Questions tagged [tamping]
A step in the espresso brewing process where pressure is forced upon ground coffee to form a tightly compacted puck in the portafilter basket.
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Is my 51mm tamper slightly too small?
I've had a Lapavoni coffee machine for 2 years, but I can't get my espresso right.
The problem I have is quite simple: when I lift the handle to make the water flow, the water flows straight out. I ...
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Why is tamping necessary for espresso machines but not mokas?
Why is tamping necessary for espresso machines but not mokas?
Kingston's How to Make Coffee: The Science Behind the Bean, on how to use a moka, says:
Fill the funnel with enough finely ground coffee ...
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How much leverage pressure is it needed to compress coffee for an espresso?
Some espresso machines come with a lever to compact the ground coffee before the espresso starts the brewing, other machines do the compacting part by themselves.
How much leverage or pressure is it ...
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How to avoid channels when pouring espresso
I've been having issues with my espresso pouring too fast, and I think I'm getting channels (uneven pour, sometimes one side gets blonde then watery pretty quickly). I'm paying a lot of attention to ...
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Can my tamping method damage the basket or portafilter?
I have developed the following tamping method:
press the grinds with the tamper without much force, to smoothen it
leave the tamper in the basket
holding the tamper and the portafilter together, ...
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When should I tamp the coffee?
I have a Sage Dual Boiler coffee machine, using the stock portafilter and baskets. Should I tamp the coffee in the basket and then insert into the portafilter, or insert the basket first into ...
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Ideal Way to control shot extraction with Gaggia Classic
Wanted to know if anyone has a really good, possibly verified method of controlling shot preparation and extraction with an unmodified Gaggia Classic espresso machine. I don't have, nor do I want to ...
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What is the impact of espresso tamper base shape?
As I shop for a new espresso tamper, I see that there are a dizzying array of options for the shape of the base (i.e., the shape of the part that contacts the grounds). Some shapes include convex ("...
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What is essential for a proper tamp?
There are competing theories as to what you should do when tamping grounds in a portafilter. Some of these include:
30 lbs. of pressure, 90* angle
Knocking the side of the portafilter with the tamper
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How do I know how hard to tamp my coffee?
For someone without an expensive machine that can regulate the pressure when tamping, how can I know how hard to tamp, and if I'm tamping too hard?
I make espresso with a counter-top machine, and I ...
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How important is tamping coffee for an espresso machine
I observe that coffee servers (I refuse to use the term barista) will apply pressure to the coffee grounds using a variety of methods and pressure. This seems to vary wildly and I'd like to know how ...
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