You just bought a new tamper for your Breville Barista Express. The box said “54mm,” so you bought a 54mm tamper.
You get home, try to insert it into the basket, and… it gets stuck. Or maybe you bought a “53mm” one, and it feels loose, leaving a messy ring of untamped coffee around the edges.
Welcome to the confusing world of Breville portafilter sizing.
If you are looking for a simple answer on which tamper to buy for your specific machine, this guide breaks it down. We will look at the two main size groups Breville uses and why the numbers on the box don’t always match the tool you need.
Group 1: The “54mm” Machines (Home Series)
This is the most common category. If you have an all-in-one machine with a built-in grinder (or its compact siblings), you likely fall into this group.
The Models:
- Breville Barista Express (BES870)
- Breville Barista Pro (BES878)
- Breville Barista Touch (BES880)
- Breville Bambino & Bambino Plus
- Breville Infuser (BES840)
- Breville Duo-Temp Pro (BES810)
The Correct Tamper Size:
For these machines, the portafilter basket is nominally 54mm. However, if you buy a tamper that is exactly 54mm, it will likely bind against the tapered walls of the basket as you press down.
- The “Safe” Size: 53mm. This will fit easily but may leave a tiny ring of loose coffee at the edges.
- The “Precision” Size (Recommended): 53.3mm to 53.4mm. This is the gold standard. High-end brands like Normcore or Crema Coffee Products make tampers specifically at 53.3mm to fit Breville baskets perfectly edge-to-edge without getting stuck.
Teacher’s Tip: If you search Amazon, look specifically for “53.3mm tamper.” This specific size exists solely because of the popularity of these Breville machines.
Group 2: The “58mm” Machines (Pro Series)
If you own one of Breville’s top-tier “Dual Boiler” or “Oracle” machines, you are in a different league. These machines use commercial-standard sizing.
The Models:
- Breville Dual Boiler (BES920/900)
- Breville Oracle (BES980)
- Breville Oracle Touch (BES990)
- Breville Oracle Jet
The Correct Tamper Size:
These machines use a standard commercial 58mm portafilter.
- The “Safe” Size: 58mm. Any standard tamper will fit.
- The “Precision” Size (Recommended): 58.5mm. Just like professional barista setups, the stock baskets on these machines are slightly wider than 58mm. A 58.5mm tamper (like a Normcore V4 or Pullman BigStep) will give you a cleaner tamp with less residue on the sidewalls.
Summary Table: Which Size Do You Need?
| Machine Model | Nominal Size | Recommended Precision Tamper Size |
| Barista Express | 54mm | 53.3mm |
| Barista Pro | 54mm | 53.3mm |
| Barista Touch | 54mm | 53.3mm |
| Bambino / Plus | 54mm | 53.3mm |
| Infuser | 54mm | 53.3mm |
| Dual Boiler | 58mm | 58.5mm |
| Oracle (All) | 58mm | 58.5mm |
Common Questions
Q: Why does my 54mm tamper get stuck?
A: Breville stock baskets are tapered (they get narrower at the bottom). A tamper that is widely 54mm might hit the sides before it compresses the coffee fully. This is why 53.3mm is the safer, smarter choice.
Q: Can I use a 53mm tamper on a 54mm machine?
A: Yes, absolutely. It is just a bit loose. You will have a millimeter of space around the edge, which might leave some coffee untamped, but it is better than a tamper that gets stuck.
The Recommendation
If you are upgrading the stock tamper (which is often lightweight and flimsy), don’t guess.
- For Barista/Bambino owners: Search specifically for a 53.3mm tamper. It is the custom fit your machine deserves.
- For Dual Boiler/Oracle owners: Treat yourself to a 58.5mm tamper for that commercial-grade precision.
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