Tampers & tamper holders

Measure the inside of your filter basket before ordering anything. Most machines work with 58 mm, but there are plenty of models with 57 or 53. A tamper that is too small leaves a rim of loose coffee along the wall, and that is exactly where the water shoots through. Pick one that just fits, with a millimetre of play and no more. Then comes the question of whether you want to press yourself or leave it to the tool. A classic tamper asks for technique: level, with your wrist straight above the portafilter. A leveling tool with adjustable depth cannot go crooked, because it rests on the rim of the basket. A model with a lever does the work entirely for you, which helps if you are pulling shots all day. The rest of the station is with the barista tools.

Distribute the coffee evenly in the basket first, with a distributor or by tapping the portafilter briefly. Set the tamper flat on top and press straight down. Pressing harder does not help, pressing more evenly does: about fifteen kilos is enough, and you do not need to measure that force as long as you apply it the same way every time. Do not twist the tamper at the end, because that pulls the bed loose at the edge. Rest the portafilter on the mat so you are not pressing against the worktop and the spout does not get damaged. The rubber also gives grip, so the portafilter does not slide away. Afterwards put the tamper in its stand, not flat in the spilled coffee.

The base is the same in both versions: flat or slightly convex stainless steel. The difference is in the grip. Wood sits warm in the hand, absorbs the impact and looks good on a counter. It just cannot go in the dishwasher and must not lie in water for long, otherwise it swells and the glued joint comes loose. Wipe it dry and rub it with a little oil a few times a year. Solid stainless steel is heavier, so you reach the same pressure with less effort of your own, and behind a busy bar it is the easiest to keep clean.

For knocking out the used puck there is the knock boxes category, and the rest of the coffee station is with the barista accessories. If your espresso goes on into a cocktail, the recipe for an espresso martini is ready and waiting, as is the one for an espresso tonic and a carajillo. The matching glassware is with the espresso martini glasses. If you are unsure about the diameter, measure twice rather than once: a tamper that does not fit is one you never use again.