Distribution is very important to me. Since I don't use dosered grinders, the chopstick comes in handy to stir the grinds as they fall into the basket. Sometimes I mess with it a little more than other times after the grinding is complete so everything is nice and even, the "Stockflething" or whatever it's called (funny because I've been using this for years and didn't know it was a recognized technique
![Embarassed :oops:](./images/smilies/icon_redface.gif)
) is actually the single most important thing to me since it adversely effects my shots if I skimp on this. I don't like using extra tools such as yogurt cups and sharp objects to break clumps up but the chopstick is what keeps the counter clean along with the 1/4 section of a yogurt container - it's really to keep up with the neatness factor. The chopstick and partial yogurt container can certainly be ditched but I prefer not having any grinds to clean up.
The tamping is pretty fast usually, with the Thors it's a quick slam into the baskets since there's absolutely no wiggle room for extracurricular activities. I was using the new Espro with the convex bottom so there's plenty of space to mess around with on these. I have to change the game accordingly with the (many) tampers I have but in the end it's the same pressure applied into the cake.
As for the foam after steaming milk, I don't always throw any away - sometimes it gets a little frothier so the start of it gets tossed.
I have pounded out Cappuccinos much faster than this video but I needed to do this in one take last night since the person who operated the camcorder was leaving soon.