The term “espresso tamping” refers to how espresso is packed into a portafilter, the basket that holds the espresso. After the roasted espresso beans have been finely ground, it’s time to pack the espresso into the portafilter — and the espresso needs to be tightly packed and tamped in such a way that the water gets as much flavor as possible from it. https://espresso-works.com/blogs/coffee-life/dos-and-donts-of-espresso-tamping