HYDRA – The World’s First Hydraulically Controlled Coffee Tamper
Precision Tamping. Inspired by High-Performance Engineering.

Born from a passion for high-performance automotive design, the HYDRA is a revolution in manual coffee tamping. Designed and manufactured in Adelaide, Australia, this tamper brings the precision of race car suspension systems to the hands of discerning baristas.

At its core, HYDRA features a hydraulic damper that controls compression force, giving users an exceptionally smooth, tactile, and consistent tamping experience — regardless of the coffee or recipe. Crafted from premium 316 stainless steel and aluminium, every component reflects durability, quality, and performance.

In the world of espresso, consistency is king — not pressure. Traditional advice once emphasized tamping at 30 pounds of force, even encouraging users to “tap” the portafilter between tamps — a method now known to disrupt the coffee puck and increase channelling. Modern “click” tampers attempt to simplify the process but often introduce sudden, jarring feedback into the puck, undermining the very consistency they promise.

HYDRA changes everything.

By using adjustable hydraulic damping, it allows baristas to tailor the tamping feel — soft or firm — to match different coffees (like road conditions) and user preferences (like driving styles). There is no "correct" pressure, only correct consistency. HYDRA empowers you to dial in that consistency with fluid, controlled compression that protects the integrity of your puck and elevates your extraction.

Key Benefits:

• Hydraulic damping for buttery-smooth, shock-free tamping
• Adjustable resistance to suit your tamping style
• Designed and built in Australia with precision-engineered components
• Eliminates the inconsistency and harsh impact of “click” tampers
• Suitable for all baristas who want to elevate their manual tamping game

Whether you're a home enthusiast or a professional behind the bar, HYDRA turns tamping into a refined, high-performance experience — where every shot begins with purpose and precision.

Adjustment procedure:

Unscrew handle and unscrew the hydraulic damper, you will see a adjustment knob at the top.
The compression feel range value is from 0 to 8,     0 is approx 3kgs and 8 is +15kgs.

Adjust to get the right feel for you.

The BigStep HYDRA is made in Australia

Patent Applications Filed in China

To help protect the originality of this product, we have filed patent applications in China, where the risk of imitation is highest:

• Invention Patent Application
  Title: A Coffee Powder Tamper and Its Working Method
  Application No.: 202510531822.0
  Filed on: April 25, 2025

• Design Patent Application
  Title: Coffee Powder Tamper
  Application No.: 202530231029.X
  Filed on: April 25, 2025

These applications are under review by the China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA).