Re: Fingertamping - has anyone else dumped the 30lb tamp?
Interesting discussion - Having travelled to Italy a few times and watched the busy baristi there, rarely do you see a hand tamper used. Most just give a light tamp using the built in plastic tamp on the grinder. Some do not tamp at all - just use their palm to flatten.
Ive recently got a mazer mini - i think i might screw on the plastic tamp and give it a whirl and see how it compares with my pullman
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Re: Fingertamping - has anyone else dumped the 30lb tamp?
Just out of curiosity, I tried not tamping very hard per the link above. Amazing! I actually got a slightly better shot than I would have normally. The pour came out at just about the same rate as the one Id done only about an hour before but it was a lot more even.Originally posted by 504A5C49493D0 link=1255338119/16#16 date=1255432505Interesting thoughts.
I read this recently: http://cleanhotdry.com/coffee/basics-part-1-tamp/
Very interesting, and since reading it, Im using a great deal less pressure when tamping, and getting results that Im totally happy with.
As for using my finger, I guess it would work, but I suspect it would probably not be super even. Id expect channeling, but I will give it a go.
As for the cleanliness of it; most bacteria that are pathogenic to people are killed by 72C for 15 secs, so you ought to be okay
... unless theres anthrax spores in your coffee ...
I can only put it down to (a) the guy above was right, which is plausible, and (b) the fact that, because Im short@rse, I find it difficult to tamp hard (ie; 15kg) evenly because of the height of our kitchen bench - I have to stand on my toes to get a straight arm tamp and, even then its not necessarily coming from directly above. As a consequence, I have to tamp, see if its level, adjust a bit more often than not due to uneveness and then put the pressure on once again. Still comes out on an angle because of the slight angle Im tamping on.
So, overall, this seems to have helped me out on initial trials.
Thanks Michelle - 15kg tamp gone out the window now!

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Re: Fingertamping - has anyone else dumped the 30lb tamp?
ill give it a try tomorrow.
I have a naked group handle so i can give you some feedback on channeling and evenness of extraction.
im thinking ill try it a couple of ways...1st: fill the basket till it overflows and just slap it on the head...2nd: ill try my normal dose and finger?thumb tamp it.
my prediction? overextracting, chanelling blondeness!?
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Re: Fingertamping - has anyone else dumped the 30lb tamp?
hmm, i disagree. theres no way id be careless enough to fracture the top of a well-prepared puck on my shower screen without noticing! then again, I am one of the low-dose aficionados on the forum.Originally posted by 6A4655534E464B786A48494C425E270 link=1255338119/15#15 date=1255412508All you are doing is allowing the showerscreen to do the tamping for you.
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Guest repliedRe: Fingertamping - has anyone else dumped the 30lb tamp?
Interesting thoughts.
I read this recently: http://cleanhotdry.com/coffee/basics-part-1-tamp/
Very interesting, and since reading it, Im using a great deal less pressure when tamping, and getting results that Im totally happy with.
As for using my finger, I guess it would work, but I suspect it would probably not be super even. Id expect channeling, but I will give it a go.
As for the cleanliness of it; most bacteria that are pathogenic to people are killed by 72C for 15 secs, so you ought to be okay
... unless theres anthrax spores in your coffee ...
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Re: Fingertamping - has anyone else dumped the 30lb tamp?
All you are doing is allowing the showerscreen to do the tamping for you. I imagine (not having tried I dont really know) that this would work with a much higher dose (australian standard updosing) then a lower dose.
Its nothing new but is worth exploring.
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Re: Fingertamping - has anyone else dumped the 30lb tamp?
thanks maheel (and thanks).
Guisti was only known for not tamping as far as I understand Chris, and certainly Ive never had a good cup of Grinders coffee, so unless someone can say "I had an espresso from him, and it was great, and he fingertamped", I suspect he might remain better known as a sell-out (to Coca-Cola Amatil).
Ill bash my old drum once again... most people have a much better palate than they think - its just lining the descriptors up with the tastes!
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Re: Fingertamping - has anyone else dumped the 30lb tamp?
:-? I suspect Giancarlo Guisti might dispute thatOriginally posted by 2E222B26262F430 link=1255338119/12#12 date=1255407968its something interesting, youre a pioneer of sorts
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Re: Fingertamping - has anyone else dumped the 30lb tamp?
sorry CH, i deleted my rubbish
i often distribute with my finger, just sort of chop / swipe into the sink. its simple and effective for me
But as you know my palate is not up to your standard.....
its something interesting, your a pioneer of sorts
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Re: Fingertamping - has anyone else dumped the 30lb tamp?
to be quite honest, Id like to see either the "way off topic to anything to do with coffee" parts of this thread deleted or else the whole thread deleted.
@boingk & doug81:
distribution in the basket has almost always been done with fingers - dosing tools & credit cards are fairly new and not always ideal tools, especially if you rely on them too much.
yes, using the pad of the forefinger, going round the edge, round the center, and then round the edge again.Originally posted by 3F333A37373E520 link=1255338119/8#8 date=1255398881are you making little paw prints?
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Re: Fingertamping - has anyone else dumped the 30lb tamp?
Firstly, the OP is trying this at home.
Secondly, surely we can do better than this? There has to be something more interesting to discuss?? Sheesh! :
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Re: Fingertamping - has anyone else dumped the 30lb tamp?
Originally posted by 616A70623D34050 link=1255338119/7#7 date=1255398512as much as the water would kill germs, and the barista is handling the cup anyway, it would put me off a bit. might try it at home, but Im quite happy with a tamper (cleaner hands afterwards too!)
Some fecial matter can do quite well at temps just above 100C for a few min..
Now what was the water temp again and for how long is it exposed ??
Doh.. No runs for me thanks... ;D
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Re: Fingertamping - has anyone else dumped the 30lb tamp?
whats the method?
use them across the GH, like palm down?
are you making little paw prints?
or is it thumbs and going around and around "little tamps"?
what about using the meaty bit of palm near your thumb for a convex tamp.... (my palm is "meaty"....)
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Re: Fingertamping - has anyone else dumped the 30lb tamp?
as much as the water would kill germs, and the barista is handling the cup anyway, it would put me off a bit. might try it at home, but Im quite happy with a tamper (cleaner hands afterwards too!)
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Re: Fingertamping - has anyone else dumped the 30lb tamp?
Dont see why itd be of benefit to use your fingers and, to be perfectly honest, if I saw a barista down the local doing it Id ask him to use a tamper for my coffee, please.
AM is spot on, Ive found the whole grind thing doesnt mean squat if you dont adjust the tamp to suit. Example, I usually grind on the 9 setting of my machine and tamp moderately to get a good pour. Im doing that now, but result isnt great. I can do several things:
Tamp harder.
Increase dose.
Decrease grind setting.
They all may work, or only one may. Its not up to me
Cheers - boingk
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