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So you finally have the best espresso machine sitting on your counter in all its glory. After selecting the freshest-roasted coffee beans and running them through the best coffee grinder to churn out fine grounds, you have to fill your portafilter and tamp them down. The tamper is among the simpler espresso tools, but it's essential to pulling the perfect shot.

We've been making and testing espresso for over a decade, and for this guide we pulled four shots with each of the eight best tampers we tested. Our top pick is the Decent Tamper, which has the perfect weight and build to make tamping foolproof and effective. If the Decent price tag is unappealing, we recommend the LuxHaus Tamper as a solid budget alternative that's bare-bones without skipping on quality

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Best classic: Decent Tamper -- See at Decent Espresso

Between its spring-loaded calibration and the wide rim, the 13.5-ounce Decent Tamper makes packing and pulling a shot of espresso as foolproof as it gets.

Best budget: LuxHaus Tamper -- See at Amazon

The LuxHaus Tamper offers significant weight and a well-balanced handle at less than half the price of most of its competitors.

Best palm tamper: Matow Dual Head Coffee Leveler -- See at Amazon

A tamper and a leveler in one, Matow's Dual Head Coffee Leveler is nicely weighted (17.3 ounces) and adjustable on both sides to accommodate a spectrum of portafilter basket depths.