Coffee Tampers
 

[Closed] Coffee Tampers

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My mate Col has just started a new brand selling coffee tampers made from old skateboard decks. I think they look really cool.

https://www.seven-coffee.com/


 
Posted : 22/12/2016 7:36 pm
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Now I know I am back in STW land.


 
Posted : 22/12/2016 7:39 pm
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Is this serious? About £100? I really need to come up with a fool and money parting scheme of my own


 
Posted : 22/12/2016 7:51 pm
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****ing hell, you could get a half assed belt (sorry meant cnc'd) for the cost of one of the tampers


 
Posted : 22/12/2016 8:00 pm
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Just when you thought coffee couldn't get any more hip.....
Add skateboards, glue and a graphic designer.....


 
Posted : 22/12/2016 8:02 pm
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Is this serious? About £100? I really need to come up with a fool and money parting scheme of my own

You do. But you won't mate.


 
Posted : 22/12/2016 8:05 pm
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I know, trouble is I couldn't keep a straight face 😀


 
Posted : 22/12/2016 8:10 pm
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Very nice. I like.

😛


 
Posted : 22/12/2016 8:11 pm
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That's a really pretty and utterly contentless website.


 
Posted : 22/12/2016 8:12 pm
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Gav at August Wheel Works makes tampers out of hubs. Much more suitable for the biker. Very nice at about £65. Lots of images on his Facebook page.

It inspired me to have a go at making my own.

[URL= http://i1276.photobucket.com/albums/y477/BigBlackShed/AFD60937-AADB-4C82-ABC2-C320AC2A8C63_zpsugarywvm.jp g" target="_blank">http://i1276.photobucket.com/albums/y477/BigBlackShed/AFD60937-AADB-4C82-ABC2-C320AC2A8C63_zpsugarywvm.jp g"/> [/IMG][/URL]


 
Posted : 22/12/2016 8:13 pm
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Cougar - Moderator
That's a really pretty and utterly contentless website.

😆


 
Posted : 22/12/2016 8:14 pm
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Those are beautiful but you'd have to be a moron to buy one for that much money.


 
Posted : 22/12/2016 8:16 pm
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B'jebus.

£100 for a stamper, is your mate outsourcing to China yet? Needs to get a move on, demand will be extremely brisk.


 
Posted : 22/12/2016 8:16 pm
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That's a really pretty and utterly contentless website.

+1. Also it didn't answer my question of what a 'coffee tamper is/does/is used for'

Maybe I'm a (60yr old) Philistine or something but up to now I've never heard of or used one.


 
Posted : 22/12/2016 8:16 pm
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essel - they're butt plugs for those stupid enough to pay £100 for a bit of an old skateboard with some glue and beard trimmings.
The beard trimmings are for extra "tickle" once its in....


 
Posted : 22/12/2016 8:20 pm
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why/how is a £100 recycled tamper better than a £20 tamper? It's a tool for squashing coffee grounds.


 
Posted : 22/12/2016 8:34 pm
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It's a parody, yeah?


 
Posted : 22/12/2016 8:36 pm
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why/how is a £100 recycled tamper better than a £20 tamper?

Or a 50p spoon?


 
Posted : 22/12/2016 8:39 pm
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You're not paying for it's functionality (well, a little perhaps) you're paying for its artistry and it delivers that in spades.

I think they're great, can't immediately figure out how it's made, and think it would make a great gift or addition to my kitchen.

It is a little expensive, but is about on par with a Rapha one.

Personally, I want this one:

[img] ?format=1500w[/img]


 
Posted : 22/12/2016 8:42 pm
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A nice tree branch - cut at the length wherever the girth is correct for your coffee machine diameter. Cut to 4" length & varnish.


 
Posted : 22/12/2016 8:44 pm
 ton
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what is it? what is it for? serious Q


 
Posted : 22/12/2016 8:46 pm
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Disagree; It needs more heft.

We're going to be 3D printing some refractive materials next year and I'm planning myself a nice Tungsten tamper.


 
Posted : 22/12/2016 8:46 pm
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When you grind coffee and place it into a basket, it needs to be packed and levelled before being placed into the machine. A nicely weighted tamper can do this.


