Tamping with single spout portafiler...??

[electricjesster]

I have a silly question - how do all of you tamp with a single spout portafilter?
I've always used a double spout portafilter but recently decided to use a single spout. Since the spout is off to the side, it's really hard to push down and tamp it. The only thing I can think of is making some cheesy little jig to hold it.

Does anyone have this problem?

thanks!

[inputusername]

I have a silly question - how do all of you tamp with a single spout portafilter?
I've always used a double spout portafilter but recently decided to use a single spout. Since the spout is off to the side, it's really hard to push down and tamp it. The only thing I can think of is making some cheesy little jig to hold it.

Does anyone have this problem?

thanks!

Try the Bumper Portafilter Tamp Stand & Rest...it should work nicely for you:

http://www.espressoparts.com/prod...mp_Stand_Rest.html

http://www.chriscoffee.com/produc.../bumbertamperstand

[cafeIKE]

I found it easier to hold the tamper piston up, quickly invert the PF and whack it down on the tamper.

Seriously, with a little practise, unless making gorilla tamps, it's easy. Rest the PF level on the counter. Hold the tamper so thumb, index and middle fingers form triangle around the piston. Use your finger tips to align the tamper with the basket and press the piston with the fingers.

I've seen some baristas rest the PF at an angle, but they have half tamped the basket with their hand, loading a 18 or 20g double.

[Dink0617]

I had considered the Bumper stand but for $40 I felt it was a little steep for what it actually is. I bought a small wooden pencil box for a dollar at a thrift store, cut a slot in one of the sides, works fine. While it may look a little "cheesy" it does the job.

[Mark08859]

You could simply remove the basket, tamp, and then place the basket back in the PF.

[electricjesster]

Thanks for the suggestions! I tried removing the basket and tamping. I got all frazzled trying to get it back into the portafilter after it snapped into place and loosen the coffee.

[r-gordon-7]

I guess that's the advantage of ridgeless baskets - they're easier to place inside the portafilter after tamping, without disturbing the tamped grounds. (Their disadvantage comes later, when the basket takes flight during an errant knock somewhere near the knockbox... )

r-gordon-7

[zin1953]

I guess that's the advantage of ridgeless baskets - they're easier to place inside the portafilter after tamping, without disturbing the tamped grounds.

AMEN!

(Their disadvantage comes later, when the basket takes flight during an errant knock somewhere near the knockbox... )

I have never had that happen.

[DavidMLewis]

My solution, back before I got the bottomless PF, was to go to the hardware store. I found a black PVC pipe adapter, 2 1/2" as I recall, that fit the bottom beautifully. I had to take a file and cut a notch for the handle, and I had a very functional and aesthetically acceptable tamping stand for about $2. If you were in Santa Cruz I'd give it to you, but it would cost more to mail than it would for you to make.

Best,
David

[cannonfodder]

Thanks for the suggestions! I tried removing the basket and tamping. I got all frazzled trying to get it back into the portafilter after it snapped into place and loosen the coffee.

Take the spring out of the portafilter and you can just drop in the basket. You will have to hold it with your thumb so it does not fall out when you knock out the puck. I purchased the bumper stand and consider it worth every penny I invested. It works good for singles, doubles and gives you a nice elevated and padded bottomless tamping stating. The tamper sits nicely in it as well.

[electricjesster]

Well, the cheap side of me won over - I took DavidMLewis's suggestion and made one out of a piece of plastic tubing. Just gave it a try and it works great. Looks a little cheesy and I need to file the edges a little, but for $1.50...

[RapidCoffee]

I have a silly question - how do all of you tamp with a single spout portafilter?
I've always used a double spout portafilter but recently decided to use a single spout. Since the spout is off to the side, it's really hard to push down and tamp it.

Just for completeness: you can tamp reasonably well without any external devices, by resting the portafilter on the edge of the countertop. But I also recommend either a) prepping a ridgeless basket outside the PF or b) using the Bumper tamper stand.

If you're gonna go spouted, it might as well be a single spout.

[joshuak]

you can also rest the very front of the pf against the edge of your counter so that the spout is abutted against it, and tamp there.

o===[   ]_____________
     \/ | Counter edge


i wonder if my picture will resemble at all...

[Mark08859]

Just for completeness: you can tamp reasonably well without any external devices, by resting the portafilter on the edge of the countertop. But I also recommend either a) prepping a ridgeless basket outside the PF or b) using the Bumper tamper stand.

If you're gonna go spouted, it might as well be a single spout.

I do have the Bumper tamper stand. But, in all honesty, it is simply easier (for me anyway) to tamp into the PF basket in stand-alone mode. I have removed the retaining spring/clip from my PFs and have never had a problem with a "flying" PF basket while using my knockbox.

[r-gordon-7]

I have removed the retaining spring/clip from my PFs and have never had a problem with a "flying" PF basket while using my knockbox.

Were my hand-to-eye coordination only half as good as yours!

r-gordon-7

[babola]

In my case, Bumper tamping stand is definitely worth every cent. At $40 one could hardly argue against it, it gives me an elevated flat and rubber padded tamping surface, and works for naked, single or double spouted portafilters, it even works for those longer (XL) spouts. It duplicates as a tamper stand or resting place as well. The front round rubber base part is excellent for slight vertical knock to level the grounds in the p/f prior to distribution and tamping.
Needless to say it's also my wife's favourite since I'm not putting any more dents into a benchtop

Don't hesitate to get one, I as many was a bit sceptical prior to purchase, but love it to bits now.

[stefano65]

Take a piece of a 4x4 as tall as is a comfortable working high from your counter and your elbow
drill a 2" hole in the middle deep enough for the portafilter and spout to seat in it
then drill 2-3 hole in the left side as deep as the spout
painted any color to match your counter
done
15 minutes of time and a scrap of wood

[erics]

Another good solution, certainly repeated in some previous posts above, is to:

a. Remove the springs from all of your PF's and tamp the basket in the "unused" PF on a rubber mat.
b. The basketless PF you will use is sitting in the machine - nice and hot.
c. Do your flush, remove the PF, shake and wipe dry, insert the prepped basket.
d. Pull shot.

Knocking the grounds out of the basket (by itself) is never a problem as long as you let it cool a little.

[HB]

I either tamp with the portafilter wedged against the counter's edge, or remove the portafilter retainer clip and drop in a new basket for each shot. Since I'm frequently testing equipment, I've gotten into the (bad) habit of weighing each dose precisely. I should follow my own advice from Exercises for tuning your barista techniques and practice volumetric coffee dosing more often.

[cafeIKE]

Please see How important is tamping? for my latest escapade