Deluxe Tamper
The Deluxe Tamper is comprised of a solid stainless steel base coupled to a very attractive oiled Hardwood handle to make up a unit that truly is a no-compromise work of art. It not only goes about its business efficiently, but is a pleasure to use and looks great at the same time - and with several different wood patterns to choose from, there's sure to be one which suits your tastes! See the full range of handles below!. While each handle will come laser-engraved with the Pullman Tamper logo, you have the choice to add your own message. Information about custom engraving.
One of the challenges with tamping by hand is getting the tamper level, and knowing how hard to tamp. Fortunately, each deluxe Pullman tamper comes with TrueTamp guide rings engraved into its side to assist you in this regard. The TrueTamp rings enable you to line the top of your filter basket up with one of the guide rings to ensure the tamper is level. They also allow you to tamp to exactly the same point each time to assist you in gaining greater repeatability in your brews. Repeatability is of the utmost importance in consistently improving the quality of your brews, so this tamper is a must for anyone serious about producing consistently better coffee.
A varnished tamper from another manufacturer after just 12 months of minimal use in a domestic kitchen - note the chipping and bubbling of the varnish. Pullman Tampers do not use varnish for this reason.
Each handle is hand-made by a single craftsman who works from his property in the Adelaide foothills. The design has been chosen for optimum comfort and performance after extensive consultation with a range of tamper users throughout the world. Rather than coating the wood with a varnish which chips and splinters over time, the raw handles are impregnated with a special resin-loaded oil to protect the wood and to retain its natural grain and feel, and to keep it looking good! With regular use, the handle will gain an even deeper colour!
Tamping by hand allows you to exert a high tamp pressure because you're working with gravity and putting your body weight and shoulder muscles behind the tamp. Tamping at about waist height with an upwardly-angled wrist gives the best results - it allows your body weight to get behind the tamp, and the skewed wrist minimises sideways movement of the tamper thus aiding in achieving a flat tamp.
Prices start at $AUD99.95 (plus postage and handling).
More information below on the range of handles and bases available.
Deluxe Tamper Photo Gallery
Red
Gum 
Jarrah
Huon
Pine - Checkerboard
Australian Oak
You can choose from several different wood patterns for your tamper. Due to natural variations in the available raw materials, not every style may be available at all times, but the order page will show which handles are available to you at the time of your order.
- Redgum - a handle with the true Australian spirit! So strong it's often used for railway sleepers, this deep orange-red hardwood has a majestic rippled grain and plenty of character. Sometimes has some elements of brown tonings as well, depending on the history of the log it came from.
- Jarrah - Always a favourite! A wood also used for garden stakes, so again designed to withstand a lot of punishment. Typically has a straighter grain than Red Gum but dark brown in colour.
- Huon Pine - a real rarity! Native to the island state of Tasmania, its resilience and resistance to borers caused it to be heavily logged for a number of years and is now completely protected from logging of any kind. Only wood which falls to the ground of its own accord can be used, making it highly sought after. This very smooth, close-grained wood has a lemony colour and has a genuine appeal to those who know its history. Surcharge applies
* Note: since Huon Pine is not a hardwood, it will be more susceptible to dents and would not be recommended for rough environments such as cafes. - CheckerBoard - a striking handle made by alternately laminating dark Jarrah and Australian Oak (surcharge applies)
- Australian Oak - a fawny-pink hardwood with a medium density grain producing a distinctive flecked appearance on the vertical surfaces
Bases
The quality of the tamper base on Pullman tampers is one of the things that set it apart from the rest. Pullman Tamper bases are made in Australia from Australian steel, in a choice of standard 304 grade or premium 316 grade. 304 is the regular grade used for this sort of purpose; 316 grade steel contains molybdenum and a higher nickel content which make it a tougher material with greater corrosion resistance and thus is often used in marine applications or similarly harsh environments. While corrosion resistance isn't an issue in kitchen or cafe environments, its different composition allows it to achieve an even better surface finish than our standard 304 grade, to the point it is sometimes able to diffract light.
By contrast, the bases for a number of other popular tampers are made in developing Asian countries such as China or India, where the steel quality is poorer than that available in Australia. This means 'stainless' steel that isn't quite so stainless with the potential to corrode or rust over time; it also normally results in a poorer surface finish than on higher quality steels. Another problem with these manufacturing processes is that they're designed to be cheap and fast, so the cutting tool is normally run as fast as possible to allow maximum throughout. Unfortunately this means the surface of the steel ends up being ridged and rough rather than smooth. This means the tamped coffee puck will tend to get scuffed on these cheaper units rather than polished as on a Pullman. While the hand processes mean the surface finish on a Pullman unit may vary slightly from unit to unit, it will always be a smooth surface and the units will always be made from top quality Australian steel.
It might cost a bit more to do the job properly, but we'd rather do the job properly or not at all. Don't just take our word for it - see the difference for yourself!
Pullman Deluxe base in 316 grade steel (L) and showing the diffracted light as achievable on top quality steel, 316 in this case (R)
Pullman Deluxe base in 316 grade steel (L) and 304 (R). Note: actual surface finish may vary from unit to unit
Comparing the surface finish on Pullman Deluxe base in 316 grade steel (L) with that offered by an alternative manufacturer (R). Note much smoother finish on Pullman unit
