Tall Ball Bubinga, Short Bubinga, "Vision's Espresso Tamper with Wooden Handel"
Bottom Line:
I will never buy a different handle, this one fits my grip perfectly!
Positive Product Points
Fits my grip better than any handle on the market. Has a great finish. Very durable wood (have dropped it over the counter 3 times now with no dents or dings) Reg is great to deal with
Negative Product Points
None for me, some find handle awkward, though.
Detailed Commentary
I purchased this handle simply to see if I was going to like it or not. I thought that it looked rather odd , but knew that there was a chance it would be the best fitting handle for my grip, and indeed it was. The finish is great. I use this tamper in a commercial setting where we pull around 500 shots a day, meaning this tamper probably gets used 250-300 times a day. I have had the tamper for two months and the finish is just barely starting to wear a little. The wood not only looks great but is extremely durable. I have dropped this handle onto the floor (piston attached, so it's moving pretty quickly) 3 times now, with no dents or dings that I can notice. On the contrary, I dropped the "Vision's" tamper off the counter once and the handle broke in half. I would never expect a handle to be able to be dropped off of a counter onto a hard floor and still look perfect, but it's nice to know that if it happens the handle will probably be okay. A grip is going to vary from person to person, but this handle fits my grip perfectly. I find that it allows me to get a more even tamp because it forces my hand and arm to be more vertical. You may find that this handle is horrible for your own personal grip, but in the two months that it has been in use at the shop, everyone has gone to this handle. At the shop we have one of each of the styles of Reg's handles (Tall Bubinga, Short Bubinga, and the Radical Pro) and I believe everyone uses this handle exclusively now. I do not believe I will ever buy a different handle.
Buying Experience
Purchased from RegBarber.com and had no problems what-so-ever. The product arrived on time and packaged well. Only the most adventurous of UPS drivers would have been able to damage the product in shipping. I was contacted promptly after placing my order via email. There is a reason why so many people recommend Reg.
Three Month Followup
Well, being used in a commercial setting, there are now some wear and tear marks on the finish of the handle. The top is worn away a little from us tapping the sides of the portafilter with it, but it hasn't chipped or anything; just minor wear and tear. I still love the handle, it still works great and it probably tamps 200-300 shots a day!
