Normcore V4 Coffee Tamper 53.3mm - Spring-loaded Tamper – Barista Espresso Tamper with 15lb / 25lb / 30lbs Replacement Springs - Anodized Aluminum Handle and Stand - Flat Base

I have a very nice, heavy tamper that I've used for 19 years. Recently I got intrigued with the idea of a spring loaded tamper because I never had any idea what force I was using manually. This particular tamper is costly but well worth it, in my opinion because of how it's made and because it also had 2 springs, as well as a total of 3 inner springs to determine tamp pressure. Beautiful, heavy, solid construction. The 25 lb spring that comes pre-installed works best for me and I don't see myself changing it. The design with the leveling plate makes it all quite easy to press down enough. Some reviews complained about the lack of an audible "click" but that isn't necessary. With the leveling plate on top of the filter basket, you just press down the entire distance that you can push and that's it so no click needed.What I've realized though all this is that I was never tamping hard enough with my manual tamper. In addition, when I would press it down hard the tamp would not be even, and one side would usually end up higher than the other, and this led to channeling.It's important to properly prepare the puck. I measure bean weight and grind into the portafilter basket. I use a funnel collar and and WDT tool to distribute the grinds well and break up clumps. I then use a distribution tool, which smooths everything out before the final tamp. Then comes the tamping which I can now do with a consistent, level pressure. I have my grind fineness pretty dialed in at this point and haven't needed to change that up much. Since implementing the puck prep described above, every single time my coffee has turned out perfect. Before doing things this way and without my new tools (i.e. previously using only finger smoothing and tamping with a manual tamper) I had a lot of misses and wasn't usually happy with the espresso I got. I'll say it again....the quality of your shots depends on good, consistent prep of the puck. This tamper is a very necessary part of that prep, I now realize. I recommend this particular tamper very highly.Last comment: You can get the same tamper with a circular ridged bottom. I can't see there would be much advantage to that, and the ridged bottom would definitely catch coffee in the ridged areas, making cleanup a bit more annoying. With this smooth tamper, all it requires is a quick wipe on the bottom (usually nothing there anyway) and then there is a nice little matching cup to set the tamper in.

Fits my 54mm portafilter perfectly and provides nice even tamps. Good weight, and seems very good quality. Looks nice. Been using it for a few months now and continue to be very pleased

I’ll admit, I was skeptical about spring-loaded tampers. My barista friend even told me they were just a gimmick. But after using the Normcore V4 58.5mm tamper, I can confidently say this thing is the real deal!The extra 0.5mm makes a difference—it fills my 58mm portafilter perfectly, leaving no gaps and ensuring an even tamp every time. The spring-loaded mechanism applies consistent pressure effortlessly, making my tamping more uniform and repeatable. I compared it to my iKape palm tamper, and the Normcore outperformed it in both comfort and precision.The build quality is fantastic, with a solid, premium feel in hand. If you’re on the fence about getting a spring-loaded tamper, take it from me—this one is worth it!

I love my Normcore products. Simple design and very functional line of espresso tools add enjoyment when I’m making and preparing my espresso. My pucks are even and the width of the base covers well and leaves little grounds around the basket. A simple tap on the side of the basket will release anything stuck to the walls and I can re tamp. Unit has good weight and feels solid in the hands. The vertical action is smooth and tight with very minimal play on the shaft and springs.

I've had this tamper for almost two years. It has been very reliable -- it is solidly made, easy to clean, and easy to change out the spring if you want a different level of resistance.I started off with the 25 lb. spring and it seemed to work well, but I wanted to give the 30 lb. spring a shot, so I switched it about 3 months ago. It took a bit of practice, and using two hands to get the right leverage, but the 30 lb. spring seems to be the better option for more consistent espresso shots.I'm now looking at other Normcore products, since this one is made so well and is priced very reasonably compared to other tampers that have adjustable resistance.

Superior quality and function compared to many other premium brands