Most espresso machine manufactures rarely include a decent, properly sized tamper. Justifiably this is a proper cost conscience decision.
It is important to pick-up a tamper that is properly size for your porta filter. This will ensure that the coffee is properly packed and that you will have an even extraction. Once you get your hands on a Reg Barber tamper with its beautifully crafted rosewood handle atop a weighty stainless steel piston you’ll see that it is worth the extra bucks.
The tamper is topped with a button made of a hi-impact plastic called Delron which is made by Dupont. This button it is used to tap the porta filter and nock the grinds down from the sides without scarring the tamper.
I picked up my tamper from Whole Latte Love. I was tired of using a small messy plastic tamper. This tamper is certainly made to last and it looks great sitting atop your Rocky next to Silvia.
At the end of the day, you don’t need to spend $40+ dollars to improve your tamp/coffee extraction. However, for the incremental amount of money you would spend on a Reg it is in my opinion most definitely worth it.
