MiiCoffee tamper vs Normcore vs Force tamper. | Which is the best coffee tamper?

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Force tamper:

Mii Coffee tamper:

Normcore palm tamper


Normcore tamper

Normcore leveler

[LivingTheLifeRetired]

I used to just use a regular tamper but not that long ago I upgraded to the force tamper. Without a doubt it brings me enjoyment every time I used it and as long as it doesn’t break I will never buy another tamper. Yes, it’s kind of expensive but so is the hobby.

[coffeecove]

Thanks for the video and really liked it. I have the Normcore tamper and love it. Thought about getting the Force Tamper but think I will wait and see if the price drops - esp. if it works about the same as the Normcore (which is what I wanted to know for its price).

[kent]

Thanks Jack, your videos are always a treat! I absolutely love my Normcore V4 tamper, but I’ve got a minor issue with the classic base. After every tamp, grounds seem to cling to it like a magnet. I’ve been debating upgrading to the titanium PVD coated base. While it doesn't drastically affect extraction, my OCD is driving me crazy 🥲

[lostboy]

I use the Normcore tamper and it works....I'm not concerned too much about aesthetics, but it does work no question, especially if used in conjuction with the Normcore self leveller.

Great show as always Jack thank you.

[romika]

Thank you Jack ("Not you we named the money jack"-Pirates of Caribbean)
After your review i know that me still using Pullmen Big Step is the right choice.
I dont have any of the issues that you mentioned with all 3 of the tamper.
Always a perfect tamp, no coffee all over the parts or place.
Personaly i think tampers with a lip takes away from the art and skill. And the spring is just a gimic. The idea of tamping has always been consistancy. If you tamp with the same amount of presure every time that is all that matters. Thats just my opinion, and with lack of experience with any of these tampers at that. Thus this video confirms my suspitions. Thanks 👍

[sotirisdiamantopoulos]

Thanks for the comparative review. The issue with all single-spring tampers, incl. the miicoffee one, is that the only thing they do with the spring is to provide a resistance to your hand. So, if you apply 15kg of force, then the puck will feel 15 - X kg, where X is the resistance of the spring. Some tampers of this type have a really strong spring, so you need to press with quite a lot of strength in order for the puck to feel 10kg of pressure. Doing that many times per day can guarantee a trip to the orthopedist.

[damondlam]

I picked up last month and have been using the MHW-3BOMBER 58.35mm Flash Coffee Tamper from HK at 1/4 of the price of Force Tamper. It is available in Amazon UK at £45.99 and does similar clicking when 30lb pressure is applied and reached. Build quality and finish is good. My last tamper for many years has been a Decent level tamper.

Again a very nice review, Jack. Thank you!

[rd-Wave_Rebel]

The force tamper retails 280 dollars Canadian in my country! With tax will be 322! I can’t justify the cost! So I opted for the MHW3bomber impact tamper at 85 dollars with discount code during discount event! Comes with a puck screen as free gift!

[DanzilF]

Not convinced with any fancy expensive tampers yet. I learnt how to tamp at an accurate level by spending a few extra seconds inspecting how the tamper is sitting in the basket + running my fingers around the edges. I think, having more volume of coffee on one side would defeat the purpose of having an even tamp. Having even coffee throughout the puck, in my opinion, as far more difficult to accomplish than tamping evenly. For the time being I'm sticking with my cheap tamper from amazon that is "calibrated", although nothing stops me from tamping harder. Also if I remember correctly, tamping harder won't necessarily have any affect on the extraction as the puck will still be compressed by the machine in any case.

[grahamwhiting]

Still on an old school heavy tamper after quite a few years. But interesting to compare a self leveling. Not keen on anything with a click or an internal adjustment because that can upset the puck.
Is the Decent tamper a good alternative?

[icowrich]

What tempted me to try the Miicoffee was the 58.5 mm plate. 58.35 leaves a little bit too much room.

[marcinwojcik]

I got the Normcore V4 and it works OK. Its sucks puck sometimes when the coffee is really "wet", but overall its a good choice.

[benmulleady]

Did you not get the decent tamper with your machine? Would have been good to see how that compared but i suspect it is basically the same as the normcore

[MSzczurekT]

Normcore - I have been using it for 3 years and I recommend it.

[georgantonischki]

my Normcore has a floppy base, that‘s why I don’t like it. The springs give it stiffness when not in use, that’s why it might be overlooked. I went back to my regular tamper which is more than 20 years old now. It is easy to get flat, as it has a curved top grip and by holding it loosely it will level. If I tiered in the morning I additionally use the level tamper my son gave me as a present. It levels no questions asked and the rest ist tamped by hand. More success than the Normcore

I liked your basket reviews, have you tried the BEP (Butterfly Effect Portafilter) from m3 bomber? Very easy basket for barely awake mornings with my setup, even with the Timemore 78mm flat burrs. I home roast, so my coffee is very unpredictable, I do only one or two coffees a day and still works great…

[tesilab]

Why not just adust the Mii tamper to push as far as it goes, and let the coffee stop the puck? Over tamping isn't a thing, anyway. I'd be interested in it if available with a flat base. The clicking of the force tamper is gimmick, and I have to say, I not overly impressed with my Normcore, I managed to make one really unlevel tamp with it, and the base isn't quite wide enough for my basket.

[mtpastor]

I believe the Normcore V4 tamper can done the task perfectly in a reasonable price.

Besides princely, The Force Tamper has its flaws. I don’t think it worth the money.

[dudea]

The non calibrated tampers are better than the silly calibrated tampers. Calibrated tampers are a gimmick, and there is no such thing as overtamping. Tamping force should be a minimum, and calibrated tampers treat it as a maximum 😅

[JustJayOne]

So so expensive for that force tamper😂