Tamping might seem like a small step in the espresso-making process, but it plays a big role in how your coffee extracts and ultimately, how it tastes.
At The Espresso Club™, we design our blends to perform beautifully at home, but if your shots are inconsistent, too fast, too slow or just not quite right, your tamping technique could be the culprit.
Here are 3 common signs you might be tamping wrong and what to do about it.
1. Your espresso is running unevenly
What it looks like:
The shot starts pouring from one side of the spouts or comes out in a thin, uneven stream.
What’s happening:
You may have tamped unevenly, meaning one side of the puck is more compressed than the other. This causes water to flow through the coffee unevenly, leading to an unbalanced flavour (and a frustrating mess).
How to fix it:
Make sure your tamp is flat and level.
Tamp with your wrist straight and elbow above the portafilter (your arm should almost be in an L-shape). Check from eye level if the coffee bed looks level before and after tamping.
2. The shot runs too fast (or tastes weak and sour)
What it looks like:
Your espresso starts almost instantly and finishes in under 20 seconds, and it tastes sharp, watery, or underwhelming.
What’s happening:
Either your grind is too coarse, or your tamp wasn’t firm enough, letting water rush through too quickly and under-extracting the coffee.
How to fix it:
Tamp firmly with even pressure. Use your full arm, not just your wrist, to apply pressure. If you're already tamping well, try adjusting your grind finer.
3. Your puck is cracked or stuck to the shower screen
What it looks like:
After brewing, the coffee puck is stuck, has broken apart, or shows a crack through the middle.
What’s happening:
You may be tamping too hard or using too much coffee. Over-compression can cause channeling or even damage your machine over time.
How to fix it:
Use the right dose. For most home espresso machines, that’s around 18g for a double shot. Tamp firmly but not forcefully (you want compression, not compaction). If the puck is consistently stuck, check your shower screen or try reducing your dose slightly.
Perfect tamping doesn’t require barista training
It just needs a little consistency, and beans that are designed to work with home equipment.
Our Smooth Medium and Rich Strong blends are roasted for home espresso machines, meaning they’re more forgiving of small technique variations and easier to extract well. So even if your tamp isn’t perfect, your espresso still can be.
If you’re tamping level, firm, and consistent, you’re doing it right. And with the right beans, everything else gets easier.
Now available at Woolworths
You can grab both our Smooth Medium and Rich Strong blends at your local Woolworths.
