A true pioneer of third wave specialty coffee, Reg Barber invented the modern, two-part tamper in 1995.
An accomplished woodworker from British Columbia, Reg was the first person to use this noble material in a tamper, pairing it with a durable, food-safe stainless steel base.
The rest is history.
At that time, machines came (and often still come!) with cheaply made one-piece plastic or aluminum tampers.
Reg's beautiful, ergonomic handle fit a barista's hand and featured a heavy metal base sized to each basket. For the first time, baristas could comfortably apply the right pressure for a consistent, even tamp.
Extraction level up!
The World Barista Championship (WBC) is an annual event bringing SCA national barista champions together for a grueling three-day competition.
Over the past 20 years, at least 10 world champions trusted Reg Barber tampers to help them take the trophy. Reg even makes the trophies, each featuring one of his iconic tampers.
Speciality Coffee bloomed in the early 21st century and Reg Barber became the global tamper reference for performance, craftsmanship, and longevity.
Reg Barber has now crafted over 150,000 tampers for equipment manufactures like Rancilio, coffee vanguards like Blue Bottle, professional baristas and enthusiasts around the world.
A legend in the community, Reg hand crafts the barista championship trophies. Each featuring our iconic tamper.
In 2020, Reg passed the torch to Michael Turri, a Stanford-trained designer and coffee enthusiast.
Michael and his team are committed to continuing the Reg Barber legacy of handcrafting beautiful tampers for future generations.
Reg continues to mentor the workshop team and is happy that his tampers will still be enjoyed by coffee lovers around the world.
Whether you're a professional barista, home enthusiast, roaster, café or equipment manufacturer, we're honored to be part of your craft and coffee ritual.
We can't wait to make your perfect tamper.
