Tamping pressure is a subject frequently referred to in threads about tamper fit, baskets, various machines, or frequently when people are having extraction problems.
I've been playing around with different weight tamping recently, in an effort to determine just how much affect it has on extraction, seems to me once you have established a grind setting and dose that provides a shot your satisfied with, the weight of tamp has a relatively minor part to play in the process.
I've tried everything from very light (probably only a kilo or two) to gorilla weight 10 to 15 kg and points in between (using my normal 18 grams) and found very little difference in extraction quality or time.
All of the above assumes grind is right, machine is correctly set up and the tamper fits the basket reasonably well.
My process is to grind,dose, level dose by tapping sides of portafilter, tap PF on bench to settle grounds then tamp and polish, I now use minimum pressure, at a guess about 3 or 4 kg, yep the coffee is just as good as its ever been.
I've been playing around with different weight tamping recently, in an effort to determine just how much affect it has on extraction, seems to me once you have established a grind setting and dose that provides a shot your satisfied with, the weight of tamp has a relatively minor part to play in the process.
I've tried everything from very light (probably only a kilo or two) to gorilla weight 10 to 15 kg and points in between (using my normal 18 grams) and found very little difference in extraction quality or time.
All of the above assumes grind is right, machine is correctly set up and the tamper fits the basket reasonably well.
My process is to grind,dose, level dose by tapping sides of portafilter, tap PF on bench to settle grounds then tamp and polish, I now use minimum pressure, at a guess about 3 or 4 kg, yep the coffee is just as good as its ever been.

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