World’s Smallest Coffee Maker Makes Espresso in 30 Seconds

If you’re tired of weak office coffee but can’t justify brewing a full shot of espresso every morning, there may now be a solution that fits in your desk drawer. A tiny, microwave-powered device promises barista-style espresso in just half a minute — no grinder, no machine, no hassle.

Piamo makes a single shot of espresso in around 30 seconds using only a microwave, water, and ground coffee. Designed in Germany, it's compact enough to replace your desk coffee cup and even dishwasher safe for easy cleaning.

What Is Piamo and How Does It Work?

Piamo is officially recognised as the world’s smallest coffee machine. It’s made from food-grade plastic and consists of three parts: a cup body, a built-in coffee grind chamber, and a small water reservoir. Instead of using electricity or a pump, it relies on your microwave to heat the water into steam, which then passes through the coffee grounds to extract an espresso directly into the cup.

How to Use Piamo in 30 Seconds

Using Piamo is straightforward:

• Add freshly ground coffee into the dedicated grind chamber.
• Pour water into the reservoir.
• Assemble the parts — the coffee chamber sits inside the cup body, with the water reservoir below.
• Place the entire unit in the microwave and heat for approximately 30 seconds.
• Remove the Piamo, and your freshly brewed espresso will have collected in the cup.

The whole process takes less than a minute from start to finish. Once you're done, the entire device can go straight into the dishwasher for easy cleanup.

Why Was Piamo Invented?

Piamo was created by German coffee enthusiast Christoph Meyl, who was frustrated with the poor-quality office coffee machines available. According to reports from the UK’s Daily Times, Meyl designed the product as a personal solution to access better coffee while at work. With encouragement from family, he developed Piamo as an alternative to outdated office coffee warmers and as a more appealing option compared to instant coffee.

Meyl envisioned Piamo not just as a convenience device, but also as a way to encourage coffee lovers to enjoy higher-quality coffee on the go — without the need for bulky equipment.

What You Need to Know Before Trying Piamo

While Piamo offers a quick and convenient way to make espresso, there are a few important details to consider:

• You must use your own ground coffee — it does not have a built-in grinder.
• The quality of your espresso depends heavily on the freshness and grind size of the coffee you use.
• The device is designed for single servings only.
• It’s made entirely from food-safe plastic and is microwave-compatible.
• Cleaning is simple thanks to its dishwasher-safe design.

For best results, use a fine to medium-fine grind similar to what you’d use for a traditional espresso machine. Since the brewing method relies on steam pressure from the microwave, extraction time is fixed at around 30 seconds, so grind size and coffee freshness become key variables.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take Piamo to make espresso?

Piamo brews a single shot of espresso in approximately 30 seconds using a standard microwave. The entire process, from setup to cleanup, takes under a minute.

Does Piamo require electricity or batteries?

No, Piamo does not use electricity or batteries. It relies entirely on your microwave to generate the steam needed to brew the espresso through the coffee grounds.

What kind of coffee do you use with Piamo?

Piamo requires freshly ground coffee. You need to add your own ground coffee into its built-in grind chamber — it does not have a grinder built in. Use a fine to medium-fine grind similar to espresso preparation.

Is Piamo dishwasher safe?

Yes, Piamo is designed to be fully dishwasher safe. After use, you can place the entire device in the dishwasher for easy cleaning.

Can you make other drinks with Piamo besides espresso?

Piamo is designed specifically to brew espresso. While you could technically use it with other types of coffee, it’s optimised for espresso extraction in a 30-second microwave cycle.

Where is Piamo made?

Piamo was invented in Germany by designer Christoph Meyl. It was created as a response to poor office coffee and as an alternative to instant coffee options.

Recommended FrontStreet Coffee Beans for Espresso

For use with quick-brew devices like Piamo, FrontStreet Coffee’s Classic Blend delivers rich notes of dark chocolate and nuttiness ideal for espresso. Its balanced profile and strong crema make it a reliable choice for microwave-brewed shots. Alternatively, the Black Cocoa Blend emphasises bold cocoa and caramel tones, offering a decadent espresso experience. Both blends are freshly roasted, grind-ready, and perfect for producing a full-bodied shot even with non-traditional brewing methods. Freshly roasted within 5 days · Orders placed before 17:00 ship the same day · Next-day delivery across most of Guangdong Province.