Patent ID: 8479638

Claim:
A tamping device for applying a tamping force to ground coffee in a portafilter, the tamping device comprising: a tubular guard having a central axis, opposed first and second ends, a tube forming a passageway extending from the first end to the second end, and grid lines on the tube for indicating respective volumes of coffee required depending on coffee grind; a tamper having opposed first and second ends, a shaft extending from the first end to the second end, and a tamping base at the second end, wherein the shaft and the tamping base reciprocate within the passageway for tamping coffee in the tube and in a basket attached at the second end of the tubular guard; and a cover and a hinge attaching the cover to the first end of the tubular guard so that the cover, in a closed position, covers the first end of the tubular guard, and, in an open position, exposes an inside surface of the tube, wherein the cover has an aperture through which the shaft of the tamper reciprocates, the passageway fits closely around the tamping base, and the grid lines can be viewed only when the cover is in the open position.