You may have notice the barista at your favourite coffee house doing it; he or she grinds the coffee and dispenses just the right amount into the portafilter (the handle with the cup on the end that receives the coffee and attaches to the espresso machine). With me so far? Good. Then what happens? The barista uses a plastic or metal device that looks a bit like an old fashioned rubber stamp and pushes it into the coffee. Or at least, they should!!!

You may have notice the barista at your favourite coffee house doing it; he or she grinds the coffee and dispenses just the right amount into the portafilter (the handle with the cup on the end that receives the coffee and attaches to the espresso machine). With me so far? Good. Then what happens? The barista uses a plastic or metal device that looks a bit like an old fashioned rubber stamp and pushes it into the coffee. Or at least, they should!!!

This step is known as tamping. Tamping results in the coffee being pressed firmly into a condensed layer within the portafilter. If you don't usually do this when you are making coffee at home then this is a quick and easy way to greatly improve the quality of the coffee you produce.

Another quality point is that the plastic containers are filled with excellent blends of beans. They are not cheap, so there has been a strong effort to produce the very best for your money. From this writer's point of view, there has not yet been a disappointing mug in the several months of experience.

What about convenience. If you are a one or two mug a day consumer, this is the perfect brewer. Think about all the wasted or burned coffee that has gone unconsumed. If you leave your normal pot on the heat for more than an hour, the result is an unwanted, ill-tasting beverage.

Cleanup? It's so easy. The only thing to clean is container you drink from. Another plus is the convenience of trying different blends on a daily basis. You may start off with your first mug of extra-bold and decide that you want the "donut house" blend a little later for your second go-round. With the Keurig Single Cup Coffee Maker... no problemo. And even better, you can switch to decaf later in the day - just one portion, of course.

My theory is that the freshness and the exact same amount of grounds create a consistent outcome. So I now have a new Keurig Single Serving coffee maker sitting on the kitchen counter. I am one happy morning person these days. Just thought you would like to know.