pucks making a mass of the wood. These days I line the box with a plastic bag.

[nalmo]

I've made a few tampers for friends, generally out of Red Gum, washed scrubbed & left natural. I make them flat across the bottom - not sure about the cocave/convex discussion. The water pressure would be even across the face of the "plug" of coffee until the initial seal is broken.

Another little coffee turning exercise was to replace a broken handle on a "Elektra" machine - the old fashioned type with a large lever which pulls a plunger up against the spring to generate the pressure as the coffee is pulled.

http://www.coffeeitalia.com.au/prodi...rass/lever.jpg

Excellent spindle turning practice as it had to match the other handle on the machine which had not broken - plenty of beads coves & shoulders. Just wish I could get that syruppy looking coffee out of my machine.

[Sturdee]

This is what I use - twas made for me as a birthday present but one of the guys at work. The portafilter (or Spigot) sits in between the two bits of wood on the LHS. Works great!

Thanks Bob, seems simple enough to make, will be on top of my list once I've finished insulating and reorganising my workshop.


Peter.

[RETIRED]

I'm glad I am cultured and drink tea.