I have been making coffee at home for most of my adult life. Some days the results are good and other days... not so good. Try as I might, finding the right formula for a really good cup-o-Joe has eluded me all this time. Some days, after pouring the first cup, I thought I had it, but the next day... nope, something is different.

I have been making coffee at home for most of my adult life. Some days the results are good and other days... not so good. Try as I might, finding the right formula for a really good cup-o-Joe has eluded me all this time. Some days, after pouring the first cup, I thought I had it, but the next day... nope, something is different.

First about quality. There are these little containers called K cups that are each filled with the exact amount of grounds to make you a consistently excellent beverage every time you press the "brew button". The difference between these containers and other "pods" is that they are sealed immediately after being filled. No atmospheric intrusion at all can occur. This is important so that the integrity of the grounds is not degraded at all. You expect perfection with each mug, and you get it. The pods of other brands are usually (but not always) wrapped in a filter material that will be exposed to the air when opened. If not used immediately, they will "change" because of the interaction with air and humidity.

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.

Finally, you need to apply the finishing tamp to incorporate these grounds into the tamped coffee mass. This time you can press much more firmly (apply about 30lbs of pressure). You can practice by tamping on some scales until you are comfortable achieving the right amount of pressure.

Having a group of friends get together with different tastes? Again, this is an easy solution. K cups, as mentioned, come in all types of blends, but you can also get many different teas, and even hot chocolate. So you will impress your family and friends with their favorite beverage. No one will go unsatisfied.