If you can't afford a coffee tamper...

[Sico2]

I was walking around my house last few days thinking about a tamper. At the moment, I couldn't afford myself a proper, new HB one or a similar one. So I wondered, how can I replace it with something cheap and that is quite commonly easy to get.

Well, I got it. With a bit of sand paper and few minutes in dust, I came up with a 50mm Euro-curve tamper for my Europiccola. Behold, my invention:

Picture

[darrensandford]

Awesome! It certainly wasn't what I expected when I clicked on the link!

Aren't you worried it might give you "lighter" extractions?

Eh?


Eh?

Geddit?

Never mind...

[bruceb]

Super! Truly a bright idea! If you plug the thing in you'll be able to see clumping more clearly (and re-roast your ground coffee).

[motoman]

Don't use too many watts or you may get a Pavoni sneeze.

[Sico2]

Unfortunately this 'tamper' can only be used as a tamping device. It's just been lying around waiting to be disposed of.

The curve might a bit too deep, but, for free? I can't complaint.
I also promise to buy myself a proper one, once the cash flow is a bit better.

[triptogenetica]

oooh! Do they come in 58mm?


When i saw the topic of this thread, I thought it was going to be a "complete the sentence" kind of thing.

i.e.: If you can't afford a coffee tamper...

...Don't get into espresso

[bruceb]

oooh! Do they come in 58mm?


When i saw the topic of this thread, I thought it was going to be a "complete the sentence" kind of thing.

i.e.: If you can't afford a coffee tamper...

...Don't get into espresso

I thought the same thing, but my answer would have been:

"...learn to grind fine enough that you don't need one."

[Sico2]

learning is one thing, but financial situation of yours is another
I think the bulbs come max in 52 or 53mm. it took me some time to sand them to 50mm

[johnny]

"If you can't afford a coffee tamper... "

Hold your porter filter above a rubbed baloon so the static attraction pulls the grounds tightly into the basket !

[kingseven]

I've used cleaning blanks to tamp in moments of extreme need. As long as you are dosing reasonably high they work pretty well!

[Jasonscheltus]

you guys still tamp???

[darrensandford]

Nah, I hold the porta-filter at arms length and spin round quickly, to force the grounds into the basket

[bruceb]

Nah, I hold the porta-filter at arms length and spin round quickly, to force the grounds into the basket

Mmmmpf, that sounded like a good idea so I tried it this morning. Unfortunately, I lost my breakfast and consequently my appetite for coffee.