HISTORY AND ORIGIN Like all of its products, Rocket’s tamping mat meets the highest standards of quality. It is made of strong food-grade silicone, and its 90°-fold keeps it in place on any surface. The biggest advantage of this accessory is that it protects your home or business counter from wear caused by the portafilter. The fold offers bonus protection, too: you can tap the portafilter against the edge of the counter without worrying about damage. This tamping mat is made entirely of silicone, so it is dishwasher-safe. HOW TO USE Place the desired amount of coffee in the portafilter, then press it against the edge of the mat so that the spout(s) are hanging down. Use your fingers to lightly press the coffee until it is more or less level. Insert the tamper into the portafilter and press very lightly (around 30 lbs of pressure). Pressing harder is not necessarily more effective. After you remove the tamper, clean up any ground coffee that might have spilled out of the portafilter during tamping. Insert the portafilter into the group head and begin making your espresso. FOR COFFEE NERDS According to the industry, 30 pounds of pressure will most often produce the best results. However, you can test the tamper with different blends and origins to decide what works best for you.
