| When making espresso with your espresso | | | | are making a double espresso, start by only |
| machine, it is very important that the ground | | | | putting half the dose in the filter. |
| coffee is well packed in the filter basket. If the | | | | Knock the filter basket lightly against the counter |
| ground is not properly compacted, the water will | | | | to make the coffee even out in the filter basket. |
| flow through the coffee to quickly and create thin | | | | Grab the tamper and press straight down against |
| and bitter cup of espresso. This is much the same | | | | the coffee. You should press quite hard, so it |
| principle as when grinding espresso.The tool for | | | | helps to put the filter basket down on the |
| the job is called an espresso tamper, and the | | | | counter. Finish by twisting the tamper a bit using |
| process is called tampering. A correct tamping | | | | the power of your wrist. |
| makes the water flow through the coffee evenly | | | | Check the basket for any loose coffee near the |
| so that no part of it is overextracted during | | | | walls, you will find at least some. Knock the |
| brewing. The tamper is usually made of metal and | | | | tamper lightly against the counter again, and |
| can have a flat or a rounded bottom. Cheep ones | | | | repeat the tamping once again. |
| coming with your espresso machine may also be | | | | If you were making a double espresso, add the |
| made of plastic.Choosing the right tamper is not | | | | rest of the coffee and repeat step 1 to 4 above. |
| rocket science, however it is important that the | | | | When you have finished your tamping exercise, |
| tamper has the right dimensions for the filter | | | | make sure that the coffee is evenly spread in the |
| basket of your espresso machine. If the tamper | | | | filter basket. If not, start over again until you get |
| is too small, this will result in an unevenly packet | | | | it right.Espresso tamping is not hard when you |
| ground with higher density in the middle, and thus | | | | know how, but depending on the pressure and |
| the water flowing past in near the edges of the | | | | quality of your machine, as well the ground you |
| basket. Also, getting a tamper that gives you a | | | | are currently using, the pressure you need to |
| good grip will also make things easier.When | | | | apply with the tamper may vary. Practice a few |
| tamping your espresso ground, follow these easy | | | | times until you learn the technique and the right |
| steps. | | | | pressure for your particular machine.Good luck |
| | | | with your espresso tamping! |
| Fill the filter basket with ground coffee. If you | | | | |