More questions… if buying a tamper for the LMM do I go for a 58mm or 58.55 ?

Very tempted by the tampers @StevenG91 has listed in the classifieds..

    MattH I don’t know the la marzocco baskets but the 58.55 fits vst, Pullman and IMS

        StevenG91 I have just messaged you on Instagram in case you are wondering who that nutter is :)

          I think it was the other thread where the lack of a shot clock was mentioned. Now I also thought it was something the LM app would do but I could not find it mentioned (or it was a future release)

          Saw this on insta - I wonder if its now available ?

          MattH More questions… if buying a tamper for the LMM do I go for a 58mm or 58.55 ?

          Not sure if the Micra ships with the same steel tamper as the Mini but it’s really great. 58mm with a convex base.

          I found 58.5 doesn’t fit properly. The GS3 used to ship with a 57mm but I’d guess that was when lower doses were more common and the tamper needed to fit further into the basket.

          This is the LM one I have. The only issue is that it’s not hugely ergonomic in the hand, I’ve tried to remove the base but no luck.

              Ernie1 Not sure if the Micra ships with the same steel tamper as the Mini but it’s really great. 58mm with a convex base.

              I found 58.5 doesn’t fit properly

              This is strange. I used to have a 58.5mm tamper and use LM Strada baskets (apparently same as VST). Fitted perfectly.

                  MediumRoastSteam

                  That is weird as I’m pretty sure the Strada baskets are practically the same as the Linea ones, the latter just doesn’t get the certificate. But both made by VST.

                  It might’ve been difference basket volumes, the ones I have narrow as they go down the side so it depends on dose/density. A 58.5 will comfortably fit, but not be able to tamp as deep as a 58.

                      Ernie1 - ok. That makes sense. But if you dose 18g of coffee in those baskets (or whatever they are designed for, I.e.: 22g, 20g) sure a 58.5mm fits perfectly fine? As in, unless you put so little coffee into the basket, then you might have a problem.

                          MediumRoastSteam

                          Yeah you’re right, not sure what I’d done before to make a 58.5 bind.

                          Weirdly the included LM one is actually a noticeable amount smaller in diameter than the basket, but the results are really good. I’d expect edge channelling. Perhaps the convex nature helps.

                            Ernie1 also, I don’t know which 58.5mm tamper you have, but if I remember correctly, the one I had at the time had a slightly angled base and it was a tight fit. I didn’t have vernier callipers at the time so it might be even it was a 58.5 something rather than a perfect 58.5mm.

                            I currently use a VST 18g, I dose 18.5g in it and I have a 58.5mm (measured with vernier callipers) tamper and if it’s perfectly.

                            Edit: you posted above as I was typing this. 👍

                              Ok so its in place - will get it up and running at lunch…

                              I see it comes with a 14/17g basket - I guess I will need to buy a bigger one for 18g doses ?

                              Also took a couple of pics with my timemore scale and a couple of espresso sized cups - you can use the single spout but without there is plenty of space - so no new scales needed at the moment!

                                MattH I see it comes with a 14/17g basket

                                I wouldn’t go by that too much. Just have a feel for the basket. Try to stick 18g in it, or 17g. Do you still have a good headspace?

                                Best to get to know your machine and then start splurging on accessories :-)

                                  i dose between 16 and 17g on the evo dont worry too much,

                                  looks fab

                                  Decent De1pro v1.45 - Niche Duo - Niche Zero - Decent is the best machine ever made -

                                  Looks awesome!

                                  Yeah I use the 17g (I saw last night while cleaning, I don’t know why but I thought I was using a 18g) and typically dose 17-17.5.

                                  Also as a sidenote, assuming the shower screen/bolt is the same as the Linea, you’ll notice the puck gets imprinted almost no matter what you dose… I faffed around with this for ages until I realised it happens due to the 3-way valve releasing pressure and sucking the puck up to the screen so the imprint happens after the extraction when you close the paddle and won’t affect the shot.

                                  Happens occasionally on Linea PB and Stradas also occasionally.

                                  Well tried a quick shot -18g of the roast I tried fit fine…. And I can confirm a shot clock kicks off in the app as soon as you flip the paddle.

                                  Its quick to heatup as expected.. i have flipped the steam back to 2 and the boiler to 92c as a starting point. App works fine so far - all in all a very slick package (and loving how compact it is)

                                  The grey/silver is also a great colour - looks better in real life than pictures !

                                  Now just to got learn how to use it all properly now 😂

                                    Great news!

                                    On temperature, I set mine to 92ish when it arrived and haven’t touched it since.

                                    Again it’s a variable people love to mess with when they first get their machine for some reason but I’d recommend only changing it if you have good reason to later on.

                                    MattH - with temperature… Try at 90, 92 and 94 and see if you can pick up differences. 👍
                                    Then adjust to your taste.

                                      @MattH what’s the build quality like on yours? I am maybe being picky, but on mine the front stainless panel is coming out a little on the right, and I notice the top white bit where the brew boiler is sits flush with the cups warmer on the left, but the cup warmer is a little proud on the right