The Rattleware Espresso Tamper Review

True baristas and serious homebrewers (like you) know the importance of a good-quality tamper to ensure an even extraction. Today we’re looking at the Rattleware Espresso tamper to help you decide if it’s the right tamper for you. Let’s see if your quest for tamping perfection is complete!

Summary: The Rattleware Espresso Tamper

• Available in 53, 57 and 58 mm, this tamper fits most portafilter baskets
  
• Features an impact-resistant handle and a flat, stainless steel base
  
• Sturdy and durable

Rattleware’s Stainless Steel Tamper may be the last tamper you’ll ever need.

– Espresso Zone

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The Rattleware Espresso Tamper Review

If you are looking for a quality, old-school tamper to perfect your espresso routine, the Rattleware Espresso Tamper may be just the tool you need. Unlike the Espro Tamper, the Rattleware is not for the faint of heart. This tamper is not calibrated, meaning that it is up to the user to apply the appropriate pressure through the sleek, stainless steel flat base. Crafted with top-quality steel and built for aesthetic as well as functional excellence, the Rattleware doesn’t disappoint.

The Rattleware Espresso Tamper Review

• Build Quality
• Tamping
• Style
• Value For Money

4

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Build Quality – 4/5

Consisting of an easy-to-hold and impact-resistant ABS handle, and a stainless steel base, this one-piece tamper is sturdy and durable: it weighs almost a pound, which is still comfortable to hold but heavy enough to be incredibly helpful when you’re trying to apply the correct pressure.

We still recommend checking your espresso machine before buying it, though, instead of judging it by sight or just hoping for the best. A 1 mm difference can be all it takes to ruin your brew: if it’s slightly too small, it won’t press all the coffee grounds evenly. If your portafilter isn’t 58 mm, you’ll be thrilled to know that the Rattleware tamper is also available in 53 mm, 55 mm, and 57 mm versions. These sizes are marked up just a few dollars but still make for a great deal.

Tamping – 4.5/5

If the coffee grounds aren’t tamped properly, the water will push through the less compact areas more quickly and easily, resulting in a final espresso shot that is a mixture of under- and over-extracted grounds (1), which is pretty much what sadness tastes like. That’s why, when it comes to tamping, the correct pressure and consistency are everything. (2)

Thanks to its considerable weight and the flat shape of its stainless steel base, the Rattleware tamper won’t disappoint: it’ll be easy to apply a smooth and consistent tamp and obtain an even espresso extraction. That being said, this tamper is not calibrated, and therefore requires some know-how to get that perfect tamp.

Tamping to perfection is not a complex process, but it does require a fair bit of attention to detail, so you can count on needing some practice-brews before you get it just right.

Style – 4/5

Thanks to its shape and the different color of its black handle against the silver stainless steel base, the Rattleware Tamper is sturdy but sleek. The seamless blend of classic and modern elements reminds us of a new-age arcade joystick, so what is not to love?

Value For Money – 3.5/5

The Rattleware is slightly more expensive than most of our favorite espresso tampers. However, it’s also made of high-quality stainless steel and is clearly built to last.

The build material clearly outshines the flimsy plastic tampers attached to many espresso makers, as well as poorly-built metal tampers that are even known to leave metal shavings in your coffee!

Do Not Buy The Rattleware Espresso Tamper If…

You prefer a convex base – While some baristas prefer flat bases, some others wouldn’t drop the convex element for anything in the world as it can help avoid the risk of channeling. (3) If this sounds like you, then you probably wouldn’t get along with the Rattleware. We recommend the Benicci Espresso Tamper instead. Sturdy and compact, the Benicci features an American convex base and is available in the standard 58 mm size. Find out all about it here.

You have a very small portafilter basket – The Rattleware offers quite a few options when it comes to size but, you may find that they are all too big if you have a 49 mm portafilter. If that is the case, we suggest you try the LuxHaus Calibrated Espresso Tamper, which is also a flat tamper but is available in 49 mm as well as the other sizes offered by Rattleware. Discover its calibrated compression mechanism in this post.

You’re after a more budget-friendly option – If the price tag puts you off despite the fact that it will be a lifetime purchase, that’s absolutely fair. While we recommend avoiding the cheapest and tackiest options, you can certainly find a good tamper at a more budget-friendly price. Check out the Zoie + Chloe espresso tamper, which is also available in three colorful and aesthetically-pleasing models.

You want an automatic tamper – Getting an automatic tamper may sound a little too extravagant. But if you’re a coffee shop owner whose barista tamps for more than 50 espresso shots a day, then the Puqpress automatic tamper is worth considering.

The Verdict: The Rattleware Espresso Tamper

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The Rattleware Espresso Tamper could easily be your new lifetime espresso buddy! Sturdy and durable, its heavy body will help you apply the correct pressure onto your coffee grounds and ensure a consistent tamp, thanks also to its flat stainless steel base.

Since it’s available in three different sizes, it can fit the vast majority of portafilters, though we recommend you measure your portafilter before purchasing to be sure it’s a match. With its quirky arcade joystick shape, the Rattleware espresso is a great way to step up your tamping game!