The Tamper

BY BARISTA HUSTLE

Who knew legendary equipment could exist? The Tamper by Barista Hustle Tools is no slouch when it comes to this category of essential brewing equipment. Looking at the features, overall value and the attention to detail, you can tell this was made by a hardcore coffee lover (Matt Perger) for fellow hardcore coffee lovers (us, and possibly you.) It becomes apparent that the coffee tamper is one of the most important tools a barista can wield in the field while attaining that elusive perfect shot of espresso. Over the years I’ve accumulated a number of tampers, all differing in minuscule details from one another, that potentially make all the difference in the shot being pulled. The underlying question here is if all those hundreds of dollars spent on tampers was really worth the difference it makes in a “something-ounce” shot of coffee pulled over a few seconds? The grand answer is DUH, and also, heck no! Let me save you time and money by boldly saying that this is the only tamper you’ll need if you’re in the market for a premium coffee tamper to help fulfill all your tasty-black-liquid dreams. Priced at $49.95, it definitely isn’t cheap, but it does come with all the bells and whistles.

I was pretty excited when my B.H. (Barista Hustle) tamper came in the mail. I ripped open the box and glared deeply into that mystical Barista Hustle branded package. I was happy to find that the tamper came with its own black zipper case. Naturally, I put it to use immediately with my home espresso machine. My initial impression of the tamper was confusing. It’s remarkably lightweight compared to most other tampers. I wasn’t so sure about how much I would like that aspect of it. It was strange to use at first, but after taking it to work and using it for a few rushes at the cafe, I’ve found that it’s an incredible joy to use.

Perhaps making one espresso drink a day wouldn’t cause wear and tear on your body, but after 50 or more drinks during a full shift, every little movement makes a difference. I was delightfully surprised to notice how non-fatigued I was after using the B.H. tamper after my first rush at work. Not only did it help my wrists, but it also allowed for far more control and precision when it came to tamping.

The tamper fits well for my average sized hand. It’s a nice shape and pretty medium sized compared to other tampers. I can’t speak for how well it feels for smaller, or larger hands, but I imagine the grip will be universally accommodating to all hand sizes and tamping styles.

When examining tampers on a greater level, the diameter of the tamper is extremely important, as is the shape. These small differences can create a vacuum in the portafilter, disturbing the puck you just tamped. The B.H. tamper solves this issue by touting a unique double flange design. This eliminates any chance of vacuuming when pulling up on the tamper after tamping, reducing the chance for channeling and uneven extraction. Even better, the base of the tamper is replaceable in case it gets damaged over the course of time or usage. As a disclaimer, we are not sponsored or affiliated in any way by/with Barista Hustle, we just love coffee tools! For more details, or to purchase your own, check out their website: here.