5 Best Espresso Tampers for 2022 Reviewed

If you don’t have an espresso tamper in your home kitchen, now is the time to invest in one. Whether you’re a beginner or professional barista, tamping tools play a huge role in creating an amazing shot of espresso. They compact coffee so tightly that water is forced to make its way through the grounds. This, in turn, extracts the most flavor from the coffee resulting in a perfect brew. 

If you’re on the hunt for the best espresso tamper, you’ve come to the right place. Read on to access everything you need to know about purchasing a tamping device.

The Best Espresso Tampers

Looking for a quality espresso tamper? Below, we will cover what we believe to be the top 5 espresso tampers. We’ve reviewed dozens and these 5 consistently come out on top. 

Product Review Rating Price
ESPRO Calibrated Espresso Tamper Read Review 4.9 Check Price
PerriRock Coffee Tamper Read Review 4.6 Check Price
LuxHaus Calibrated Pressure Tamper Read Review 4.6 Check Price
MATOW Dual Head Coffee Tamper Read Review 4.5 Check Price
Zoie + Chloe Espresso Tamper Read Review 4.3 Check Price

Following our top picks, we’ll cover the different espresso tamper sizes, what to look for when shopping around for this coffee tool, why you need a tamping device, and more!

espro calibrated espresso tamper
Our Favourite

1. ESPRO Calibrated Espresso Tamper

4.9/5.0
Looks / Appearance 5.0 / 5.0
Ease of use 4.0 / 5.0
Functionality 5.0 / 5.0

Pros

  • – Solid construction
  • – Consistent tamps 
  • – 5 sizes to choose from
  • – 30 pounds of pressure

Cons

  • – Relatively expensive

The ESPRO Calibrated Espresso Tamper delivers consistent shots of espresso every time. This means the flavor and aroma will always be spot on!

2. PerriRock Coffee Tamper

4.6/5.0
Looks / Appearance 5.0 / 5.0
Ease of use 4.0 / 5.0
Functionality 5.0 / 5.0

Pros

  • – Nice, solid feel 
  • – Convex tamping head 
  • – Wallet-friendly

Cons

  • – Only one size option

The PerriRock Stainless Steel Coffee Tamper is a well-rounded product that we’d confidently recommend to our viewers. It offers a unique design, is made from heavy-duty stainless steel, and is sold at an unbeatable price.

3. LuxHaus Calibrated Pressure Tamper

4.6/5.0
Looks / Appearance 5.0 / 5.0
Ease of use 4.0 / 5.0
Functionality 5.0 / 5.0

Pros

  • – Calibrated compression mechanism 
  • – Offers 30 pounds of pressure
  • – Elegant design (red pouch included)

Cons

  • – Calibration isn’t spot on

The LuxHaus Espresso Tamper is easy to use, functional and looks great. It offers 30 pounds of pressure even though it’s not spot-on. However, with a little bit of practice, even the newest users will be able to re-calibrate and adjust as needed.

4. MATOW Dual Head Coffee Tamper

4.5/5.0
Looks / Appearance 4.0 / 5.0
Ease of use 5.0 / 5.0
Functionality 5.0 / 5.0

Pros

  • – 2-in-1 tool 
  • – Consistent brews
  • – Easy to use and adjust 
  • – Unbeatable price

Cons

  • – No warranty

The MATOW tamper is durable, reliable, and easy to use. We enjoyed being able to pull the perfect shot of espresso using one tool.

5. Zoie + Chloe Espresso Tamper

4.3/5.0
Looks / Appearance 5.0 / 5.0
Ease of use 4.0 / 5.0
Functionality 4.0 / 5.0

Pros

  • – Durable stainless steel
  • – Affordable 
  • – Trending, ergonomic design

Cons

  • – Small base
  • – Not dishwasher

The Zoie + Chloe Stainless Steel Espresso Tamper offers a bang for your buck. It’s a great selection if you’re on a budget or are new to tamping.

What is an Espresso Tamper?

An espresso tamper is a small tool used to compress ground coffee into a portafilter. You’ve probably seen your local barista use one while making a shot of espresso, latte, or macchiato. 

Coffee tampers are small tools, but they play a critical step in brewing a quality shot of espresso. By packing down coffee grinds, water is pushed through the coffee as opposed to around it. Having empty spaces or scattered coffee is going to give water an easy place to seep through, leading to watered-down brews. 

What are the Different Espresso Tamper Sizes?

Espresso tamper sizes vary anywhere from 48mm to 58mm. The type you need depends on the size of your espresso’s portafilter basket. Rest assured, there is a tamper that will fit your machine. Most brands utilize a 58mm size tamper; however, this is much too big for some machines. 

The ideal size needs to be slightly smaller than your espresso machine’s portafilter’s basket. What we suggest is measuring the size of your portafilter and getting a tamper that’s .75mm smaller. This will ensure it fits in nicely, leading to mugs full of barista-quality brews.

What to Look For in the Best Espresso Tampers

The process of tamping coffee will take some time to master; however, investing in a quality tamping device is a great first place to start. To choose the right tamper for your home kitchen, keep the following in mind: 

Size 

Tamper sizes are measured in millimeters. You always want to check the size of your espresso machine portafilter to make sure you invest in a tamper that fits. Most brands use a size of 58 mm, but you can find them anywhere from 48 mm to 58 mm. 

Weight 

Quality tampers will be on the heavier side because you’ll be aiming to achieve 30 pounds of pressure. Aim to invest in a tool that weighs around 1-2 pounds. Also, avoid any tampers made from plastic. These will break easily and will make it difficult to achieve those 30 pounds of pressure. Instead, opt for a heavy material like stainless steel. 

Style 

Tampers are designed in many shapes, styles, and sizes. Do you want something simple or extravagant? A black tamper or a rose gold one? Each brand creates its own unique look, so pick the style that appeals to you most. 

Price 

Believe it or not, you could find a tamping device for as little as $4. However, we strongly recommend you not to buy a $4 tamper as it will most likely be made from plastic and break easily. This is not to say you have to invest $200 in one. You can find a quality tamping device anywhere from $20 – $100. 

Convex vs Flat Bottom? 

Convex tampers have slightly rounded surfaces, while flat ones are completely flat. For home brewing, either is fine; however, some people prefer convex options since they prevent channeling by pushing coffee grounds slightly up the sides of the portafilter. 

Should You Use a Calibrated Tamper?

We always recommend a calibrated tamper – for pros and beginners alike. Why? Well, these tampers have a handle that is separate from the base of the device. You’ll hear a “click” sound when it is pushed to 30 pounds of pressure. These types of tampers are for those that want to be 110% sure they applied the correct pressure.

Should You Invest in an Espresso Tamper? 

If you’re serious about your coffee, you need a tamper. Without one, you run the risk of under extraction, leading to watered-down brews. These coffee tools are affordable and easy to use. High-end models will probably last a lifetime making them a one-time investment. 

So, you definitely should invest in an espresso tamper if you want the highest quality cup of brew possible. The question is: Which tamper do I choose? Use this guide to make an informed shopping decision and browse around our top picks as well!

Final Thoughts 

Keeping the above in mind will help you purchase a quality espresso tamper. If you haven’t done so already, check out our top 5 picks to find the perfect tamping device for you. Each is slightly different and designed with a specific audience in mind.

We hope this guide has helped answer any questions you may have had pertaining to these helpful devices. More importantly, we hope you have a tamper in your cart, ready to order! You’ll find that tampers are incredibly easy to use and elevate coffee drinking experiences to the next level. 

Happy brewing!