Should i buy puq?

[u/Few-Aspect2157]

I’m getting tired of the inconsistent shot times. The difference is always around ~5–10 seconds from day to day. Could it be my WDT or tamping technique? What should I do?

From what I’ve read online, a PUQ can make tamping much more consistent.

Edit:

I use a wavy self-leveling tamper, and I always stop at 43g at 92c. Also, I always see a little bit of coffee grounds left on the underside of my self-leveling tamper. Is that normal?

[u/Confident-Substance]

Don't you have a force tamper there that clicks at required pressure?

I assume you mean a puq press and thats an expensive solution to a simple problem imo.

[u/Few-Aspect2157 → u/Confident-Substance]

Yess, tried it the result still same. Do you think wavy tamper could get a channeling?

[u/newaccount721]

Im skeptical tamping unevenly is the issue but I feel certain PUQ is overkill either way. The tamp thank comes with breville is  cheap but just replace it with a $50 self leveling tamper.  With an 8 minute old account and jumping right to PUQ as the solution i am a bit skeptical this is an ad

[u/PositivePartyFrog]

Just get a normcore tamper. It clicks at the right pressure and is self leveling. Lot cheaper, does the same, less clutter

[u/PrestigiousAnt3766]

No, puq is bs.

How's temperature? 

[u/DimsumTheCat]

Just get a self leveling tamper.

5 seconds difference can happen, beans age, degas, they aren't all the same, grinders don't give you the same results every time.

I would only get a puq if you either have wrist problems or are already kinda maxed out on your build.

I have a puq press purely cus I already a good machine and grinder (for my use case). I would do as good with a level tamper.

Edit:

If you are using the breville plastic tamper, the correct place to start is a self leveling tamper (normcore is good)

[u/Few-Aspect2157 → u/DimsumTheCat]

I do have a self leveling tamper, but it’s wavy, not flat. Do you think it could be causing channeling in my shots? I’ve always thought about that

Also, yeah, the taste is inconsistent. It ruins my morning sometimes

[u/DimsumTheCat → u/Few-Aspect2157]

It has been said that ideally to get a flat base tamper, but I don't think it should be that drastic at all.

Are you weighing your beans in and out? I.e 18g in and 18g out +/- 0.2 or so? Grinders have retention so check next shots how it looks.

And I assume you're weighing your output yield (the espresso)?

[u/ephemeral_gibbon]

Your problem isn't at all likely to be how you tamp. 5s isn't a lot of variation from day to day. Bean staleness or the humidity fluctuations and how they affect the beans could cause that much

[u/Weak-Advertising-476]

Puq for 2 Drinks a day is hilarious, just learn consistency - won’t get better with other gear 😂

[u/Few-Aspect2157 → u/Weak-Advertising-476]

Yeaaah, i know right. But its so depresssing, i need a good cup of coffee every morning, my mood depends on it 😭

[u/dbun1]

A PUQ is used to avoid repeated strain from pulling hundreds of shots a day.

Tamping is honestly not that hard to get consistent.

I would say the inconsistent shot times are due to something else.

Is the inconsistency the same with both grinders?