The humble tamper – a small but mighty tool in the world of espresso.
While it may seem like a simple press, the diameter of your tamper can significantly impact the quality of your espresso.
In this guide, I’ll compare 58mm vs 58.5mm tampers against a range of factors like how they affect fit, pressure, and the taste of your coffee.
Here are some of the differences between 58mm and 58.5mm tampers:
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A 58.5mm tamper will fit better than a 58mm tamper in a standard 58mm basket.
A 58mm tamper will have a slightly looser fit, which means you could end up with the coffee grounds packed unevenly.
This unevenness can result in channeling, where water finds the path of least resistance through the puck, leading to uneven extraction and affecting the taste of your espresso.
On the other hand, a 58.5mm tamper will fit snugly in the basket, so you get a more even compression of the grounds.
This tight fit means the coffee bed is packed evenly, which reduces channeling.
This helps you get a more consistent extraction and a better-tasting espresso.
The 58.5mm is compatible with every 58mm basket.
Not all 58mm baskets are created exactly equal. Some manufacturers may produce baskets with slightly larger diameters than the standard 58mm size.
This means the 58mm won’t fit as well on some baskets.
The 58.5mm tamper will provide a better fit, and seal well on these baskets.
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Because the 58.5mm tamper fits tighter, you might not need to push down as hard to get the coffee packed as you would with a 58mm tamper.
This is great for beginners or for people who find it hard to push down consistently hard.
With the tighter fit, the pressure you apply gets spread out more evenly, so you don’t have to press too hard.
And remember, getting the right amount of pressure when you tamp is super important for making sure your espresso tastes just right.
Too much or too little pressure can mess up the flavor, so it’s worth paying attention to.
A 58mm tamper can work well if you have an excellent tamping technique.
However, a 58.5mm tamper might be a bit easier on you if your tamping isn’t always perfect.
The tighter fit of the 58.5mm tamper can help compensate for slight variations in the angle or pressure applied while tamping.
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This can come in handy, especially if you’re still getting the hang of tamping or if you’re in a busy café where it’s hard to be super consistent every time.
But remember, you still need to tamp properly if you want your espresso to turn out consistently good.
A 58.5mm tamper might create a slightly messier workflow than a 58mm tamper.
Since the tamper fits more snugly in the basket, there’s a higher chance that some coffee grounds can stick to the tamper base after tamping.
This means you’ll have to clean the tamper more often to keep it from getting dirty and transferring coffee grounds to the next shot.
But TBH it’s just a minor inconvenience.
The halo effect, (aka “donut” or “ring” effect), is a common issue that can occur when using a loose-fitting tamper – like a 58mm tamper in a standard 58mm basket.
You might see a ring of coffee grounds around the edge of the puck.
This happens because the tamper can’t reach and press on those outer grounds properly.
During brewing, water will tend to flow through these less compacted areas first, leading to uneven extraction.
This can make your espresso shot look odd, with a light center and a darker ring around the edge, and it can mess with the taste too.
This won’t happen with a 58.5 mm basket.
It’s important to keep in mind that these differences are pretty small.
For folks who are just starting out, a 58.5mm tamper might be a good option because it fits easier and can be a bit more forgiving if your technique isn’t perfect.
But experienced baristas can still make great espresso with a 58mm tamper.
All you have to do is distribute the coffee grounds evenly and tamp properly.
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