If you've ever been to a cafe, you've seen someone tamp espresso. While it may seem like a strange ritual, personal habit, or weird "insider trick," the truth is that properly tamping espresso is crucial to a tasty final product. Below, I'll (perhaps obviously) explain how to tamp espresso. I'll also be handing out a few actual insider tricks to ensure things go as smoothly as possible and, importantly, that you know why.

Now, let’s start with the basics — why do we tamp espresso?

Why Tamp Espresso?

First things first, let's get something out of the way — espresso, by definition, needs pressure to become espresso (rather than simple coffee). The direct translation of espresso (technically "caffè espresso") from Italian is "pressed-out coffee." In other words, to make espresso, the user must apply pressure. Traditionally, this was entirely manual (ala fancy modern espresso makers like the Flair Pro 2).

Nowadays, though, espresso machines use extremely pressurized water to replace the elbow grease that was previously required — with one exception — the espresso tamp.

We’ll get into the how of things shortly, but the process of properly tamping espresso does a few things:

• Provides even extraction and prevents uneven extraction, resulting in a rich crema
• Brings your coffee grounds to an ideally perfect level
• Prevents the loss of excess coffee grounds
• Ensures there are no loose coffee grounds; this (ideally) means the water must force its way through the coffee puck rather than taking the path of least resistance.

All of this comes to one really, really important crescendo: If tamped properly, your espresso will be more full-bodied and rich and offer a bolder taste. If not, you're essentially making drip coffee with extra steps.

How to Tamp Espresso

With that said, here are the six steps to tamp espresso like a professional barista:

1. Level your coffee grounds with a WDT or knocking motion (or both). Ensure the portafilter’s sides and top are clear of loose grounds.
2. Lay your portafilter flat on a countertop.
   1. Alternative method: If using a built-in tamp, try to keep your elbow at a 90-degree angle so as to remain level. Once the machine lifts a touch, apply a little pressure once more and you’re done.
3. Press your tamper gently onto the coffee grounds to ensure an even, level tamp.
4. Resting the palm of your hand on the top of the tamp’s handle, gently angle your elbow to a roughly 60-degree angle.
   1. (Similar to the position of tossing food in a pan, elbow back, hand forward and down.)
5. Press down with your wrist, keeping your elbow in place (a bit of flex is okay).
6. Gently lean your body weight forward onto the portafilter, and allow your weight to do the work by applying 30 lbs of pressure. Don't sustain this for any longer than ten seconds — though five is fine for most people to get maximum density.

If done properly, you should see a true, old-fashioned puck of packed coffee simply begging for extraction. You’ll be rewarded with a more full-bodied mouthfeel, richer taste, and more diverse flavor than an everyday cup ‘o Joe. Just remember, the most important thing in espresso brewing is to take your time and treat the coffee the way it deserves to be treated.

Now that we’ve gotten that out of the way, let’s talk coffee. If you feel I may have missed some long-forgotten (maybe forbidden) technique, click on my Expert profile here to let me know or reach out to any Curated Coffee Expert! I’m always seeking new tricks to add to my collection. Now go pull a shot or three — cheers!

Tips From an Expert: Espresso Tamping

Tamping espresso is surprisingly more complicated than it may seem on the surface. While "Hulk smash" may be one's first instinct, a good bit of technique comes into play to tamp your coffee properly every time. Let's start with a few ground rules:

1. Level your coffee grounds first. As soon as they hit the portafilter basket, your grounds should be as level as possible. There are two ways to do this:
   1. Lightly tap the side of the portafilter while resting it as flat as possible until the grounds settle into a flat surface. Remove any grounds from the top of the portafilter.
   2. Use a Weiss Distribution Tool (WDT; seen here and here) to gently stir the coffee grounds. Often used in tandem with the previous method.
2. You must apply at least 30 pounds of pressure to properly tamp espresso.
   1. Use your body weight to your advantage! Don’t try to just muscle it down with only your arms — not only is it difficult, but you can injure your wrists and elbow and/or develop repetitive strain injuries.
   2. If possible, use a built-in tamp on your coffee grinder, as the machine's (and beans’) weight helps the process immensely.
3. Keep your portafilter flat and your wrist at a 90-degree angle.
   1. This cuts out the likelihood of an uneven tamp.
   2. Some portafilters will rest flat; others may require you to rest the base on a countertop — it’s always possible.
4. Use a good tamper.
   1. Make sure the tamp perfectly fits your portafilter (e.g., a 51mm tamp for a 51mm portafilter, and so on).
   2. Tamps with heft are better than lightweight ones; look for steel or wood (or both) tamps.
      1. Whether you use a curved tamper or flat tamper doesn’t matter — it’s all about technique.

Common Espresso Tamping Questions

Is it possible to over-tamp espresso? What happens if you over-tamp espresso?

No, after a certain point (30 lbs of pressure), coffee grounds cannot be tamped beyond their maximum density.

How tight should you pack espresso?

Pack it as tight as possible if needed, though ideally, you should be using a weighted dose (usually around 7-10 grams for a single espresso shot).

How hard should you tamp espresso?

While the amount of exertion you put into tamping doesn’t necessarily matter, you need at least 30 lbs of pressure to achieve a proper tamp. This is generally done with either body weight, the weight of a machine, or both.

Does tamper weight matter?

Tamper weight absolutely matters. Using a heavy steel tamp will make the process far easier than, say, a plastic two-in-one scoop/tamp combination.

Find the Best Espresso Tamp for You

Have more questions about how to tamp espresso? Reach out to any of our Curated Espresso Experts for recommendations and advice!