 
Posted : 22/12/2016 8:47 pm
 ton
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why cant you just press it in with the back of a spoon?


 
Posted : 22/12/2016 8:50 pm
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can't immediately figure out how it's made,

At a guess imagine the decks are cut into small circular sections then given a bit of a clean up.
Glued and sandwiched together under pressure, once the glues gone off chucked on a lathe and tooled into the finished shape.
Given a coat of polyurethane varnish(probably sprayed on for best finish) then the metal bit bonded into place.

Have I took the magic out of it? who cares,
there nice but not £100 nice.


 
Posted : 22/12/2016 8:52 pm
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Can they do one in the made out of recycled Orange 5 swing arms, in the shape of an Audi that leaves a stamp in the coffee saying "I work in IT". Then charge me £300 instead. Then we have achieved peak stw.


 
Posted : 22/12/2016 8:54 pm
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why cant you just press it in with the back of a spoon?

It needs to be flat. You can just use a plastic one, but a good tamper should work under its own weight.


 
Posted : 22/12/2016 9:01 pm
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[quote=brant ]My mate Col has just started a new brand selling coffee tampers made from old skateboard decks. I think they look really cool.
> https://www.seven-coffee.com/
br />

Can he make one out of old Boost through-axles?

😆


 
Posted : 22/12/2016 9:02 pm
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why cant you just press it in with the back of a spoon?

Cos that wouldn't be 'chic/niche/artisan' enough Tony. 😆

Like those who spend £££'s on wet razors like shaving is a ritual or something. 😕


 
Posted : 22/12/2016 9:18 pm
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Is telling hip young people to get in the sea, still a thing?


 
Posted : 22/12/2016 10:01 pm
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How do you use one with a Nespresso?

😉


 
Posted : 22/12/2016 10:04 pm
 ton
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alta rica instant is as good as any coffee i have ever drunk.

call me old fashioned but i really do not see the point of any kitchen gadgetry.

and dont even get me started on those bloody soduku knives.


 
Posted : 22/12/2016 10:07 pm
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Posted : 22/12/2016 10:12 pm
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and dont even get me started on those bloody soduku knives.

You really want one with a handle made from old skate board decks....


 
Posted : 22/12/2016 10:14 pm
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I think they look great. It's the sort of thing I'd buy someone as a gift, but never for myself. Totally extravagant, but a nice thing to have if you're into coffee.

Perfectly happy with my cheap motta tamper though.


 
Posted : 22/12/2016 10:22 pm
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alta rica instant is as good as any coffee i have ever drunk.

John smiths in a can is as good as any beer I have ever drunk.
Each to his own and all that.


 
Posted : 22/12/2016 10:53 pm
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That's a really pretty and utterly contentless website.

That website is ****ing horrible, I hate the way everything scrolls at a different speed. If he can sell those tampers for that kind of money then good luck to him I spose but I dont like them personally.


 
Posted : 22/12/2016 11:04 pm
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Struggling to see where the £100 goes that makes these special, I'm afraid.


 
Posted : 22/12/2016 11:13 pm
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The demographic for this is Audi driving IT managers who now work in London who had a slightly misspent youth dossing around on skateboards

Perfect targeting of the demographic if you ask me

Guerrilla marketing at it's best


 
Posted : 22/12/2016 11:37 pm
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Not really guerilla marketing. Brant just spanked a link to his mate's business in new thread.


 
Posted : 22/12/2016 11:53 pm
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IMHO the Reg Barber ones are nicer looking, and although I've not checked the CAD exchange rate, pretty sure they're cheaper too. Funny business to be in though, you're not going to have many repeat customers - they don't wear out or anything. My RB tamper is about 10 years old, and I bought another as a present for my Dad, but unless I buy another machine with a weird portafilter, that'll do me.

[url= http://www.coffeetamper.com/our-store/tampers.html?p=2 ]http://www.coffeetamper.com/our-store/tampers.html?p=2[/url]


 
Posted : 22/12/2016 11:55 pm
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I bought a cracking tamper from Mr Eion or Eoin in Stockbridge for about £18 so whoever makes them must be only making a tenner I'm guessing , much better than the Gaggia plastic thing supplied although not sure if I taste any difference and still canny make nice patterns on my flat white


 
Posted : 23/12/2016 12:22 am
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is this Brant's mate?

