Tamping, Italian Style.

None too impressed
Originally uploaded by CoffeeGeek.

I have been tamping with the Italian style lately, just to experiment the different ways of doing things. The outcomes have been pretty positive.

I find it better to dose as you grind, instead of letting the grinder to have a head start. Dosing while grinding produces a better even distribution in the basket, which avoids the clumps that could form inside the chamber, which subsequently end up in the basket. Those clumps cause uneven density in the basket which equals an uneven extraction.

After the dosing, I clear the excess and gently tamp the grounds to make enough clearance so the surface doesn’t touch the shower screen.

The down side of this method is a tired arm...No, I am just kidding...

Say, Andy, are you approved? : )