<p>When i started brewing espresso some years ago i started out with placing a robust scale on the counter and applying pressure while reading the weight in order to measure how hard i tamped my coffee. By doing this i was also able to experiment with the weight in order to determine the actual significance of the pressure applied to the puck.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-01-28T09:43:55.870Z
...and what were your findings?
fredley
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-01-28T09:47:40.843Z
That even if i tamped exactly as the theory describes it wont be perfect, because the grind, temperature and pressure of the espresso machine also has an impact on the shot. You can use the 15kg pressure as a null-point. And then adjust one parameter at a time (grind or tamping weight). Most importantly taste the end product and don't rely 100% on the technical parameters.
JavaCake
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-01-28T09:41:29.403Z
2015-01-28T09:41:29.403Z
JavaCake
<p>For someone without an expensive machine that can regulate the pressure when tamping, how can I know how hard to tamp, and if I'm tamping <em>too</em> hard?</p>

<p>I make espresso with a counter-top machine, and I tamp with a hand-held tamper like this:</p>

<p><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/pXoSf.jpg" alt="enter image description here"></p>

<p>Should I put my whole weight on it, or just a little? Does twisting while I tamp have an effect?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-01-28T09:43:25.850Z
possible duplicate of [How important is tamping coffee for an espresso machine](http://coffee.stackexchange.com/questions/5/how-important-is-tamping-coffee-for-an-espresso-machine)
Vogel612
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-01-28T13:19:42.627Z
@Vogel612 I'm not asking how important it is, I'm asking how to do it!
fredley
<tamping>
How do I know how hard to tamp my coffee?
fredley
# How do I know how hard to tamp my coffee?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2015-01-28)

For someone without an expensive machine that can regulate the pressure when tamping, how can I know how hard to tamp, and if I'm tamping *too* hard?

I make espresso with a counter-top machine, and I tamp with a hand-held tamper like this:

![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/pXoSf.jpg)

Should I put my whole weight on it, or just a little? Does twisting while I tamp have an effect?

**Tags:** tamping

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: possible duplicate of [How important is tamping coffee for an espresso machine](http://coffee.stackexchange.com/questions/5/how-important-is-tamping-coffee-for-an-espresso-machine)  
> **username_0**: @username_1 I'm not asking how important it is, I'm asking how to do it!  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2015-01-28. Score: 6

When i started brewing espresso some years ago i started out with placing a robust scale on the counter and applying pressure while reading the weight in order to measure how hard i tamped my coffee. By doing this i was also able to experiment with the weight in order to determine the actual significance of the pressure applied to the puck.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: ...and what were your findings?  
> **username_2**: That even if i tamped exactly as the theory describes it wont be perfect, because the grind, temperature and pressure of the espresso machine also has an impact on the shot. You can use the 15kg pressure as a null-point. And then adjust one parameter at a time (grind or tamping weight). Most importantly taste the end product and don't rely 100% on the technical parameters.  

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