In my pursuit of consistency I'm trying to get a flat TAMP. The flat tamp devices cost hundreds. I thought about putting a long handle on the tamper as a guide. Please advise how to get a level tamp, how hard to tamp, and if a tamp being slightly off level is worth the trouble to worry about.

In essence, the ball of the tamper handle is centered in the palm, the thumb and fingers gauge the edge of the basket / tamper rim delta. The hand is moved to equalize the basket / tamp rim delta and then the palm is pressed down keeping the tamper true.

Easier to do than describe

Tamp starts @ 2:50...

I didn't watch...