This is apparently a calibrated tamper. Calibrated to what, I can't tell you – as the blurb doesn't give this away – but I suspect that this is one of the calibrated tampers which isn't really calibrated. Not really. There's lots of debate about portafilter size and shape, and while some assume that the larger 58mm portafilter size is better because this is what most professional machines use, this isn't necessarily because it's the best, it's more about standardization. As you press down on the tamper handle, the spring compresses, storing potential energy. When the desired pressure is reached, the internal mechanism releases the spring’s energy, converting it into kinetic energy. This sudden release of energy drives a piston downward onto the base, compressing the coffee with a consistent and precise force. Level Tamping. If you don't get a level surface when you tamp, you're more likely to suffer from channeling, where the water finds paths of lesser resistance in the coffee, leading to uneven extraction, and poor tasting espresso. If you think I've got any of the machines below, in the wrong category, please do let me know, ta. The Best 49mm Tampers

I wouldn't personally want to tamp to over 15 kg, but some do, there are some pro baristas out there who prefer to tamp at a higher pressure. If you weren't aware, tamping is what you need to do with the coffee in the basket before inserting it into your espresso machine.This is another great deal from Shop Coffee, as this is a really well known brand, who produce some decent stuff, and this tamper is cheaper than some of the other non-branded (or branded with unknown brand names) tampers. Now then, this is one of a few Motta tampers you're bound to find here, given that Motta are one of the leading brands of barista accessories, but this one has a completely different handle shape than most tampers I've seen. Making one of the improvements above, using better coffee, improving your grinder or using a better tamper will help you to improve your results, but making all of these changes will produce exponential results, leading you on the path to espresso heaven!

To a certain degree, regardless of what your espresso machine is, you could always upgrade it, and becoming a home barista often comes with the pandemic condition known as upgradeitis.I'd recommend you measure the size of your portafilter, and/or the useless tamper part of your plastic scoop, just in case I'm acting on incorrect or out-of-date information. And with all of the coffees including the new increased range, I spent a lot of time tasting lots of different coffees via various brewing methods, as well as cupping. I know, it's a tough job, but someone has to do it ;-). There are various other similar tools with similar needle size, but this one seems nice and sturdy, it comes with a stand which I find handy, you can change the needle setup (if you want to) and the number of needles/pins used.