51 mm vs 51.5 mm Tamper for La Pavoni

Discover how tamper diameter can influence your espresso preparation, particularly with the La Pavoni Europiccola. This article highlights the distinctions between a budget tamper and a high-end model, and explains how these size differences impact extraction. Choosing the right tool can transform your coffee experience and significantly improve your daily results.
Different tamper diameters for La Pavoni
There are several filter diameters for espresso coffee machines. The La Pavoni Europiccola that I use has filters with a 51 mm diameter.
Upon purchase, a plastic tamper is included, but investing in a metal tamper quickly becomes necessary. Prices can vary from €15 to €150 depending on quality and brand.
The first tamper I acquired was a €15 model found on Aliexpress.
A few months later, I treated myself to the official La Pavoni tamper (manufactured and sold by BPlus, designer of the excellent Apollo coffee grinders) for €90, including a portafilter funnel.
This accessory, while not essential, is very practical. I will present it along with other useful tools in an upcoming article.

Diameter: 51 mm or 51.5 mm?
It’s the difference in diameter that prompted me to write this article.
- The budget tamper: exactly 51 mm
- The La Pavoni tamper: 51.5 mm
With a 51 mm tamper, coffee remains on the basket edges after tamping.
With the 51.5 mm tamper, the coffee is tamped all the way to the edges and this problem disappears.
Conclusion on diameter:
If you’re looking for an ideal tamper for your La Pavoni, opt for a 51.5 mm model.
For La Pavoni Pre-Millennium, BPlus also offers 49.5 mm models.
Weight: a comfort criterion
The La Pavoni tamper is entirely made of stainless steel, which makes it heavier than the budget model.
The choice between heavy or light tamper is mainly a matter of preference.
Generally, a tamper with an aluminum or wooden handle weighs around 400 g.
Conclusion: why choose 51.5 mm?
In summary, for a La Pavoni Europiccola, a 51.5 mm tamper ensures uniform tamping, avoids residue on the edges of the basket, and improves your espresso extraction.
This extra half-millimeter truly makes a difference.
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