Barenostrum

Reiss G says:

at LondiniumEspresso.com we don’t think it is controversial to say that the ground espresso beans always need to be packed down. yes, it is true that we have seen baristas in some cafes place exactly the correct amount of coffee in the portafilter (piled up a little), then compress it simply by facing the portafilter up to the group head & securing with a twist. however baristas that are sufficiently skilled to consistently get this trick right are few & far btwn. to get back to your question LondiniumEspresso.com would advise that you use the freshest coffee beans you can obtain (this should ensure a high oil content, which will bind the grinds together nicely), then you dont have to grind stupidly fine & you dont have to exert high tamp pressure. tip enough ground coffee into the metal filter backet so it mounds up a little, then sweep it level with a flat object like the back of a knife, then lightly tamp. time your extraction on an electric pump machine to be around 22s. dont want to bore you silly, but if you want to know more please vist our website & ask a question there where we can address in ridiculous levels of detail if you fancy. reiss.