Which action prepares the coffee puck for extraction after dosing?

Which action prepares the coffee puck for extraction after dosing?

• A. Dosing lever
• B. Grinder
• C. Tamping
• D. Filter

Answer: (C)

The key idea is forming a compact, evenly dense puck of coffee so water can pass through uniformly during extraction. After dosing into the portafilter, tamping compresses the grounds into a flat, level puck that sits evenly against the filter basket. This creates consistent resistance, helps prevent channeling (where water zips through weak spots), and ensures the entire puck participates in extraction rather than just the top layers. A well-tamped puck leads to more even extraction and better flavor. Grinder, dosing lever, and filter each play other roles: grinding creates the grounds, dosing lever moves them into the basket, and the filter is part of the brew head—not the step that prepares the puck.

The key idea is forming a compact, evenly dense puck of coffee so water can pass through uniformly during extraction. After dosing into the portafilter, tamping compresses the grounds into a flat, level puck that sits evenly against the filter basket. This creates consistent resistance, helps prevent channeling (where water zips through weak spots), and ensures the entire puck participates in extraction rather than just the top layers. A well-tamped puck leads to more even extraction and better flavor.

Grinder, dosing lever, and filter each play other roles: grinding creates the grounds, dosing lever moves them into the basket, and the filter is part of the brew head—not the step that prepares the puck.