I've had my Quickmill Anita now for a few months and things are going well. I'm really enjoying learning about espresso.

I'm using the Rancilio nekkid PF with the double basket that came with the Anita. I also use the Bumper tamper that is convex. It seems to be a hair too small, and waaaay too small for the double basket that came with the nekkid PF. How snug should a tamper fit the basket? I don't really think I like the convex tamper either. Gonna try a flat one.

I've also been using a bathroom scale(cheap $5 dial type) for checking my tamp. Wondering if anyone knows of a cheap digital scale that is accurate? My scale is not very accurate as I've checked it with weights. It would be one thing if it read the same every time even if the reading is wrong, but I get different readings with the same weight.

Of course I have to thank everyone reading this as I'm sure I've read something by you or you answered a previous noob question about which machine to get yada yada yada. So thanks. I admit I was getting frustrated when I first got the machine as it was my first and also the first time I ever pulled shots period. This site has so much info that there is no doubt it helped me tremendously, but I also had too much information. System overload. I've since gone to Zen mode. Zen Rocks.

ron

rferoni wrote:It seems to be a hair too small, and waaaay too small for the double basket that came with the nekkid PF. How snug should a tamper fit the basket?

As long as it doesn't bind, it's a matter of preference. I like to "Staub" tamp as described in Dose, Distribute, Tamp. Repeat:

The Staub tamp focuses on getting the coffee off the sides of the basket by tamping once in the center, four times at the points of the compass, each time lifting the tamper out of the basket, and finally a light polishing tamp. There's not a lot of clearance between a tamper and the sides of the basket, so saying that you're tamping the "edge" is a bit of a misnomer. Professionals may not have the time for the added steps with a long line of harried customers, but since I have only a few tries at a great shot during the work-week before heading out the door, I believe it is worth the extra time assuring that the tamp is not canted and the puck is tamped firmly all along its perimeter.

rferoni wrote:Wondering if anyone knows of a cheap digital scale that is accurate? My scale is not very accurate as I've checked it with weights. It would be one thing if it read the same every time even if the reading is wrong, but I get different readings with the same weight.

Hmm-m, my Walmart variety dial bathroom scale works fine, though personally I would put the importance of precise tamp pressure near the bottom of potential contributing factors to exceptional espresso. If you can tamp within 5-10 pounds each time, that's more than enough consistency for a "newbie".

I have two tampers, generic 57mm flat and custom 58.25mm convex. With reasonable doses, there is no difference. The larger diameter is a tad tidier. Since I clean off the group pre shot, it's a none issue.

Rather than trying to tamp by pressure, try tamping by position. IF your dose is consistent, a similar pressure will compress the coffee to the same volume. With the Bumper and a double basket containing ~15g, a reasonable tamp is obtained when the upper corner of the piston is about even with the basket upper rim. Hold the tamper so your finger tips are around the piston upper corner and you can feel when the tamp is correct.

If you want a higher dose, the upper piston corner will be a mm or two above the basket rim. At this height, you're getting into serious updosing territory.

Another question I forgot to ask was about baskets. I see alot of folks using different brand baskets (synesso's, LM's, etc.) I guess my question is WHY? Is it just a preference thing or have some baskets been 'proven' as better/more forgiving?

..and thanks again for the replies..

ron

rferoni wrote:I guess my question is WHY? Is it just a preference thing or have some baskets been 'proven' as better/more forgiving?

I don't have a strong preference in baskets, but most of my stock are the Faema style baskets. They hold around 16-17 grams and the puck knocks out readily. Searching titles for "baskets" led to a number of prior discussions, e.g., Significance of using different baskets?

rferoni wrote:I see alot of folks using different brand baskets (synesso's, LM's, etc.) I guess my question is WHY?

Espresso types are obsessive, always looking for a magic bullet.

Baskets do wear over YEARS and a new basket will change the shot profile over a very worn one.

Some makers are more consistent, which means an uber custom tamper will fit almost all samples. Other makers are more liberal with their tolerances and an uber custom tamper may not fit the outliers.

The only REAL difference is the finish on the bottom next to the coffee. Some baskets, like LM, have a rougher bottom, than others like Synesso / Brasilia. It looks as if the Synesso are punched from the outside and ground, then formed.

Try as I might, I've never been able ascribe a great shot to a basket.