Rattleware 58-Milimeter Round-Handled Tamper, Long

As a shop mechanic trained and certified in Switzerland, I can give an expert opinion on the build quality of this product. I am a novice when it comes to espresso making.I was truly impressed when I took this tamper out of the box. It comes in a plain cardboard box and is protected from scratches with a thin cloth bag. I think the bag is meant for transportation only.The tamper itself has a stainless steel base topped with a plastic knob. The bottom surface (the part that comes in contact with the coffee) is polished to a high gloss. The rest of the visible steel is brushed. The size and logo are etched into the parallel part of the shaft. It is machined with high attention to detail. No edge is too sharp or too blunt.The plastic knob is threaded about an inch into the steel base. I don't know whether the manufacturer offers different knobs/handles or replacement parts, but the threading would allow for this. The threading is executed just as it should be. It's been a while since I've been impressed with how well something is made.I don't much like plastic, but the knob is well made, too. It has a matte finish and feels good in my hand. I think it wouldn't feel nearly as nice if it were all steel. The threaded shaft of the knob is just the tiniest bit off-center, but that's just me being pedantic.As for how well the tamper does it's actual job, I continue being impressed every time I use it. Keep in mind though that my previous tamper was one of those die-cast aluminium models with a different diameter tamper at each end. The Rattleware 58mm tamper fits my Rancilio Silvia baskets perfectly. No more grounds overflowing at the sides. My tamps immediately improved a lot with the new tamper. The sides of the basket are almost perfectly clean after a single tamp and it's far easier to get an even and straight tamp.You could spend a lot more money on getting a tamper with some exotic hardwood handle, but as far doing the job it's intended for, I'm sure this product does just as well as any of the models that cost many times as much.Note that this tamper has a flat base. There are some with beveled or rounded plates, which I believe are intended to minimize channeling by pressing the grounds outwards a bit. I've not noticed any channeling issues with flat tamps, but then again, my experience is rather limited.

If you're planning on buying this you probably already know exactly what you want; a 58mm tamper. That's what this is. It's the industry-standard size for commercial and enthusiast home espresso machines. It's got some nice heft to it and it's very well machined. It's flat, smooth, and extremely satisfying to hold. The plastic handle at the top has some excellent tactile feeling and adds a little bit of grippiness. I'm using this with a Lelit heat-exchange machine and it fits the portafilter basket absolutely perfectly. I can get good, consistent tamps from this with very minimal practice. I think it's great value for the money and it's attractive in a very understated manner.

This tamper is solid and sits comfortably in your hand. The plastic feels solid and the steel adds a nice heft. There is a slight, but noticable seam where the plastic meets the metal but this isn't a big issue. The reason I didn't give this 5 stars is that it falls short of the high-end tampers like the Reg Barbers and similar. Those feel like the professional tools that they are and give the impression of the sort of tool that will be handed down for generations. The Rattleware is definitely good quality and feels like it'll last a long time, but I'm not sure how long it'd last in a high-volume cafe, but that's not what it's intended for (nor how its priced). Overall, for its purpose, it's highly recommended. In fact, I bought a second one for the office after I started using the one for home.

I have spent much time in an attempt to arrive at a near professional level of making espresso shots, via the learning of many of the finer points about coffee and investing in the right machines, grinders, coffee beans and other tools.I have a Nuova Simonelli Oscar machine (and a Francis X1), and realized I needed a heavier tamper for consistency. I felt the weight of a tamper selling at Intelligentcia, this gave me an idea of what was out there.The Rattleware Tamper is comparable in weight and quality, but it's price is much lower than the $85 price tag for the Intelligencia tamper.The Rattleware tamper does not have the convex surface but it's not needed for what I do, and believe me the shots I pull compare to Peet's, Intelligentcia, and to any of the top independent espresso places (ask my guests about that!).You will probably be very satisfied in choosing this product as I was.

I DO like this rattleware tamper, overall. It is exactly as described and certainly does the job. It does have some minor drawbacks that I'm sure are because of its lower price-point but still...It is well made and a good size and quality material. The biggest problem I have with it is that it is not really heavy enough. Just be forewarned that it is NOT as heavy as you might think or as it LOOKS and you won't be too disappointed.It just doesn't have the "heft" that a FULL, SOLID metal tamper has.The "head" - the actual tamping end - is nicely made and shaped but it is a little shallow or thin. If it were a little thicker it would add to the overall weight and compensate somewhat for the acrylic (plastic?) handle.The handle does feel good in the hand and is good for "rapping" the portafilter but the overall tamper just doesn't have enough weight to get the job done. You have to consciously put some force behind it.All that said the size, shape & quality are just fine and "for the money" it's a pretty good deal.

This is the best tamper I've found for a reasonable price. There are other fancier tampers with pressure sensors, better handles, and everything else. But this is the best standard tamper for every day person. If you have bigger hands, you might want to get the one with the longer handle. My hands are on the smaller side, and this feels good pressing down. Others hurt my hand, or I just don't feel like I can apply that much pressure. With this thing, I feel like I can tamp 100 pounds if I wanted to.

Buena la relación precio calidad, bastante cómodo a la hora de realizar el prensado, el único pero es que la base debería ser un poco mas gruesa para que prensara aún mas el café en el porta-filtro sin necesidad de una presión excesiva.