58 mm Espro Calibrated Tamper Convex Base

Great for the heavy-handed newbie or those seeking consistency

Let me start by saying that if you’ve been making your own espresso for years and pull a good shot every time, then this tamper is not for you.

However, if you’re like me and relatively new to home espresso, then this tamper is your best friend. I love espresso and jumped in blindly when I “impulse” bought an expensive machine and grinder, thinking after a few months of practice, I would be able to make a great latte. Well that wasn’t quite the case so I took a class on making espresso (which I recommend to everyone) and they emphasized the importance to dialing in the grinder and packing the grinds evenly. However, my uncalibrated arm just wasn’t up to the task of packing the grounds at 30lbs each time, making dialing in the grinder very difficult as well. This tamper takes the packing part out of the equation and makes it much easier to evaluate whether your grounds are ground too fine or coarse, saving time and headache and making the whole experience of trying new beans or…

58mm in a 58.4mm world

This tamper is exactly 58mm diameter. The problem is that most 58mm portafilter baskets are slightly larger. The gap can cause channeling. My OEM filters from quick mill are in the 58.88 range leaving almost a 1mm gap. VST has set the standard at 58.7mm for the basket and 58.4mm for the tamper. Many other manufacturers have followed and use the same numbers. You won’t find anyone selling a calibrated basket to fit the espro tamper. It seems that if you are considering spending $$$ on a tamper you would also be looking at purchasing a calibrated basket too. Water under pressure always takes the path of least resistance so the smaller the gap the better. I wish espro would make a slightly larger tamper to work with the industry standard for calibrated baskets.

Bottom line… unless you are lucky and have an OEM basket with a snug fit you will not like this tamper.

Solid, effective and a pleasure to use

Newbie or not, this is really a great tamper – as it should be for pushing a hundred clams. Whether you have been pulling shots for eons or are new to the game, there is something extremely satisfying about feeling that subtle “click” and hearing a faint “snick” when you’ve reached the perfect 30 pounds of pressure. The tamper handle is smooth as silk and a perfect fit for my right tamping hand (admittedly, my hands are a bit small), and the business end is heavy, nicely machined and has plenty of heft.

I’ve got half a dozen different tampers, including a few very nice looking Reg Barbers with exotic wood handles. I also have two of these Espro calibrated tampers, one black with a flat base and the other red with a convex base, as shown here and they are my favorites, but the convex base is the hands down winner for forming the perfect puck. I’m not sure what the “channeling” complaints here are all about – I could be flip I suppose and say channeling is for seances, but…

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