Tamper 51mm

Meet our 51mm tampers

We offer different types of tampers with a 51mm diameter, making it easy to choose your favorite style, colour, and material.

You can choose from 3 different types of 51mm coffee tampers:

• Classic tamper: with a solid stainless steel base and a high-quality handle
• Calibrated click tamper: signals when you tamp with 12 kg of pressure, helping you improve consistency
• Tamper & distributor: a handy 2-in-1 tool with a coffee distributor and palm tamper

All our tampers are carefully designed in-house to help you take the next step in your home-barista journey.

Why choose a 51mm coffee tamper?

The right size tamper ensures your coffee puck is tamped evenly, resulting in a well-balanced espresso.

Here’s what happens if your tamper is the wrong size:

• Too small: A tamper that’s too small (e.g. 49 mm) leaves gaps at the edges of the puck, causing uneven extraction and messy shots.
• Too big: A tamper that’s too large (53 mm or 58 mm) won’t even fit into your portafilter.

A 51mm tamper fits perfectly into portafilters that are smaller than the standard 58mm version. This makes our 51mm tampers excellent for use as an upgraded DeLonghi tamper.

Looking to upgrade your DeLonghi setup alltogether? Check out our full range of tools for DeLonghi espresso machines.

Is a 51mm coffee tamper big enough for proper extraction?

Yes! A 51mm coffee tamper helps you brew just as full-bodied and aromatic an espresso as other sizes will, as long as it fits snugly into your portafilter and filter basket.

One note: The wider the diameter of your coffee puck, the lower its height (when dosing 18 grams of beans). A lower and wider puck tends to extract a bit more evenly. That’s also why more expensive espresso machines often have a 58mm E61 brew head.

But this doesn’t mean you can’t get great results with a smaller puck. It just means that proper puck prep makes all the difference.

Good puck prep looks like this:

• Distribute your grounds evenly in the basket using a coffee distributor or WDT tool.
• Use a solid tamper with some weight. Our classic tampers have a base made of solid stainless steel.
• Keep an eye on your ratios! For a double espresso the rule is: 18 grams in, 36 grams out, in 25–30 seconds. The easiest way to track this is with a coffee scale.

Learn all the tricks of making espresso here, no matter what portafilter size you use.

When do you need a 51mm tamper?

A tamper is one of those essential barista tools. That why most espresso machines come with one included.

But many of those standard tampers are worth upgrading (like the DeLonghi tamper): think plastic tampers that weigh next to nothing, or ones with annoying edges where coffee grounds get stuck.

Not sure if 51mm is the right size for you? Measure the inside diameter of your portafilter. If it’s around 51mm, then this size is exactly what you need.

Also check out our size chart for the full measurements of your espresso machine. That way, you’ll also see which other barista tools fit your coffee setup.

Which machines use a 51 mm tamper?

Many compact espresso machines use a 51 mm portafilter, including DeLonghi Dedica models and some SMEG machines.

See the full compatibility list below.

Frequently Asked Questions

Below you’ll find answers to all your questions about using a 51mm coffee tamper.

Which tamper shape is best for 51mm (flat or convex)?

Classic tampers can differ in base shape: flat or slightly convex.

Our tampers all have a flat stainless steel base. This makes it easy to apply even pressure everywhere, resulting in a straight and consistent puck.

Convex tampers can help beginners reduce channeling. The downside is that it’s harder to apply equal pressure. For us, that’s not worth it, so we don’t offer convex tampers.

What we do offer is a calibrated tamper with a rippled base. This leaves a pattern in your puck that also helps prevent channeling.

Are 51mm coffee tampers suitable for beginners?

Absolutely! A well-fitting DeLonghi tamper makes tamping easier and helps avoid common mistakes. It’s a great way to start your home barista journey.

For beginners, we recommend starting with a classic tamper. It’s the easiest way to quickly learn the basics.