With all of the talk about VST baskets calling for better barista skillz and all of the machinations we commonly see being used to DDT (Dose/Distribute/Tamp) it seems amazing to me that I never tried this before....

But in a conversation over at Coffeegeek, member "JtothaR" posted the video below showing a distribution technique where he just spins the tamper on top of the untamped grounds to make sure the distribution is even before tamping down.



For the last few days I have been doing this myself and have found that it works nicely for me (with the VST baskets) and is much simpler and quicker than creating a concave distribution using WDT.

I'm still using the WDT funnel and giving a quick WDT stir but then I just tap to settle so the grounds are under the rim, and spin my tamper carefully on top with no weight down, and then press once (firmly straight down)

Anyone else try this?
Once again - props to James R for posting the original video

Another turn of the screw, it seems. Interesting technique, and if it works consistently for a given basket, that's pretty neat.

As an aside, I was amused to hear a distinctly Android ringtone in the background ("On the Hunt"?). That, and a rather long cooling flush.

I do something similar : grind (funnel), WDT, tap to settle, vibrate the tamper on top to level (no pressure), then nutate and tamp.

Using a VST basket now but I've been doing this with my other baskets for a while. Seems to work as well as anything else I've tried.

Hm, I can't see that doing anything at all...

#EspressoVoodoo

wow, strong flush!

Thanks for the kind words Jon.

Yes, I used to have to flush a ton before cause I had a really old metal case sirai with a huge deadband.

New sirai now and it's turned down so the flush is reduced. Good thing it's always been direct plumbed. =)

-James

I really need to get one of those mirrors so I don't have to bob down to check the extraction. I've been meaning to do it for at least two years now...

And yes, that is a truly epic flush.

I have to agree that I don't see what the spinning would do to distribute the grounds. I don't think the piston moves any appreciable amount of coffee. I've never tried it though and will tomorrow morning and chime back in.

mitch236 wrote:I have to agree that I don't see what the spinning would do to distribute the grounds.

My distribution starts out pretty good already (using a doser Robur equipped with Schnozzola, and then giving a little WDT stir first). I haven't tried this with my electropolished tamper, but the CoffeeLabs tamp I'm using right now does seem to help distribute evenly by twisting.

Also, I'm not really spinning, but rather using a manual twist or two (one or two revolutions maybe?)

As I said, it's working for me and it's quick and easy.

Bob_McBob wrote:I really need to get one of those mirrors so I don't have to bob down to check the extraction.

I picked up a small stick-on blind spot mirror meant for an auto side mirror. These work well. Below is an example, but not the same one I found.

http://www.sourcingmap.com/pcs-car-auto...42326.html