People in the level-tamp-only and/or light-tamp camp would say that the plastic one works just fine.

I'm perfectly happy with rattleware tampers (very nice bang for the buck)...you can even get them from amazon.

I've actually gotten 2 tampers from the same vendor that the OP asked about. One of his cheapie ones a few years back when I got my first beginner's machine (49mm I think, not sure, both have been "paid forward") and then more recently when I upgraded to a "fancy" machine. For the new one I asked him to custom size it for me with a flat 58.3mm base and with the "Large" aluminum handle. When it came in, it was almost a perfect 58.3 all around, low of 58.28mm, high of 58.30mm. (I paid extra for the custom sizing, so yup, I measured it) Pefectly flat and weighed about a pound. I think 42 bucks (standard tamper price + customizing fee + delivery) for a custom sized tamper was a pretty good deal. Got it in a little more than a week through USPS. I'd buy again. Hope that helps in regards to that specific vendor.

From the home page poll...



So about half of the 2600+ respondents spent $40 or less on their favorite tamper.

I love my lime green Reg Barber C-ripple stainless steel based tamper because... it looks cool and make a cool looking imprint in the coffee

Get a tamper that you like and that feels good to you. Cost will only be an end result of the former.

Hey, we should have a tamper "porn" thread! I'll show you mine if you show me yours...hahahaha

Hello:

How much?
Depends ...

Because of availability and $ issues, I had two tampers turned from different materials, one 58mm for the Nemox type machine I was using at the time and other smaller one when I found and purchased a second hand Pavoni Shirley.

See here:
no decent tampers sold in my country, so I built my own



and here:
My Pavoni Shirley's new tamper



Both get the job done quite well and the total cost for both (IIRC) was around the equivalent of US$30.00. I also have a standard 58mm tamper made from some Al alloy that was included along with a frothing jug and a Cimbali Junior Max when I purchased my second hand Cimbali Junior D/1. It works fine but I rarely use it.

In these years of learning about espresso, espresso machines and techniques (all here at HB), I have come to think that tampers are rather overrated, but that's just my $0.02.

As always, YMMV.

Cheers,

CIV

Hey Carlos, our tampers are cousins

Carlos, your tampers are really beautifully made.
As for me, I think I'll buy something someone else constructed

Hello:

Bezman wrote:your tampers are really beautifully made.

Thank you, I only thought them up, put forth the ideas.

All the manufacturing merit belongs to a good friend of mine, 87 year old Michele D'Appolito. With over 65 years of metalshop experience behind him and the zest of a 30 year old, he has the capacity and knowledge to make any metal lathe sing the blues. =-)

Cheers,

CIV

Bezman wrote:Hi.

I have recently become aware of an ebay store called "Precision Tamper Maker" and it seems that they have tampers of wildly different prices. I would like to know what is to be gained from getting a $50 tamper compared to a simpler, $25 one taste-wise. I don't particularly care about looks.

eBay Precision Tamper Maker is this: http://www.coffeecomplements.com/ His name is Hai Pham.

I have two of his tampers. Very good quality. Just like nyerinla and others mentioned, his is doing a very precise work. You can't go wrong. Just choose a stainless steel base. Not aluminum or anything else.

I don't think I'll ever want use any tamper but a wooden reg barber. Feels perfect in my hand, love the weight distribution more than the metal handled ones.