Too Much Coffee

I need to buy a new tamper as I am still using the original plastic one that came with the machine. I would like to buy a nice metal one with a wooden handle.
Coffee Geek says that my machine (Innova Dream) needs a 57mm tamper (even though the manufacturer says 58mm).
I need a some clarification, on one of the sites I looked at they listed one of their tampers as 58mm but when I looked at the specs they put it as having a diameter as 56.8mm. So what is it 56.8mm or 58mm.
Am I missing something?
Can anyone recommend a good online shop?

Many Thanks

Shannocita

If you want a custom size, I think you may need to go to the USA. The price isn't that bad even with shipping. I'd recommend Reg Barber at http://www.coffeetamper.com/usa/cart_wss.php but **be sure of your measurement first** - Maplin do a (15 pounds sterlink + P&P) Vernier gauge to measure your PF accurately or maybe you can borrow one from a friendly local engineer. A misfitting tamper is as much use as a chocolate teapot...

You might want to try a US curve Reg Barber tamper as it's a shallow convex curve but some prefer a flat base.

Cheers,

Hugh

Whittards sell one tamper, and it happens to be 58mm at one end. You could take your filter basket in (don't worry about the portafilter), and check out the fit. The people in the shop are usually a little sad and bored, so they tend to become amused by a little eccentricity, and won't mind if you don't buy anything.

Hi Shannocita,

The top tamper manufacturers will all supply custom sizes, you need to measure the basket accurately (I'd use Vernier calipers) or send a spare basket to them for a perfect fit.

Try:

http://www.cafe-kultur.com Jens Rufenach (www.tamper.dk Sören Poulsen)

http://www.coffeetamper.com Reg Barber

http://www.coffeetamper.com.au Greg Pullman

http://www.thortamper.com Les Albjerg

I use a couple of Torr tampers from the first supplier in the list and they are what I would buy again.

So what is the difference between the curve and the flat base.