Motta coffee tamper, 58 mm
What is Motta?
Motta, formally Metallurgica Motta, is an Italian maker of stainless steel tools for baristas and home espresso makers. Here you'll find the Motta coffee tamper: 58 mm, with a stainless steel base and an olive wood handle. Check your filter basket before you order, because not every espresso machine uses 58 mm.
The Motta 58 mm tamper
A tamper presses the ground coffee in the portafilter into an even, firm puck. The Motta coffee tamper has a flat stainless steel base of 58 mm and an olive wood handle that sits comfortably in the hand. For other accessories, see our barista tools.
Will 58 mm fit your machine?
A tamper has to match the inside of your filter basket. Too small and coffee stays loose around the edge; too big and it won't go in. 58 mm is the usual size for commercial espresso machines and for many home machines with a heavy, professional-style group head. Many compact home machines use a smaller basket, often 51 or 54 mm. The easiest check is to measure the inside diameter at the top of your basket, or to look it up in the manual.
How to tamp
- Spread the grounds evenly in the basket first, with a light tap on the side or a finger.
- Place the tamper flat on the coffee, wrist straight and elbow above the portafilter.
- Press down firmly and evenly until the coffee no longer gives. Pressing the same way every time matters more than pressing hard.
- Check that the puck is level. On a tilted puck the water finds the easy way through, and your espresso runs unevenly.
- Wipe loose grounds off the rim of the basket before you lock the portafilter into the machine.
Caring for stainless steel and olive wood
Wipe the base clean after use and dry it. Olive wood doesn't like the dishwasher or standing in water, so wash the handle by hand if it needs it and let it dry fully. A drop of food-safe oil now and then keeps the wood from drying out.