Baristas, don't let your skills be defined by your ability to compress espresso with 35 pounds force! You have very much more to offer. Loosen up and open up!

The Versalab Espresso PRESS is the the newest version of the original Versalab Packer. Redesigned specifically for the coffee shop and all professional espresso applications.

We call it the PRESS because that is what it is, and that is what it does. In Italy, the name for the hand device used to compress espresso in the filter basket is called "pressino", or essentially "a little tool to press". Now mind you, a friend of ours recently suggested we call it the "stomper"!

Finally, a way to compress espresso accurately, time after time.

Simply dose the portafilter with fresh ground espresso, put the portafilter in the PRESS, on the ball bearing mounted rest, flip the switch and the piston will compress the grounds to whatever pressure you have set. Move the portafilter handle side to side to polish the top of the puck and you are ready to go.

Every serious, experienced coffee shop owner or espresso aficionado knows, packing/tamping is one of the most difficult things to train anyone to accomplish consistently.

That being the case, the PRESS will be a godsend to any specialty coffee shop which prides itself on making serious espresso.

Operates from either tap water, or compressed air.

The PRESS operates off tap water pressure or shop air pressure. Setting the pressing force requires merely adjusting the precision pressure regulator to the desired pressure as seen on the gauge (all included in the system) and it will pack to that pressure very repeatably.

The unit needs to be plumbed into the water system (optionally air pressure). Water feed fittings are supplied to adapt to 1/4 ID flexible tubing. Exhaust water is under pressure and can be driven some distance to a drain.

A minimum water pressure will be required depending on the packing force wanted. The maximum packing force available is 1.77 times the incoming water/air pressure.

The PRESS can also be operated with air pressure. In either home or professional environments, an under-counter compressed air (CO2, Nitrogen) tank and regulator - such as those for draft beer home use - can be used to supply 60psi or less, into the PRESS. Use of the PRESS will be the same, no changes necessary. A tank that has 30 cu.ft. of gas will be capable of over 2,500 cycles. More cu.ft. equals proportionately more cycles.

A tank and regulator should cost less than $125. A tank refill is roughly $20 or around $.01 per espresso shot.

Naturally in-shop compressed air will also work very well.

The control switch can be mounted on the left or right.

Consistency is on the order of +/- 1pounds force or better.

Weight 8 lbs.
5 1/2" deep
12 +” high
5 1/2” wide

The pressure regulator and pressure gauge are in line with the water delivery to the valve which is mounted to the PRESS as seen on the picture above. They are expected to be below the countertop, with the delivery and exhaust hoses (not shown in the picture) passing through a countertop cutout hole. It naturally can also be arranged with the hoses running across the countertop.

Operating components are the finest industrial grade machine components available.

$375 + shipping

Call Laura at Versalab 970.622.0240