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Permalink Reply by Matt Milletto on January 14, 2009 at 9:40am

I think that Mark Price has been experimenting with this tamper design, he may have some valuable info.

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Permalink Reply by James Doyle on January 14, 2009 at 11:12am

http://espressorun.blogspot.com/2008/09/reg-barber-ripple-tamper-ev...

I found this a while back when they first came out. It seems like they have no adverse effects on the coffee, but I'm still not sure what to think about them. I ultimately decided on a regular C-Flat base and have had no regrets.

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Permalink Reply by Steve Willingham on January 14, 2009 at 4:22pm

Thanks for the info. But my other question is what's the logic? Why did someone think this up?

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Permalink Reply by elvin on January 14, 2009 at 4:25pm

Hey Steve---

Bottom line with any tamper...

1). Does it fit in your hand comfortably?
2). Does it fit the basket of your porta-filter properly?
3). Is its surface evenly milled (free of pits, chips and warbles)?

Flat, C-flat, Convex, Chunk of Wood or Stone (provided it has an evenly milled piston surface), or R.B. Ripple Tamper will all work well with very little difference as long as you are consistent with your dose, with the distribution of coffee in the basket, and with flat-ness (levelness) of your tamping action with the tamping tool you choose to use.

It was my impression from Reg that he was trying to create more surface area on the top of the puck, to... was it quicken the saturation of the puck? (here is were you chime in Reg). He said that it might change the flow rate of water thru the puck... I have not noticed any difference.

That is me tho... give it a go an let us know what you find. It might be your next favorite tamper piston.

personal favorites: I bounce between the Convex and the Flat piston. Handles, the EP5 and the Compressore. The past few weeks I'd say Flat piston.

---michael

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Permalink Reply by Steve Willingham on January 14, 2009 at 4:30pm

Thanks, elvin. It all makes sense (in a 'I only sort of get it cause I'm new at this' kind of way) now.

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Permalink Reply by Joseph Robertson on January 14, 2009 at 4:36pm

Steve Willingham said:

Thanks for the info. But my other question is what's the logic? Why did someone think this up?

My thought is time on our hands. Another thought, it just might make a difference on the plus side. Let's see what else might be going through the mind of an inventor/ coffee geek?

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Permalink Reply by elvin on January 14, 2009 at 5:08pm

Joseph Robertson said:

Steve Willingham said:

Thanks for the info. But my other question is what's the logic? Why did someone think this up?

My thought is time on our hands. Another thought, it just might make a difference on the plus side. Let's see what else might be going through the mind of an inventor/ coffee geek?

myself... I'm always looking to make the perfect more perfect.

give new ideas a go and then back off if it does not work out.

:)

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