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Signature Tamper Handle — Padauk

Signature

5 in stock

The Signature is our global best-seller. Reg Barber's reference design and the choice of multiple World Barista Champions.

From The Archive: Reg Barber no longer produces handles in this wood. What was made is all there is.

Made in Canada by Reg Barber since 1995.

Handle
$65.00
Signature in Padauk
As of 2023, all African Pterocarpus species — including African Padauk — were listed under CITES Appendix II. These tampers are new old stock. We will not make more unless sustainable sourcing through certified plantations becomes viable.
Why Delrin?

Why Delrin?

You'll notice some of our pieces wear a Delrin insert, and there's some specialty coffee history there. Back in the day, baristas would tamp, knock the side of the portafilter to free any grounds clinging to the basket wall, then tamp again and polish. Knock after knock, hundreds of times per shift, that habit chewed up handles and bases. Reg's fix was simple and built to last: a hard Delrin cap you could rap against the portafilter without marking your tamper. Knock on the Delrin, spare the wood and steel.

We still make them today, partly as a nod to that era and the baristas who lived it, and partly because they look sharp on the bar. They're also a favorite for customization. Fill the engraving with a marking-paint stick and your color really pops against the Delrin.

For the record, other than the occasional resin-stabilized wood handle, Delrin is the only material we use that isn't metal or wood, and we use it on purpose.

About Padauk
Padauk is a striking African hardwood, vivid orange-red when freshly cut and gradually mellowing to a warm reddish-brown with light exposure. Hard, dense, and remarkably stable — a tamper handle that doesn't move with humidity. The color alone makes it unmistakable on the bar.
Base
No Base selected
Shipping Times: 2 weeks
Handle only. Handles and bases must be specified individually to create your complete tamper. We'll assemble it for you before shipping.

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