[img] [/img]


 
Posted : 23/12/2016 2:04 am
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Free:
[img] [/img]


 
Posted : 23/12/2016 7:27 am
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They look lovely.


 
Posted : 23/12/2016 7:52 am
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If I wanted one or knew why I needed one, I'd be drawn to those, they look great and very nicely crafted.

As for the price, seems about right considering the work that goes into laminating, wood and metal turning, polishing etc.


 
Posted : 23/12/2016 7:58 am
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Free
And crap.

I really don't see the fuss if someone wants to buy one. It's in the ballpark price for a 'fancy' tamper, and it's something unique. I wouldn't pay that, but I'm cheap.

Next thing you lot will be laying into fat middle aged men who spend £1000s on plastic bikes to wobble round the woods on when a Halfords special would do them fine.


 
Posted : 23/12/2016 8:15 am
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If I was a judge or auctioneer or maybe a proper barista I'd be tempted, they are pretty. Couldn't justify it to myself.

I don't have a proper coffee machine anyway, be a bit pointless with a caffetiere.


 
Posted : 23/12/2016 8:34 am
 ton
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John smiths in a can is as good as any beer I have ever drunk.
Each to his own and all that.

call in at my works today, I have a few slabs you can help yourself to.
even the customers don't want it............ 😆


 
Posted : 23/12/2016 8:37 am
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It needs to be flat.

I'm willing to accept that the coffee needs to be compressed into the basket and be flat, fine.

You can just use a plastic one, but a good tamper should work under its own weight.

But this... how much pressure does it take to press coffee into a filter basket? If it's only as much as the weight of say a solid steel tamper (i.e. not very much in the grand scheme of things) then even the most limp-wristed keyboard-jockey could apply the same amount of pressure with a plastic one.

I'm oot.


 
Posted : 23/12/2016 8:52 am
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But this... how much pressure does it take to press coffee into a filter basket?

[url= http://espro.ca/tamper/ ]30lb apparently.[/url]


 
Posted : 23/12/2016 9:02 am
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[i]Surely[/i] there in only 1 choice of tamper for this crowd

[img] [/img]

To match the salt and pepper shakers you bought years ago.


 
Posted : 23/12/2016 9:07 am
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30lb apparently.

So you'd need a 30lb tamper to apply it with its own weight. Skateboards must be heavier than I thought!


 
Posted : 23/12/2016 9:13 am
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What's a coffee tamper? In nearly 40 years I've never knowingly tamped anything. I fear I may be missing out.


 
Posted : 23/12/2016 9:16 am
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Is torsoinalake the new captainflashheart?


 
Posted : 23/12/2016 9:16 am
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Get rid of the metal bit, make a pair and sell them as door handles. Then you can sell multiple ones to each person. Seriously, I reckon that's an alternative market


 
Posted : 23/12/2016 9:23 am
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30lb apparently.

I guess that this is where the value comes from. These have some sort of torque wrench mechanism that can be set to only tamp to 30lb, thus ensuring the perfect tamp every time. It's not made clear on the web site.


 
Posted : 23/12/2016 9:33 am
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why cant you just press it in with the back of a spoon?

Why can't you have a nice cup of tea?


 
Posted : 23/12/2016 9:37 am
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Used skateboards. That must be an interesting raw material to have to source in any significant quantity.

Nice thing to do for a mate out of his old skateboard but as a business surely it's only ever going to be a niche sideline.


 
Posted : 23/12/2016 9:39 am
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But this... how much pressure does it take to press coffee into a filter basket? If it's only as much as the weight of say a solid steel tamper (i.e. not very much in the grand scheme of things) then even the most limp-wristed keyboard-jockey could apply the same amount of pressure with a plastic one.

I'm oot.

Now imagine you were a barista having to do that repetitive task every day, I guess this is a big leap in your imagination so let's pretend your job is to beat a nail into a piece of wood. Can you imagine that?
Now let's stress the grey matter a little further and imagine you have hundreds of nails to beat into a very long plank and 2 hammers to choose from.
One weighs a couple of oz's and has a square handle, the other is a decent sized hammer with a comfortable wooden handle and a bit of heft to it....


