Has anyone of you tried the Macap Autotamper yet?
Any thoughts on that device? I know some people are opposed to a device like that since it kinda eliminates the art in tamping. But I'm curious in how much channeling does one actually get with it? Since it comes with 51mm and 57mm, I guess one would need to have a custom tamper plate made for the S1...
http://www.1st-line.com/machines/home_mod/macap/CPS.htm
http://www.chriscoffee.com/products/hom ... autotamper
Macap Dynamometric Tamper
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dsherman
Re: Macap Autotamper
I use a Macap grinder, but have not used the autotamper. I have been using the Espro Tamper and found it very effective. Gives me good feedback while retaining a bit of the 'art' of tamping. It's been very helpful for a newbie like myself and my shots are more consistent.
I'm finally starting to get the hang of this (had my S1 for a week) and now realize a lot of the subtleties discussed on CG really do make a difference. My local caf
I'm finally starting to get the hang of this (had my S1 for a week) and now realize a lot of the subtleties discussed on CG really do make a difference. My local caf
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dan_kehn
I've used the auto-tamper and the espro.
One advantage of the auto-tamper is elimination of canting. Of course, that depends on the particular portafilter. I no longer have an S1, but I remember its portafilter bottom isn't perfectly flat, so ultra-precise level tamps will depend in part on your ability to hold the portafilter correctly in the Macap's rest. A bottomless portafilter would have a flat bottom that would mate well with the auto-tamper's holder.
Still, the auto-tamper is a pretty pricey accessory; with practice, you could tamp just as well au naturel.
One advantage of the auto-tamper is elimination of canting. Of course, that depends on the particular portafilter. I no longer have an S1, but I remember its portafilter bottom isn't perfectly flat, so ultra-precise level tamps will depend in part on your ability to hold the portafilter correctly in the Macap's rest. A bottomless portafilter would have a flat bottom that would mate well with the auto-tamper's holder.
Still, the auto-tamper is a pretty pricey accessory; with practice, you could tamp just as well au naturel.
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wgaggl
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dan_kehn
Thanks for the warm welcome, Wolfgang! I was a little worried that non-S1 owners would be summarily drummed off the board. 
Even though the auto-tamper designers probably didn't have it in mind, I do a "Staub" tamp with it (NSEW corners), mimicking my normal manual routine except for the polish at the end. You can't beat it for consistent tamp pressure, and if the portafilter bottom is flat, the levelness of the tamp is perfect. However for the most part I reserve it for testing, or if I feel there's a problem related to my technique, I'll take it out as a quick double-check. Comparatively speaking, I think the auto-tamper result is equivalent to that of a well-practiced barista with regards to channel-free shots.
If you're thinking of a training tool or are looking for tactile feedback, the espro tamper is a less expensive (but not inexpensive) option that affords some of the same advantages. Below is a picture of it that I took for the Counter Culture Coffee EspressoFest in Durham, NC this past November. Many suggest a cheap bathroom scale for the same purpose, although I've never tried it.
Even though the auto-tamper designers probably didn't have it in mind, I do a "Staub" tamp with it (NSEW corners), mimicking my normal manual routine except for the polish at the end. You can't beat it for consistent tamp pressure, and if the portafilter bottom is flat, the levelness of the tamp is perfect. However for the most part I reserve it for testing, or if I feel there's a problem related to my technique, I'll take it out as a quick double-check. Comparatively speaking, I think the auto-tamper result is equivalent to that of a well-practiced barista with regards to channel-free shots.
If you're thinking of a training tool or are looking for tactile feedback, the espro tamper is a less expensive (but not inexpensive) option that affords some of the same advantages. Below is a picture of it that I took for the Counter Culture Coffee EspressoFest in Durham, NC this past November. Many suggest a cheap bathroom scale for the same purpose, although I've never tried it.