Hi Brian, thank you for this informative and professional review. Early in our design iteration, we made the conscious choice to reduce profile and weight, which actually adds to machining and cost. Tampers can be very personal objects to baristas, and it makes sense for some baristas to carry their tampers around, to and from work for example. We are glad our effort has been noticed. 😊

Great video as usual! I've been using The Force Tamper for a long time, so I can share my experience a little. The reason that someone may get a tilted puck from The Force Tamper is when you tamp without holding the leveling plate flat against the rim of the basket. Because The Force Tamper is designed so that the spring holding leveling plate is soft to allow the slam mechanism to work properly. Otherwise the slam would not activate at the right height/pressure, especially on lower pressure settings (of course, this is just my personal observation base on my understanding of the mechanism). This softness means you can easily tilt it out of alignment while you're applying pressure, so it needed to be held down flat against the rim to ensure that it is leveled during the slam 🙂

I'd recommend normcore tamper as a first tamper. They are precisely machined, have different bases and handle sizes for different basket and costs only $40.

I bought my Happy Tamper 58mm, ahead of my new espresso machine (Odyssey Argos). Can't wait for my machine to arrive so that I can try this tamper out!

Hey Brain, I love my Happy Tamper! Being able to set the tamp pressure is awesome.

Definitely STILL getting some retention / stickage with ALL of these tampers! I've tried the Decent v3, PuqPress Q2, Normcore, Normal Dose, and Happy Tamper, as well as the Force. The Force works a little differently and you end up with more of the coffee stuck inside the little area ABOVE the tamping base, which is easy to open and clean, so not a big deal. Haven't tried the V4 Decent which is supposed to have a 'non stick' coating but I think I heard it still has stickage. Haven't tried the BosTamp.

I've been enjoying the Happy Tamper, but like the Decent v3 I noticed it does have some coffee that sticks to the base sometimes (V4 Decent tamper supposedly has a coating to reduce that, I wonder how effective it is). I just got a Normal Dose one as well to compare, haven't tried with coffee yet, but it is nice and smooth actuation and even more premium feeling and looking I think, although happy tamper is nice and premium too. Like you said the Happy tamper is more versatile offering different, swappable! base sizes, even custom sized! The NormalDose one I don't think was mentioned here, is not weight calibrated so you feel the resistance of the coffee bed, which could be a pro or a con, I like that generally (like the Decent tamper) which helps you know your hitting and compressing the coffee puck, which can be a concern if you're using a deep basket and smaller coffee dose with these self leveling tampers .

Great video Brian! The Happy Tamper took away a lot of uncertainty in my workflow for sure!

I have a Crema, a Happy, and a Normcore in 58mm. I also have a quality Ukrainian-made traditional tamper. I really like the Happy. The Normcore is great, too. I don’t like the Crema on 58 (I use it on my Flair Pro and my little Breville with great results). I only use traditional tampers when I’m feeling in a certain mood (a hand grinder usually comes out when I’m in that mood). The Laube is interesting. I’ve been thinking about their Zero Dark 30 base for my Niche.

are you still enjoying the normal dose tamper? There is so few reviews/info about it from real life use. Thanks for an update.

another plus for Laube tamper, in a pinch it can be a lethal weapon. Just don't drop it on your toes 😂

Hi Brian Quan! What do you think about the idroprep hydroforming tamper. This really is some outside the Box tamper... btw great content on your Chanel!!

I just looked at the happy tamper, and it looks like the largest base they normally sell is 58.45mm. I guess you have to custom order a 58.55mm. What size is the one in the video?

Love my Happy Tamper, custom sized to 58.69mm 👍

As always, a great comprehensive video that answers all my questions about comparisons. I was wondering how the Normal Dose deals with different depths and pressures? I can understand how it works with all the others. Their website is not very informative plus they seem to only ship in the USA. Also what is it made of. Looks just like plastic to me or maybe that's the lighting? Just trying to determine whether to get the Happy Tamper or the Normal Dose. 🤔

I'm always amazed at your equipment budget 🤣

I always have loved my Mussa tampers :)

Ahh, I ordered a Force Tamper just yesterday! If this video came out a day earlier, I'd likely settle on the NormalDose

what little stand did you use with the normal dose tamper? I ordered one and it arrived with no base, just wanted to find something protective to the face of the tamper.

I bought the normal dose tamper before the video ended. 😂

Question, Normcore vs Happy Tamper which one you think is better?

Why no bravo tamper and what about the pullman big step?

I have the Bravo, but mostly got it because of the wood handle, I’m to much into the aesthetic, I did see the Happy but that grey colour was a bit off putting for me, besides I always liked getting something a little more personal then these generic tampers. The Bravo is very precise, but the grind kind stick a little to the base, that is kinda annoying, It’s not the worst I seen, but also not the least I seen either. Torr also do to the hundred but getting them to deliver the goods require luck. The Bose look fun to try, not really my thing, but If I had to do a lot of tamping I surely would want something not to manually.

The Bravo distributor and Bravo tamper are best in class. They change ones view of acceptability

Can any of these tampers be made to fit the Ponte Vecchio Lusso which I believe is 45mm? I want something like a palm tamper for it. The one that comes with the Lusso is actually very good but I want more lol. Also, do you know if there are replacement shower screens and baskets for the Lusso? I also want something high end from like pullman, IMS, VST or something else.

at the beginning the ordering on our screen is different than the ordering on your table - kinda stupid no? we are your audience ...