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  • #31
    Re: new pullman tamper

    The lines are mainly to check levelness. They arent for measuring depth.

    Comment


    • #32
      Re: new pullman tamper

      Joe,

      What Nunu said is mainly correct. There is no universal correct depth to tamp to (middle line or whatever) because it will vary depending on grind, machine type and tamp pressure at the very least.

      Having said that, I do promote them as being for depth as well as for alignment, and this is because in an individuals configuration, or in a group configuration where other variables are controlled, you CAN use them to measure depth once youve worked out something that works for you. You can thus ascertain that, for your configuration of variables, youre aiming for, say, the top ring to be level with the top of the basket, and if you find your results have dropped and you find youre tamping to only the middle line, youll know youre not tamping hard enough.

      Any comments youve heard from people such as you should tamp to the xth line is general information which may work and probably does for them, but youd have to have your other variables the same before it becomes directly relevant to you. Nunus response was in this context.

      Greg

      P.S. Ive checked my remaining LM baskets and have verified the problem so will be discussing options with LM.

      Comment


      • #33
        Re: new pullman tamper

        Oh sorry people have asked me earlier - I use a rancilio rocky (doserless) to grind.

        As the LM basket is very deep, its hard to grind so much using the rocky without making a mess! The plastic guard on the rocky is great but I think that it causes the grind to overflow before I have the right amount to tamp. Thats why I grind, tap/shake, grind lightly tamp (to disperse it evenly), grind, lightly tamp, grind and properly tamp.

        Without the light tamps to disperse the grind, I cannot fit the portafilter under the plastic guard of the rocky, and will not get enough grind into the basket. Does anyone else have this problem?

        I guess I could grind into a container and scoop it in, or remove the plastic guard....

        Comment


        • #34
          Re: new pullman tamper

          " I guess I could grind into a container and scoop it in, or remove the plastic guard...."

          Good idea. A friend has a Rocky DL, and does just that -- grinds into a
          container and then into the PF. Can then dose by weight if you want to.

          Comment


          • #35
            Re: new pullman tamper

            Can always hold the PF under the spout.

            Comment


            • #36
              Re: new pullman tamper

              Run through my instructions further up, I think wed all be interested to see the results. For the sake of diagnosing the problem, you might have to put up with a bit of mess for now!

              Comment


              • #37
                Re: new pullman tamper

                Update: The problem with the LM baskets is not actually that the top of the ridge is misaligned to the top, but rather that the bottom half of the ridge isnt consistent in shape. One side comes inwards quite sharply, the other side is more rounded, and this allows the tamper to drop down on one side.

                This explains a lot. It explains why you couldnt pick any problems in your measurements, which I suspect you did from the outside, because from the ridge up everything is fine. It would also explain the problem with the basket spinning, since this may be allowing the tamper to skew as in the picture and bind on the sides of the basket. As far as results go, Im not sure how much of an impact this will have if your dose is right, but if its too low you may find this shape anomaly prevents the grinds from being evenly compressed, which will lead to channeling.

                LM have been informed and Im awaiting their response.

                Comment


                • #38
                  Re: new pullman tamper

                  Greg that is exactly right. I have seen that there are some fabrication markers around the ridge. They start as two parrallel lines on one side, but as you follow them around the basket, they narrow to a single point and then expand out again.

                  I think this may be why we are finding it difficult to use the tamper! From all the reviews here I eas expecting it to work like magic, and Im sure that it does, but not with this basket...

                  My husband wont use it. Hes reverted to using the plastic tamper with the silvia basket until we sort this out. I, on the other hand, persist [with gritted teeth]!

                  Comment


                  • #39
                    Re: new pullman tamper

                    Precisely what Ive found re the parallel lines separating. LM have informed me that a technician will be returning my call as far as my options from here. Does the tamper fit in your Silvia basket? If so you can use that in the meantime until this is resolved so at least he can use the tamper!

                    Comment


                    • #40
                      Re: new pullman tamper

                      Unfortunatley the tamper doesnt fit into my silvia basket.

                      By the way things are going, it looks like I might have to send my basket and tamper back to you - right?

                      I am looking forward to having a perfect cup! [smiley=beer.gif]

                      Comment


                      • #41
                        Re: new pullman tamper

                        Yep well change it over for you, Ill send you the details via email.

                        Comment


                        • #42
                          Re: new pullman tamper

                          My LM double basket and beautiful Pullman tamper are proving a bit finicky.
                          I dose to overflowing, tap the (now naked portafilter) to settle, then scrape the excess with the curved cover from the Mini Mazzer. This leaves the coffee concave. The problem is the tamper hits the ridge in the basket, so obviously? Underdosed? If I scrape it holding the lid at 45 deg (I’m trying for something I can replicate here) the coffee is less concave but the tamp is still very close (maybe touching ) the ridge and now the portafilter is tight to apply. If I level the coffee with a straight edge (not much difference to the curve at 45 deg) the coffee holds the gasket clear – not good.
                          What am I missing here?

                          Skypig

                          Comment


                          • #43
                            Re: new pullman tamper

                            Originally posted by skypig link=1155203314/105#105 date=1188552149
                            My LM double basket and beautiful Pullman tamper are proving a bit finicky.
                            I dose to overflowing, tap the (now naked portafilter) to settle, then scrape the excess with the curved cover from the Mini Mazzer. This leaves the coffee concave. The problem is the tamper hits the ridge in the basket, so obviously? Underdosed? If I scrape it holding the lid at 45 deg (I’m trying for something I can replicate here) the coffee is less concave but the tamp is still very close (maybe touching ) the ridge and now the portafilter is tight to apply. If I level the coffee with a straight edge (not much difference to the curve at 45 deg) the coffee holds the gasket clear – not good.
                            What am I missing here?

                            Skypig
                            I suggest that you tap down the PF once or even twice while filling. Personally, I use the edge of a short ruler to scrape down excess rather than the lid, and keep it straight. I think that approach might make it easier to be consistent.

                            Comment


                            • #44
                              Re: new pullman tamper

                              The technique I use is mentioned on the previous page but essentially similar to Dennis suggestion except I normally do three taps at the end rather than spreading it out throughout the dose. But either will work. Importantly, either way it gets the grounds settled so when you tamp you wont get as much compression as with a completely unsettled tamp.

                              While the LM is preferred by many, unfortunately the shape below the ridge does limit how far you can tamp so its important to have well settled grounds, scraped off level and then tamped. This works on my Silvia without jamming on lock and load or bottoming out, and Silvias have a notoriously low showerscreen so it should work on others.

                              Greg

                              Comment


                              • #45
                                Re: new pullman tamper

                                Well, certainly taping to settle while filling has improved things. Still a fine line between hitting the ridge (under dosed) and not getting the handle locked on (over dosed) though. :-?

                                Getting a 60ml double in about 24 seconds, good crema and tasty but sometimes tiny (messy) “squirts” from the naked portafilter. Just not “settled” enough? It’s tamped quite firmly. :-/

                                Any suggestions?

                                Comment

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