Posted Sat Jan 14, 2012, 7:47pm Subject: Re: Does the VST basket really require a specific tamper?
One other thing that I figured I'd add to the thread in case anyone stubles into it and has no idea what we're all talking about it, the mention of the "VST tamper" as though it's a specialty device of some kind may be misleading....so just to answer the question before it gets asked several months from now: Te VST tamper isn't a magical specialized device, it's a "normal" tamper made by Greg Pullamn (who aslo visits these forums and you can find some conversations with him). It's a "plain old orrdinary tamper" (ok, there's nothing plain and ordinary about the quality or price of a Pullman.) But you can buy a Pullman with our without the "VST" logo on it in the same color or any other color/material. The only thing that makes it "VST" is that it has the VST logo on the reverse side of the handle, and it's sizing option is about 58.4mm....the mean size of VST basket I.D. It's also a little cheaper than ordering straight from Pullman in Australia since Vince is ordering in something of "bulk" and the import/export duties get consolidated , and I believe you aslo get a free basket included in the price now. So if you were going to get the all-silver Pullman, you can save some money getting it from VST, but otherwise, same thing without the color/handle material options you get importing it yourself.
I just can picture someone reading the above posts and thinking "wow, what's with these VST baskets, and this special tamper contraption?" without realizing it's just a special "edition" of probably the most expensive tamper around....not a special type of tamper.
All that said, I really like my VST edition Pullman ;) It's become my most used tamper in the collection (and for that price....It'd better!
hankua Senior Member Joined: 29 Aug 2009 Posts: 204 Location: Jacksonville, Florida Expertise: Just starting
Espresso: Salvatore One Black Grinder: Pharos,Rossi RR45OD, Lido,... Drip: CCD Roaster: Yang-Chia 800n
Posted Sun Jan 15, 2012, 10:07am Subject: Re: Does the VST basket really require a specific tamper?
You don't have to spend a fortune to get a custom sized tamper. Mine cost $25 plus shipping and that was for the base. Just do a little research and you might be surprised.
Coffeenoobie Senior Member Joined: 11 Dec 2011 Posts: 2,313 Location: PNW Expertise: I like coffee
Espresso: N S Oscar Grinder: Vario W
Posted Sun Jan 15, 2012, 12:07pm Subject: Re: Does the VST basket really require a specific tamper?
I saw reg barber you could order custom sizes as well. I had been thinking of doing that. My tamp is too large for the ridges of my oscar basket and so that is speeding up my need for a better basket. Where are they ordering the baskets with tamper from? I was looking a chriscoffee.com they sell a cheaper bundled tamper.
Also, for people that bought the VST did you get the ridged? I like the idea of easy ground dumping but I am so pissed at the ridges on my basket stopping my tamp now.... Thanks,
Coffeenoobie
Buying advice: GRINDER GRINDER GRINDER. Don't cheap out on the grinder. My coffee treasure map... Click Here (maps.google.com)
Posted Sun Jan 15, 2012, 12:14pm Subject: Re: Does the VST basket really require a specific tamper?
hankua Said:
You don't have to spend a fortune to get a custom sized tamper. Mine cost $25 plus shipping and that was for the base. Just do a little research and you might be surprised.
Certainly! Pullmans happen to cost a fortune whether custom or not. Part of it is because of the AU-US exchange being unfavorable in the US (Reg Barbers were a few short years ago considered the Cadillac of tampers here in the US, and those run substantially cheper than Greg's in the US...but he pointed out that in AU the Reg price is much closer to the basic (not the deluxe 'Barista' model with the rubber center) model....the US exchange rates make the Pullman models a lot more "luxurry" in terms of price than they otherwise are intended.
(Caveat: Some people are REALLY obsessed with having a tamper that's matched rather specifically to their baskets....and I think Greg's C&C equipment may be a bit more exacting for pinpoint sizing to 1/2mm detail than even Reg's. That's his claim to fame anyway....) , and I've never subscribed to that thinking. VST's specs are 58.3 -0.0 +0.1, officially for a tamper that will fit any VST basket....any decent tamper maker can make it. I have a few Reg at 58.4mm, the official VST Pullman, and one of the Great Infusions brass tampers (mostly for decoration...it's too pretty to use!) all sized to that spec, and all work lovely as expected. It's a block of metal that pushes coffee....the closer the better, but even 58.0 will work fine....it just increases the chances of edge channeling (but certainly doesn't guarantee it.) I used my Reg Short 58.0 for months until I got the large sizes. My consistency rate improved with a larger piston, but I wouldn't say the plain tamper did a bad job. The worst was the curved tamper...that ft a nasty donut....
Posted Sun Jan 15, 2012, 1:09pm Subject: Re: Does the VST basket really require a specific tamper?
that's not a bad deal if there was free shipping--but with 10 bucks in shipping your looking at $40. I did see one on amazon for $30 plus free shipping. I may go this route
"Coffee should be black as Hell, strong as Death, and as sweet as Love."
I have some of both. The ridge-less baskets are easier to work with in general, and if you dose and tamp outside the portafilter there's no value to the ridge.
Even if you DO prepare your dose with the basket inside the PF, you may find the PF spring holds the ridge-less in well enough. If you prep your baskets in the PF and really want that basket locked in tight, then you go with the ridged baskets.
Coffeenoobie Senior Member Joined: 11 Dec 2011 Posts: 2,313 Location: PNW Expertise: I like coffee
Espresso: N S Oscar Grinder: Vario W
Posted Sun Jan 15, 2012, 3:01pm Subject: Re: Does the VST basket really require a specific tamper?
I can't seem to get level with the basket in my portafilter since I made it naked.... So I have been tamping outside the naked portafilter so I took the spring out. What do people do to level the portafilter when the cut the bottoms off?
Thanks,
Coffeenoobie
Buying advice: GRINDER GRINDER GRINDER. Don't cheap out on the grinder. My coffee treasure map... Click Here (maps.google.com)
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