Feature 3: "Mirror Face"
The tamping face is well-polished so as to function as a mirror for checking if the machine's shower head is clean.

Purposes of a Mirror Face
The tamping face at the bottom of the base is polished so as to work as a mirror. The reflective quality is good enough for clear visibility of close objects. Therefore, the TOBIRA Tamper mirror face has the dual capability of making coffee grounds flatter and smoother than with other tampers, and also of checking machine functionality.

face of an existing tamper

face of TOBIRA Tamper

Residue in the Machine
In the course of using an espresso machine, joint parts of the body and the filter holder become soiled with coffee grounds. The coffee ground residue on the shower head damages the extraction quality. Residue in the groove by the shower head can lead to problems when fitting the filter holder to the shower head.

Residue Build-up Should be Checked
Even though a barista is supposed to run hot water through after each extraction to wash off any coffee residue, it may not be sufficient for thorough cleaning of the machine. Residue on the shower head and/or in the groove is not always washed out by a simple rinsing. The barista should check the machine often and clean out any remaining residue carefully, although in reality only a few baristi do this often enough.

Work Load Issues
Unfortunately, in spite of their awareness towards cleanliness, heavy work loads prevent many baristi from checking the machine as often as they should. Further, since shower heads are typically designed to accommodate the height of the hands of the user, the barista must bend forward or squat down to look up the shower head, which can be physically straining.

Safety Issues
Another factor preventing many baristi from checking frequently enough is safety. It can be dangerous to look up a shower head when the power is turned on, since hot water or steam might unexpectedly came out and cause damage to the barista's eyes and/or face. This can be avoided by checking when the machine is turned off and has cooled down, but it is impossible to do this frequently.

Hand Mirrors Are Not the Answer
Space restrictions and the hard and heavy equipment used around the espresso machine (e.g. filter holder and tamper) mean keeping a hand mirror around to check the machine is both impractical and unsafe. The glass of a regular mirror could easily be broken resulting in a threat to the safety of both the staff (from touching the glass) and customers (from ingesting the glass).

The TOBIRA Tamper Solution
The TOBIRA Tamper is designed with the function of a hand mirror to enable baristi to check if their machine is clean. The tamper/mirror is always accessible as it is either in use (in the barista's hand) or placed beside the machine. The simple design concept of polishing the flat surface at the base of the TOBIRA Tamper added the functionality of an unbreakable and space saving hand mirror.

You can use TOBIRA Tamper...		to check if it is clean!
(The tamper in this picture is prototype with the grip of different material.)

Conclusion
The TOBIRA Tamper enables you to check the cleanliness of the espresso machine more easily, safely and frequently than with other tampers on the market. This contributes not only to the quality of machine operation, but also to the quality of extraction. The TOBIRA Tamper ensures that tamping is made more efficient all-round.

(Caution)
The visibility of the tamping face may become impaired by coffee ground oil which sticks to it after tamping. To restore the mirror functionality, wipe with a clean, dry cloth.
The tamping face may receive minute scratches if it comes into sharp contact with hard material or if it is used to tamp low quality coffee ground containing impurities.