 
Posted : 23/12/2016 10:17 am
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I'd just buy a paslode gun...


 
Posted : 23/12/2016 10:25 am
 IHN
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Now imagine you were a barista having to do that repetitive task every day,

Cos that's [b]definitely[/b] the target market for these.


 
Posted : 23/12/2016 10:25 am
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Is torsoinalake the new captainflashheart
I'm not sure.


 
Posted : 23/12/2016 10:26 am
 gray
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These have some sort of torque wrench mechanism that can be set to only tamp to 30lb, thus ensuring the perfect tamp every time.

I have one that does that! 🙂

http://espro.ca/tamper/


 
Posted : 23/12/2016 10:28 am
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I'm not sure.

Check your footwear. It's the only way to be sure.


 
Posted : 23/12/2016 11:36 am
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Had a look at the website. My three thoughts are:

1. That guy has the same pillar drill as me.
2. Those tampers look really, really nice.
3. I can't justify the cost.


 
Posted : 23/12/2016 11:54 am
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Jamie - Member
Check your footwear. It's the only way to be sure.

I'm imagining torsoinalake looking down at his feet and having a bit of a 'Duane Dibbley' moment of realisation 🙂


 
Posted : 23/12/2016 11:57 am
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Maybe you can do a product relaunch and bring back the On-One Butplug?
Drop the Far East manufacture and go for the artisanal heritage recycling hipster market that you now seem to favour. 'It's like a coffee tamper only bigger'.
Feel free to use that in your gorilla marketing spam.


 
Posted : 23/12/2016 12:02 pm
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I think it is a beautiful looking thing... but I haven't got a spare hundred quid for one.

Good luck to him.


 
Posted : 23/12/2016 12:04 pm
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I'm assuming he's investigating if there's something in there containing organically sourced Ammonia?

And 😀 @MrSmith! Some strong words there. What did On-One ever do to you?


 
Posted : 23/12/2016 12:04 pm
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I ordered a but plug but it was posted late, arrived with poor quality paint and I had a right mare with their warranty department.


 
Posted : 23/12/2016 12:11 pm
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Yes, these tamper buy rowdies are rather unfair. Its just not cricket


 
Posted : 23/12/2016 12:12 pm
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I ordered a buttplug too. It arrived without instructions. I called customer support and they were really quite unhelpful and quite rude!


 
Posted : 23/12/2016 12:15 pm
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😀


 
Posted : 23/12/2016 12:19 pm
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10/10


 
Posted : 23/12/2016 12:20 pm
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I made one from a bit of wood and the blade of a Topeak multi tool.
Shame I can't make one from inner tubes or leather ..... www.ragsto.com


 
Posted : 23/12/2016 12:51 pm
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If I use one of these to tamp down my Nescafe granules will it make the coffee come alive?

Look nice and all, but they're the kind of thing that would feature on one of the many middle class angst threads that feature heavily on here.

I like craftsmanship, people can spend their money on what they want but spending £100 on one will give you life satisfaction for a nano second.


 
Posted : 23/12/2016 1:04 pm
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Whether you're using a barista-style machine or a stove-top espresso maker at home, a tamper could be the difference between an average cup of joe and a rich, full-bodied brew worth boasting about.

From the website - I was under the impression that you don't tamp coffee down for a stove top pot, I thought the grounds should stay loose.


 
Posted : 23/12/2016 1:17 pm
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I like craftsmanship, people can spend their money on what they want but spending £100 on one will give you life satisfaction for a nano second.

I have a stainless steel and ethically sourced bubinga hardwood tamper that has been machined to 58.3mm so it's a perfect fit for a VST 18g basket. I get a frisson of excitement every time I use it (twice a day) so over a lifetime of use I would say the £90 cost is very good value.
Also let's not forget the pleasure derived from owning a pointless middle class bauble and the handwringing it generates in the minds of the less discerning, you really can't put a price on that.


 
Posted : 23/12/2016 1:32 pm
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Also let's not forget the pleasure derived from owning a pointless middle class bauble and the [b]handwringing[/b] it generates in the minds of the less discerning, you really can't put a price on that.

So true, worth every penny


 
Posted : 23/12/2016 1:36 pm
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