Espresso pour speed of heavy vs. light tamps - Page 4
- AndyS (original poster)
As James and Nicholas observed, nutating tamps can have unpredictable effects. That's why I prefer to call them by their more accurate name, "mutating tamps."another_jim wrote:Abe Carmeli is visiting, and choked a shot using the same coffee, grinder, grind setting, weight, and machine when it flowed fine for me. I nutated then did a pro forma 2 pound tamp, whereas he nutated then did a heavy 30 pound tamp.

Also, that's why I'm trying to train myself not to use them anymore.
-AndyS
VST refractometer/filter basket beta tester, no financial interest in the company
VST refractometer/filter basket beta tester, no financial interest in the company
- another_jim
- Team HB
I'm beginning to think there's some sort of alternative LM espresso universe where nothing works quite the same. Nutating tamps have turned my espresso experience boringly predictable.
BTW, I never press down; The mutation may be caused by pressing down while nutating, which would send in the pressure non-vertically.
BTW, I never press down; The mutation may be caused by pressing down while nutating, which would send in the pressure non-vertically.
Jim Schulman
- jammin
I have a question somewhat on topic...
For a non-PI machine, such as my bz07 - would a bit firmer tamp/standard 30# be helpful in preserving the coffee bed? Every since I read a post from OE about them dreading "full brew pressure slamming the puck" in reference to pump machines, I can't help but think of it every time I hit the brew button
For a non-PI machine, such as my bz07 - would a bit firmer tamp/standard 30# be helpful in preserving the coffee bed? Every since I read a post from OE about them dreading "full brew pressure slamming the puck" in reference to pump machines, I can't help but think of it every time I hit the brew button

- Psyd
King Seven wrote: However, I've seen shots slow waaaaay down when nutating quite aggressively in the tamp. Which kind of freaks me out.
If that were happening to me, I'd suspect that I was having issues sealing the puck to the sides, and getting some side channeling all around the edge. But since it's you... yeah it freaks me out a little as well.
I did notice, however, that tamps on the lever *(Gaggia Factory) tend to reflect themselves consistently in the pressure required to mash down the lever handle. If I tamp hard, it takes more weight to get the same flow as if I tamped lightly. Not a bunch, but noticeable.
Espresso Sniper
One Shot, One Kill
LMWDP #175
One Shot, One Kill
LMWDP #175
My espresso started to become more consistent when I switched to a "consistent" lighter tamp with finer grind.
At a common sense point of view its quite clear you can get the results. Its all about how much resistance there is for water travel through a certain path. When I realized this I experimented with a lighter tamp and finer grind a used taste as a measure.
It has also saved my back/body using a finer grind and make me look less restarted when making coffee.
I see a lot of voodoo coffee making techniques by home baristas, when I see how the pros do it, the technique is usually less fussy and more simplistic.
At a common sense point of view its quite clear you can get the results. Its all about how much resistance there is for water travel through a certain path. When I realized this I experimented with a lighter tamp and finer grind a used taste as a measure.
It has also saved my back/body using a finer grind and make me look less restarted when making coffee.
I see a lot of voodoo coffee making techniques by home baristas, when I see how the pros do it, the technique is usually less fussy and more simplistic.