At its most basic, a tamping mat is a straightforward bit of kit. But there can be more to these things than meets the eye. Here are a few things you should take into consideration before buying. Do I really need a coffee tamper mat?

Anyway, it looks cool, and given that I am already starting to build up a bit of a tamper collection, I might just have to get myself one of these. I really like Sage Sage coffee machines and one of the great things about them, apart from the fact that they're usually really clever machines and punch way above their weight in terms of value for money, is that they usually come with proper tampers. Yes, I'm sad, we've already ascertained that – but there's quite a big difference between this tamper and most others, which is that the rosewood handle flares out. Very strange looking sea-dwelling critter which is allegedly a fish, although I've often wondered if they're actually lobsters in disguise, and which I suspect are possibly capable of bike riding.

Comfort and cleanliness are two more reasons that carry the importance of using a tamping mat. All the above points are relevant to achieving perfectness in an espresso cup. So, using an espresso tamping mat is encouraged. It'll fit many of the other machines which have a 51mm portafilter, including the Smeg espresso machine as listed above, which appears very – VERY… similar in many ways to the much cheaper DeLonghi Dedica espresso machine only with a more pricey looking shell…

These are height adjustable which simply means that you can remove the silver ring to make the handle slightly shorter. It weighs 354g, and it seems like quite a lot of tamper for the money. Another Lelit tamper, and this one is all stainless steel, yet at 250g apparently lighter than the one above which has an Aluminium handle, which amplifies my suspicions that this tamper does not have an auto shut off… 😉 Many people get something known as upgradeitis quite early on in the home barista journey and spend large amounts of money on seemingly more important bits of kit, namely on upgrading their espresso machine.

Should you tamp coffee grounds?

When we are preparing any of our favourite espresso based coffees, tamping is required. Coffee is ground into the Filter Basket Tamping mats are an easy to clean silicon or rubber tamping surface which reduces stress on your wrists from repetitive tamping. This is a must have coffee accessory for anyone that owns an espresso machine. They are made from high quality, anti slip rubber that protects your bench and portafilter from damage. Do I need a tamp mat? If you think I've got any of the machines below, in the wrong category, please do let me know, ta. The Best 49mm Tampers This is a Lelit tamper, Aluminium handle with stainless steel base, and very specifically 57.35mm, to perfectly fit the Lelit 57mm baskets for the Lelit Anna & Lelit Kate.

Do you fear accidental slips while tamping? This extra safe mat will not let it happen. Its grooved surface ensures the highest stability so you can tamp coffee grounds confidently. Best Burr Coffee Grinders Best Home Barista Machine & Grinder Setups Best manual coffee grinders reviewTo a certain degree, regardless of what your espresso machine is, you could always upgrade it, and becoming a home barista often comes with the pandemic condition known as upgradeitis.