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Naval Brass Tamper Base

Naval Brass Tamper Base

A naval brass tamper base, machined from solid stock and available in seven profiles and any diameter you need. Heavy and warm-toned, with a slow, golden patina — naval brass is a marine-grade alloy originally developed for ship hardware, prized for its corrosion resistance and density in the hand. The middle path between stainless steel's durability and copper's character. Made in Canada by Reg Barber since 1995.

Choose your profile and size. Each profile shapes the puck differently, from the workhorse Flat to the precision Lazy-V. If your machine takes a size we don't list, select Custom — we'll make it for you at no extra charge.

Care: Brass is a soft metal that benefits from gentle handling. Like copper, it will develop a patina with use — a natural part of how the material ages, not a defect.

Note: This listing is for the base only. Fits all standard Reg Barber handles. Pair it with a handle of your choice; we'll assemble before shipping.

Base Only
$85.00
Shape guide

Base Shapes

Each profile introduces a different dimension to your tamping.

Flat

The reference. Our global best seller for decades and trusted companion to world champion baristas. The perfect place to begin your journey with Reg Barber.

C-Flat

Features a slightly curved perimeter to push coffee grounds to the side of the portafilter basket, promoting a more complete seal to reduce channeling.

Curve - US

Features a slightly curved face, simultaneously pushing grinds to the side to reduce channeling while increasing puck surface area.

Curve - Euro

A more aggressive curve than our US model. Promotes a better seal between coffee grinds and portafilter basket while further increasing puck surface area.

Ripple

Another Reg Barber innovation, the Ripple works to increase puck surface area without creating significantly different puck depths. Designed to improve extraction and combat channeling.

C-Ripple

Pushes grinds to the side of the basket to minimize channeling while increasing puck surface area without creating different puck depths.

Precision (Lazy V)

Want the biggest tamper size possible? The Lazy V features a sharp edge and a tapered side wall to reduce the chances of suction with tight-fitting bases.

Size guide

Size Guide

Not sure which size tamper base you need? Don't panic!

There are several ways to find the right fit and we're here to support you. At Reg Barber, we precision machine each base to order in 0.1mm increments, allowing you to select the precise fit for your portafilter basket.

The most important thing to realize is that you fit your tamper to the basket, not the portafilter. Most of those SEO articles you find about selecting the right size tamper based on your machine are bogus. A starting point at best.

Here's the skinny:

Option 1: Use A Precision Basket

Precision baskets like those from IMS, VST and others are worth every penny, improving water flow and extraction yields for consistently better shots. If you're buying a Reg Barber tamper, you might already use one. If so, the manufacturer will tell you the optimal tamper size.

Option 2: Reach Out

Ask The Manufacturer

The manufacturer of your machine should be able to tell you the optimal tamper size for your machine and their stock portafilter baskets. Make sure to include the model and year as these specs change over time.

Go Online

Search online, particularly in Reddit and in specialty forums like Home Barista.

DO NOT USE AI. AI DOESN'T KNOW.

Option 3: Contact Us

If you still need help sorting all this out, email michael@regbarber.com. He'll be happy to help you.

Option 4: Measure Your Basket

We suggest you follow the options above before embarking on this odyssey. And definitely reach out so we can help you confirm before finalizing your order. Please note that if you order the wrong base size, we'll work with you to get it ironed out, but you'll be paying a bunch of unnecessary shipping costs.

Calipers

A significant percentage of our customers have calipers. Which is awesome. You can buy inexpensive digital calipers for under $10. Just make sure you have 0.1mm accuracy or better.

Step 1) Let your portafilter and basket come up to brewing temperature (metals expand slightly when heated). Using the inside measurement of your calipers, measure the diameter of your basket at roughly the level of the coffee bed. Take several measurements to get a feel for the true diameter. Note the smallest measurement.

Conventional wisdom is to specify a base size the nearest whole number DOWN. For example, if you measure 58.6mm, pick a 58.0mm tamper. This will certainly work, but might be roomy. In our experience, you need to subtract 0.2mm - 0.3mm from the smallest reading to minimize the chance of binding or suction while getting a great fit.

Precision ruler

You can use a quality ruler with millimeter markings to measure across the portafilter basket. Since this isn't as accurate as a set of calipers, we recommend picking the closest whole number down.

Option 5: The Perfect Fit Kit

Still unsure? Order our fit kit option! We'll send you a demo handle and seven bases in 0.1mm increments. Field test each base until you find the ideal size. Return the fit kit and you'll receive a $120 gift code toward the purchase of your Reg Barber tamper.

Base Sizes
58.0mm - 58.6mm
58.0mm - 58.6mm 53.0mm - 53.6mm 49.0mm - 49.6mm
Shipping Times: 2 weeks

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