What tamper would be the best for La Pavoni Europiccola

#1: Post by **andpgud** » March 3rd, 2014, 10:31 am

Hi guys.
I am looking for a good tamper for my Europiccola.
I was going to get a Elektra, but decided to keep the Pavoni and the money will go into other things.
Anyway. What tamper would you recommend? I need a new one and tell me where to get one

#2: Post by **cannonfodder** » March 3rd, 2014, 11:37 am

As long as it fits your basket, the rest is personal preference. Depending on the age, LaPav's had two different group sizes. Most of the large manufacturers make tampers that fit, then it is a matter of deciding on things like the length/diameter of the handle, handle material, convex or flat base, etc...

http://www.1st-line.com/store/pc/home.asp

http://www.chriscoffee.com/

http://www.espressoparts.com/

All have a variate of tampers.

#3: Post by **opother** » March 3rd, 2014, 12:15 pm

Orphan Espresso (http://www.orphanespresso.com) has a good choice of different tampers for all types of lever machine basket sizes including La Pavoni Europiccola new models (51mm) and old models from 1974 to about 2000 (49mm.)

I bought the HLE IIT. They are flat bottom polished stainless with plastic handles (stubby, classic, or bell knob) in a variety of bright colors and black. It fit my Europiccola basket (49.4mm) very precisely.

I bought it on a whim because I liked the looks of it (bright glossy orange stubby for me) and had some extra money to spend.

Now my regular tamper that I use most is a Reg barber ridged but had I brought the HLE IIT earlier I may have been reluctant to spend the money on a reg barber.

The precise fit of the Italian style HLE IIT was an unexpected surprise for me. They are designed for home lever machine light tamping.

I find the tamper to be very compact, rugged, and utilitarian despite its pretty looks and intended purpose of light tamping.

There are other tampers on OE's website but this is the one I have experience with.

#4: Post by **forbeskm** » March 3rd, 2014, 4:36 pm

I have pre and post milennium pavoni's and have the Orphan Espresso tampers mentioned above, the HLE IIT's and could not be happier. I did get one from i drink coffee below because we were looking for one to match a pink powder coated base.

http://www.idrinkcoffee.com/ProductDeta ... K&CartID=1

I think any of the vendors mentioned would be fine, 49mm for the pre and 51mm for the post. They all beat the plastic tamper and get rid of another variable that can mess up your shot. Mine are flat bases and stubby handles.