I recently sprang for a huge, beautiful, kick-ass KitchenAid espresso machine and I love it, but I was disappointed with the junky plastic tamper that came with it. Following the advice of an Amazon reviewer, I ordered a brass tamper — with Tenniel’s Mad Hatter custom-engraved into its handle (why not?) — from Reg Baber, a Canadian artisanal espresso tamper with a global reputation. It arrived yesterday and it’s a pure work of art — and the crema is sweeter than ever. Highly recommended.