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Which tamper fits properly (58mm gaggia)

10K views 19 replies 13 participants last post by  tribs  
#1 ·
I've bought a happy donkey tamper but its ever so slightly too small, so I'm in the same situaton I was with the plastic one, does anyone do one that actually fits properly and is under 30 quid
 
#3 ·
brun - I got the 58mm Motta (curved) tamper from Cream Supplies. £14.39 according to their website. It's not an absolute fit in the 58mm classic basket but using the N,S,E & W method it's reasonable. I'm thinking of a vst basket and bottomless portafilter so might need a slightly larger one myself.

Al
 
#5 ·
I think you'll probably find that it's a cheap after market basket rather than the tamper being wrong. I got a replacement double basket for my Classic and my Rocket tamper (which was £50 new) didn't fit it very well. However when I upgraded to an 18g VST basket it fits absolutely perfectly so I'm a happy camper.
 
#8 ·
My 58.5mm RB is a perfect fit for all my 58mm baskets (I've got loads) apart from my original Silvia basket. With that it is so snug that it can get stuck if grinds get between the side of the tamper and basket. With the VST I could probably get a 59mm tamper in it but I'd end up in the same situation as with my Silvia basket.
 
#14 ·
I measured the single and double Gaggia Classic baskets here as (IIRC) 58.4mm, ie they should just accept a 58mm tamper.

I've bought a Motta taper for 58mm baskets which measures as 57.5mm. The very slight extra room allows a some grounds to rise at the sides which I see as beneficial in some respects, especially if the grounds haven't been levelled perfectly.

It works perfectly well, and importantly to me, is high quality and made in Italy. All of the Motta stuff is Italian-made from what I can see.

I think people may think into stuff like tamping a little too much. Look at me, I bloody measured the baskets and tamper with digital calipers!
 
#16 · (Edited by Moderator)
#17 ·
Not quite. I have the same tamper. I use with 18g VST. It's a little too small. I get by but if I was buying again I'd buy the madebyknock one (58.3mm, I think).
 
#18 ·
A lot of people own the motta 58mm it's a reasonable fit for a 'cheap' tamper and certainly works on the gaggia and VST baskets. One that seems to be rising in popularity and I've only heard good comments is the madebyknock 58.35mm which can be bought here --> http://www.madebyknock.com/buy.html either on its own or with a VST basket. I may be looking at getting one next month.
 
#19 ·
According to your comments, may I go for Motta 58mm tamper with no diameter issue for Gaggia and VST basket?

If so, tomorrow morning, I'll place my order!
;)


Strange that I have to buy it from a foreign country like UK even though manufacturer Motta is italian like I am...
;)
 
#20 ·
Yeah, it'll do the job.