Hi, so I've just gotten my first espresso machine, and now am getting all the other necessities, as i'm looking at tamps, i've just realized that they make flat tamps and convex tamps, I read about what the advantage is of having a convex tamp, but am still not sure if I should get a convex or a flat. Could i get some advice?

thanks

Aaron,

Don't over-think this!

There is nothing to it. Tamping (and tampers) is the most overrated part of the whole bit . . .

Flat? Convex? C-curve? Pretty much boils down to personal preference.

1. There is some opinion that a convex or C-curve tamper may "seal" the puck better against the sides of the basket, but then some people tap the tamper against the side of the portafilter and so disrupt any "seal" that may exist.
2. There is some opinion that the shape of the shower screen should (help) determine the shape of the tamper -- a flat screen dictates a flat tamper; a curved screen dictates a curved tamper.

Personally, I subscribe to #1, and I'm not totally sold on #2. For that reason, I have a convex tamper but a flat shower screen.

Also, it's fairly important that the tamper feels comfortable in the hand -- something hard to do online, but nonetheless . . . online is where I have purchased all my tampers. Espresso Parts NW has an extensive selection of tampers, but they are only one source.

Cheers,
Jason

thanks, yeah right after I posted this I like clicked two links and found a plethora of posts with a pretty easy consensus that convex and c-curve is usually used, so i'll just get that

i'm also having trouble finding what the proper size tamper I should get,

I have a new (millenium) la pavoni Europiccola

is this something else i'm over thinking?

Reg Barber makes tampers in any size, even for the Europiccola. He also has a couple more options on the shape of the tamper;

Flat
Euro Curve
US Curve
C-Flat
Ripple
C-Ripple

The Euro is more curved than the US. C means curved sides but flat center. Ripple means concentric rings machined into the flat surface, C-ripple means that with curved sides. The ripples are AFAIK only cosmetic.

Oh, I forgot, the EP Millennium should have a 51mm tamper if I remember correctly. I'll measure mine tomorrow.

It's a 51.

Yup 51mm.

Question: what is your grinder?

Anything less than a Rancilio Rocky, Mazzer Mini/Super Jolly or Baratza Vario and I'd recommend that you just get the cheapest 51mm tamper you can find and put the money towards the grinder. Nothing will make a bigger difference to your coffee - apart obviously from the quality of your beans.

Cheers

Mike

tekufah98 wrote:Could i get some advice?

Searching on flat or convex tamper leads to plenty of discussion. Below are some of the better ones from the first few pages of matches:

Convex corrects errors better than flat tampers?
Reg Barber C-Flat tamper base better than flat?
Tamper bottoms: Flat or convex?
Espro Flat or Convex
Tamping Twaddle
Tamping Twaddle, Part Deux
HB Roadshow - Espresso Tamper Reviews
How important is tamping?

michaelbenis wrote:Yup 51mm.

Question: what is your grinder?

Anything less than a Rancilio Rocky, Mazzer Mini/Super Jolly or Baratza Vario and I'd recommend that you just get the cheapest 51mm tamper you can find and put the money towards the grinder. Nothing will make a bigger difference to your coffee - apart obviously from the quality of your beans.

Cheers

Mike

I got myself a Kyocera hand grinder, since I don't have the money for a high end electric grinder, and it's been pretty great sp far for what it is. I also just got my 51mm convex tamp from espressoparts and it doesn't fit, what's wrong? I got the machine brand new in the beginning of October so I'm pretty damn sure it's a post-1999 machine. The tamp just barely goes less then a half a cm into the portafilter and gets stuck.