RSVP InternationalEspresso Coffee Kitchen Tool Home and Commercial Use, Dual Sided Tamper, Aluminum Alloy

This item was an absolutely perfect match for the "De'Longhi EC155 15 BAR Pump Espresso and Cappuccino Maker" which I purchased at the same time.To make a PERFECT cappuccino also consider getting the above espresso maker, the "Stainless Steel 10oz. Steaming & Frothing Pitcher" and the "Bodum Pavina 2-1/2-Ounce Double-Wall Espresso/Shot Thermo Glasses, Set of 2". For around $100 this combo makes a cappuccino that is JUST as good as any coffee shop I've patronized!Be sure to get coffee especially fine-ground for espressos... don't just get an "espresso blend" for drip coffee makers! You can get "Cafe Bustelo" brand here on Amazon (look at its great reviews) or just about any big discount store and it makes a perfect crema and is delicious. Look for a yellow can.When filling the above espresso maker with coffee, use the included scoop, filled and then leveled. DON'T fill the scoop past the top at all! Dump the coffee in the center of the ONE CUP filter and tamp with the "RSVP Terry's Tamper" by just setting it down on the coffee, allowing the weight of the tamper to smooth and level the coffee into the filter. DON'T push or apply any extra pressure! Simply turn the tamper a few times to level the coffee, then lift it away carefully. If your crema is too dark and bitter, you probably pressed or tamped too much. If there is little crema or it is too light, you probably didn't tamp or smooth it enough.Set aside an 11-12 oz coffee cup and pull an espresso that just fills the 2.5 oz Bodum Pavina glass (the crema should drag across the bottom of the spouts on the espresso maker. Set the glass of espresso aside and fill the frothing pitcher with COLD milk. We successfully use plain almond milk or 2% cow milk.>>Be sure to only fill to just under the indentation in the middle of the pitcher.<<Use the steamer wand to froth the milk following the instructions that come with the EC155. The milk *should* froth up to just nearly overflowing, making just the right amount of froth. If you use coffee flavorings (like Torani Brand syrups) put them in the coffee cup first (2-3 teaspoons is what we like)... then pour on the froth... then pour your coffee on top. (Be careful... the wide and thick Bodum Pavina cup is a little hard to pour from without espresso dribbling down the side.) Give a very slight stir with a spoon and serve. If you like a very hot cappuccino just microwave for 20-30 seconds and then serve.Anyway, this tamper seems to be of nice quality. I have had no problem with flaking as others have reported. If used carefully and cleaned with each use, I think it should work for a really long time! As stated this is a PERFECT match for the Espresso/Cappuccino-making combo that we put together after much research. Enjoy!

Used over a year: great value, works, and aluminum body matches my coffee machine. The smaller disk of the tamper presses the coffee grounds and the other disk is the handle (I suppose it could be reversed if you have a larger basket filter). Tamper fits most porta-filters but you can modify it if your basket is smaller (instructions below). Easily pushes commonly recommended 30 lb. pressure; in fact it can take my entire body weight which all tampers can't do. Simple to clean; a quick wash/rinse with no worry of rust or extra time cleaning crevices or caring for fancy wood handles. Other tampers are more expensive. Why spend the extra money?When tamping, place the setup on a sturdy, non-slippery surface, some people place it on a paper towel. You can experiment to get the right feel of the proper weight by pressing down on a bathroom scale. While tamping, use a screwdriver-rotating motion about 1/4 turn, lift up, then twist in the OPPOSITE direction to prevent the grounds from clinging to the disk.(Modification instructions) If the tamper is a little too big for your filter basket, you can file the outside edge of the tamper disc with a hardware metal file and fine sandpaper. File the tamper by rotating the outer edge of the puck over the file to make an evenly round reduction. Stop once in awhile and put the disc in the filter to see how far the puck goes down; the basket filter may be slightly shaped like a cone. You don't need to fit the disc down to the bottom because the grinds don't compress to the bottom. Stop filing about 1/4 inch past the level to where you usually would fill coffee, to account for coffee compression. Use fine sandpaper to smooth the edge and wash. If you file it manually, it'll take maybe 1/2 hour while you watch TV.There are online coffee aficionados who can give you further hints to a perfect espresso like Coffeegeek or you can google it. It's true about the size of coffee grounds will affect tamping so you can experiment. Italian ground is much smaller than American ground. Enjoy!

With tampers costing far more money, this one is solid and does a great job and for far less money