Distribution and Tamping

Distribution and tamping of espresso coffee into a Nuova Simonelli Group Handle or Portafilter

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• coffee
• espresso
• tamping
• distribution
• stuart
• lee
• archer

[DonSWG]

looks like he's using a Stockfleths move of some kind. The tamp is solid. I'm a professional barista, and I've always been up in arms about the tapping the portafilter thing. See, if you tap it, you are risking the seal of the puck breaking around the edges (as I'm sure you know). Right now I am not tapping the edge because frankly, I don't think it matters. That TINY amount of coffee isn't worth the seal breaking. Feel free to shoot me ideas, as I'm always looking for a better way.

[mentness]

Yeah,

I was kind of using the stockfleths method, with a bit of a NSEW modification. It has now changed again as these things tend to do.

I agree that a big tap is not required and I think the better matched the tamper to the basket the better the tamp and with the added bonus of not getting ground around the side. I still tap but only to stop the ware on my seals from that little bit of coffee.

[SuperLenin69]

I agree with Don SWG. Everything looks good but that tap- you're just undoing all the careful work you've done and you're going to get more channels than a satellite dish.

[Ironchefpizza]

It's impossible to see what you are doing when the portafilter goes off camera

[bankroyale]

The tap! I personally don't tap, it risks fracturing the espresso "puck." What is this Stockfleths method? I'm interested! We started the convex tamp a few months ago, but only realized the reasoning a few weeks ago.

I know my technique's changed over the years, and it's always good to hear more about it.

[borisburkhart]

Is this Brown Cocain ?

[sidbraian]

i this a joke ¿?

[alison7462]

Crap.

[liquidfire56]

@DonSWG

i've seen some baristas spin their portafilter after the first tamp to get rid of the grounds without loosening the puck, which seems reasonable.

i don't think it matters either way because you should tamp a second time anyways, so even if you hit the portafilter, the second tamp should help re seal the puck.

i, myself, haven't been able to do the spin very well, just need practice.

[SuperLenin69]

I think it's a coincidence. You were right when you said tapping breaks the side seal. The convex tamp will help your consistency by pushing the bed outward into the filter's side, but the cost of this 'safety' is that your best shots won't be as good as they could be because you've foreclosed the possibility of PERFECT extraction, which demands all things to be level so that water can permeate the bed evenly across the surface. Just my two cents.

[Agathorn]

Interresting! I´d like to see the same video but with better filming of the actual distribution as well :)

[userss00]

a pro!