Tamp Pressure and Good Espresso  by: (268 pts)  By now most of
us have probably heard of something referred to as the Golden
Rule  As a quick refresher, the objective of the Golden Rule is
to brew a double shot of espresso (2.5oz) in 25 seconds. One
variable is the fineness and consistency of your ground
espresso; another is tamp pressure. Thirty lbs of tamp pressure
is what most experts recommend. There is also a consensus that
any tamp pressure that is consistently applied each and every
time will work. Consistency is the key word here. Whether it is
30lbs or 50lbs of pressure, the key component is to use the same
pressure every time. You can, then, adjust your grind setting to
follow suit and get the perfect extraction.  Remember as a rule
of thumb it should take an average of twenty five seconds to
brew a double shot of espresso. To demonstrate the impact tamp
pressure can have on espresso extraction, I usually have
customers apply both a very forceful tamp, as well as an
extremely light tamp. The differe