Tamping device

1. 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.

2. The tamping device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the tamping base reciprocates between first and second positions in the passageway, respectively remote from and proximate to a portafilter attached at the second end of the tubular guard, and further comprising resilient biasing means biasing the tamping base toward the cover.

3. The tamping device as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the resilient biasing means is a spring.

4. The tamping device as claimed in claim 1 , including a coupling at the second end of the tubular guard for securing the second end of the tubular guard to the basket.

5. The tamping device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein

the tamper includes a handle at the first end of the tamper, and

spacing between the handle and the cover defines a maximum moveable distance of the tamping base.

6. The tamping device as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the tamping base reciprocates between first and second positions in the passageway, respectively remote from and proximate to a basket attached at the second end of the tubular guard, and further comprising resilient biasing means biasing the tamping base toward the cover.

7. The tamping device as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the resilient biasing means is located between the handle and the cover.

8. The tamping device as claimed in claim 7 , wherein the resilient biasing means is a spring.

9. The tamping device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the hinge has an axis of rotation transverse to the central axis of the tubular guard.

10. A tamping device for applying a tamping force to ground coffee in a basket, the tamping device comprising:

a tubular guard having a central axis, opposed first and second ends, and a tube forming a passageway extending from the first end to the second end;

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 to 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 hinge has an axis of rotation transverse to the central axis of the tubular guard.

11. The tamping device as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the tamping base reciprocates between first and second positions in the passageway, respectively remote from and proximate to a basket attached at the second end of the tubular guard, and further comprising resilient biasing means biasing the tamping base toward the cover.

12. The tamping device as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the resilient biasing means is a spring.

13. The tamping device as claimed in claim 10 , including a coupling at the second end of the tubular guard for securing the second end of the tubular guard to the basket.

14. The tamping device as claimed in claim 10 , wherein

the tamper includes a handle at the first end of the tamper, and

spacing between the handle and the cover defines a maximum moveable distance of the tamping base.

15. The tamping device as claimed in claim 14 , wherein the tamping base reciprocates between first and second positions in the passageway, respectively remote from and proximate to a basket attached at the second end of the tubular guard, and further comprising resilient biasing means biasing the tamping base toward the cover.

16. The tamping device as claimed in claim 15 , wherein the resilient biasing means is located between the handle and the cover.

17. The tamping device as claimed in claim 16 , wherein the resilient biasing means is a spring.