<p>My rule of thumb is to tamp after inserting the basket into the portafilter for one main reason; after the tamp, I want the coffee puck to remain as undisturbed as possible before pulling the shot.  If you have already inserted the basket in the portafilter then dose and tamp, the only required action after tamping is inserting it into the machine's group head.  If on the other hand, you dose and tamp into the basket first, then you have to next insert the basket into the portafilter which has the chance to deform the puck (you do have to exert a bit of pressure to insert the basket into the portafilter!).  This just becomes yet another variable you must control for to gain repeat-ability in your preparation process, and great espresso is all about process.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-04-27T20:05:27.517Z
2016-04-27T20:05:27.517Z
Steven Vaccaro
<p>I am unaware if this specific machine has specific requirements. If this is the case, please mention.</p>

<p>I mostly prefer to tamp the coffee after I put it in the portafilter. It's harder to carry the basket with coffee in it. Also it's harder to tamp the basket without easily holding it in place.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-04-08T10:52:42.397Z
2016-04-08T10:52:42.397Z
MTSan
<p>I have a Sage Dual Boiler coffee machine, using the stock portafilter and baskets. Should I tamp the coffee in the basket and then insert into the portafilter, or insert the basket first into portafilter and then tamp?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-04-08T09:23:28.200Z
Welcome to Coffee SE, please feel free to take the [tour](http://coffee.stackexchange.com/tour).
MTSan
<espresso><tamping>
When should I tamp the coffee?
quant_dev
# When should I tamp the coffee?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2016-04-08)

I have a Sage Dual Boiler coffee machine, using the stock portafilter and baskets. Should I tamp the coffee in the basket and then insert into the portafilter, or insert the basket first into portafilter and then tamp?

**Tags:** espresso, tamping

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Welcome to Coffee SE, please feel free to take the [tour](http://coffee.stackexchange.com/tour).  

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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2016-04-27. Score: 2 | Accepted answer

My rule of thumb is to tamp after inserting the basket into the portafilter for one main reason; after the tamp, I want the coffee puck to remain as undisturbed as possible before pulling the shot. If you have already inserted the basket in the portafilter then dose and tamp, the only required action after tamping is inserting it into the machine's group head. If on the other hand, you dose and tamp into the basket first, then you have to next insert the basket into the portafilter which has the chance to deform the puck (you do have to exert a bit of pressure to insert the basket into the portafilter!). This just becomes yet another variable you must control for to gain repeat-ability in your preparation process, and great espresso is all about process.


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### Answer by username_1 on 2016-04-08. Score: 2

I am unaware if this specific machine has specific requirements. If this is the case, please mention.

I mostly prefer to tamp the coffee after I put it in the portafilter. It's harder to carry the basket with coffee in it. Also it's harder to tamp the basket without easily holding it in place.


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