dfk41 - just because the tamper has a spring in it it does not mean it will distribute the coffee for you, or reduce any static. So yes, regardless of your tamper, you still need to RDT and WDT (if you do that anyway).

    Prblem is the normecore ones are the wrong size for the evo, they are 53.5mm and the baskets i used in the evo were 54.5-9

    i got a normcore with a 58mm and had it turned down, but imo the tamper wobbles, the best one is the bravo tamper, but not cheap

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

    dfk41

    Not sure if I dare ask or want to know..

    When I was a lad Cbt was for motorbike training.

    What has it to do with what seems to be an ever increasing in complexity task that is puck prep .

    For what it’s worth I seem to get great results from a 54 4 tamper. You do have to press it level and guess on a reasonable pressure though 🥴

    Ade Smith. ACS Evo Leva v2. Kafatek Flat max 2, ssw 2024. Mazzer Philos, Craig Lyn HG-1 prime.

    About Me

        dfk41 I have a Tor 54.4 mm tamper, which is great. I also have the Bravo 54.9, which is perfect for the IMS basket.

        :-)

          Can a bravo be made with a US curve?

          Or is there someone else that makes a tamper like it with a slight curve?

          • LMSC replied to this.

            LMSC Torr Tamper or Reg Barber

            They look like “standard” tampers to me, rather than a Bravo/Normcore/Decent/Force-like tamper (calibrated by a spring).

                There is also a pressure regulated 55 mm convex tampers by Joe Frex

                https://joefrex.com/collections/tamper-handles/products/tamper-handle-technic?variant=40196035510366

                https://www.espresso-international.co.uk/55-mm-tamper-knock-convex

                It might be a very tight fit on the IMS baskets for Evo.

                BB does the concept art 55 mm flat. It is worth checking with them.

                https://bellabarista.co.uk/products/55mm-concept-art-tamper-base-flat

                  LMSC - For the tampers at least, JoeFrex and Concept art are just brand names of the exact same thing. In fact, I owned one of them a while back. They are made very well, and are very sturdy BUT… Unlike the Bravo or the Normcore, Force, etc… it does NOT have a levelling plate which rests on the top of the basket. Therefore, yes, you will be applying the exact same pressure every time, but you will need to make sure your tamping is straight and level - the JoeFrex/ConceptArt tamper will not eliminate that variable for you.

                    In my mind, a slight curve to the face of the tamper will help with with tamping misalignment. With a spherical face, nothing is level anyway, so as long as the center point stays relatively the same, it will have an even tamp even if on an angle. I will draw it up in CAD to see if what I’m thinking is actually true or not.

                    A self-leveling tamp with a curve should be about as fool proof as possible.

                    All a curve tamper will do is give a visually better fill in on the bottom of the basket.

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

                    I think it’s been said that tamper base makes no difference to the quality of coffee but I do find a curved one reduces edge channeling by pushing the upper bed of coffee out to the edges. A convex base will obviously exert pressure in all directions where a flat one will push straight down.

                    With decent puck prep it’s probably irrelevant but I definitely get more consistent results with a curved/convex tamper than a flat one.

                    Caveat being physics class was many many years ago so I might be wrong.

                    La Marzocco Linea Mini - Mazzer Philos

                    Been loads of testing done for doughnut shots and it’s been debunked for being bad.

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

                      Interesting. I get really great results with convex, been using it about 18 months and it seems to work well.

                      La Marzocco Linea Mini - Mazzer Philos

                      Cuprajake Been loads of testing done for doughnut shots and it’s been debunked for being bad.

                      I would like to see a test done of purposely misaligned puck prep. If there is a 5deg misalignment, which would produce less channeling convex or flat? I suspect the answer may be convex.