Normcore Spring Loaded Ripple Based Coffee Tamper (various sizes)

Description

After extensive testing in our coffee lab, we’re sharing our honest thoughts about the stainless steel rippled base version of the Normcore V4 spring-loaded tamper. It’s worth noting that Normcore also offers this tamper with a Titanium-coated rippled base, as well as both coated and uncoated flat base options.

Whilst fancy Titanium coatings on stainless steel tamper bases might catch your eye, our testing suggests they’re more about style than substance. But hey, if that’s your cup of coffee, who are we to judge?

Rippled base tampers have become quite the trend in speciality coffee circles lately. There’s been quite a bit of buzz about their supposed advantages over traditional flat-base tampers, though we suspect their popularity has more to do with their rather striking appearance and the artistic patterns they leave on your coffee puck. Because let’s be honest – we all secretly love a bit of coffee art, don’t we?

Key Features:

• Three calibrated springs (15, 25, and 30 lb options)
• Precision-engineered 40mm Etzinger conical steel burrs
• Sleek black aluminium handle
• Rippled stainless steel base
• Built-in levelling system for consistent tamping

Now, let’s get down to brass tacks. Through our extensive testing, we haven’t found compelling evidence that rippled tampers meaningfully improve espresso quality. If anything, our data suggests they might slightly reduce shot-to-shot consistency – though we’re talking about incredibly subtle differences here.

To put this in perspective: unless you’ve got the palate of a certified Q-grader (and we’ve got a few on our team), you’re unlikely to detect any difference between shots pulled with rippled versus smooth tampers.

Based on our analysis and the research of several coffee scientists we collaborate with, if rippled bases have any impact at all, it appears to be marginally negative. But we’re splitting hairs here – the difference is truly minimal.

So if you’re drawn to the rippled base for its aesthetic appeal, we say go for it. The impact on your coffee will be negligible. However, if you’re purely focused on function, our testing suggests a traditional smooth base might be the more practical choice.

Where this tamper truly shines is in its clever engineering. Like some other premium tampers, it offers two game-changing features: self-levelling capability and calibrated pressure.

The self-levelling mechanism is brilliantly simple. A levelling ring makes contact with your portafilter rim, keeping the tamper shaft perfectly aligned as you press down. You’d actually have to work quite hard to tamp unevenly with this design. Just ensure the levelling ring sits flush with your portafilter before applying pressure, and you’re sorted.

We particularly appreciate the flexibility offered by the different spring options. While it comes fitted with a 25lb (roughly 11kg) spring, you can easily switch to the 15lb spring if you’re mindful of repetitive strain or joint issues (something our lead barista can relate to). For those who prefer a firmer tamp, there’s also a 30lb option.

Our testing suggests that the 25lb spring hits the sweet spot – around 10-12kg of pressure is plenty for a proper tamp. Going heavier doesn’t yield better results in the cup, and it’s unnecessary strain on your wrists. Still, it’s nice to have options, and the 30lb spring is there if that’s your preference.