If Barista’s lived in medieval times their crest would likely be the tamper. I say this because every Barista uses one and it requires skill to help extract espresso shots consistently to make great coffee. There are obviously other factors for great coffee like the beans, grinder and espresso machine you use, but what if I told you there was a tamper that requires minimal skill? The Force Tamper takes away 2 of the biggest problems to get perfectly tamped coffee…every time.
THE FORCE TAMPER CREATES AN EVEN BED OF COFFEE EVERYTIME.
This is important since if the bed of coffee is angled or not level it wont evenly extract the espresso shot as pressured water passes through that affects taste. The Force Tamper avoids this by using a metal lip that hangs over the sides of the basket to stop accidentally pushing down on the coffee grounds at an angle. I would also go as far as to say this helps prevent repetitive strain injury (RSI) for those churning out hundreds of shots a day.
THE FORCE TAMPER APPLIES THE IDEAL PRESSURE EVERYTIME.
The grounds need to be packed in a way that helps extraction by removing air pockets and evenly distributing the grounds to allow for the ideal water flow rate. The Force Tamper is designed as a piston which you apply pressure by pushing down on the grounds that clicks at the recommended 25 pounds of pressure. This completely removes the need for Baristas to pressure gauge them selves.
Whilst some of the more experienced Barista’s reading begin to fume, it is key to highlight this is an option and there will always be reward in learning and showcasing the skill of tamping. On the flip side I think this is a great way for beginners to tick off these skills, but ultimately if the perfect cup of coffee is the end result does it even matter how you get there? I’ll let you be the judge but for more details you can buy here and may the force be with you.
