Compressore tamper with Silvia?

[petunia]

First post - been reading here for awhile. Hiyas.

(Crosspost warning: I did get some help at CG for the following question, but seem to have hit a dead end. So I'm here in the hope of some more specific advice, I guess.)

I finally got myself a Silvia, but I've known for months what kind of tamper I want. I had the chance to try several different handles and, what can I say, my hand likes the Compressore. End of discussion there. (Well, the Tamper Roadshow did help - if everybody who tried the Comp. had hated it, I would have had to rethink.) Where I'm hung up is on the piston. Flat or American curve - six on one side, half-dozen on the other... some say it doesn't even matter, I know. I'm more confused by the fact that the handle *can* accept other pistons, which may expand my options... I just don't know what other pistons it might accept, besides those of other Espressoparts tampers.

So for starters, any info on what other pistons will fit this handle? Also, has anybody here used a Compressore with a Silvia? What piston did you go with, how did you like it, etc.? (Bonus question... anybody know why the Espressoparts website is always so slow? )

[HB]

The Compressore is an exclusive espressoparts.com design. Needless to say, any piston they make fits it. The graphic you see in the HB masthead is in fact a Compressore.



According to the poll flat or convex?, the domed (convex) ones are more popular. But don't let that sway you, order two pistons and decide for yourself.

[Psyd]

Also, has anybody here used a Compressore with a Silvia? What piston did you go with, how did you like it, etc.?

I had an old skull head shift knob whose eyes light up when you push a lil button, so I, of course, had to make a tamper out of it. I got a curved EP base and the Silvia is just happy with it. I used to use a flat based 'Rosewood' tamper (a bit of a knockoff RB) and it was fine, but she seems a bit happier with the americurve. Odd, because I started out in the 'match the tamp to the shape of the dispersion screen' camp.

[petunia]

I had an old skull head shift knob whose eyes light up when you push a lil button, so I, of course, had to make a tamper out of it.

What, no pictures???

I've been reading some more, and curved seems to have a reputation for being more forgiving. But I've been told that a lot of tampers don't exactly fit, and that without a curve to make up for it, a flat piston's extractions will really suffer. I'm a little new to be going the custom route imho, but it is interesting.

I'm leaning heavily towards convex, but for $20 each I may very well get both pistons. Flat could force me to learn better technique. Now if I just knew what that was, exactly...