Express espresso: Funds sought for coffee maker

Piamo is described on German crowdfunding site Startnext as ‘an alternative for all espresso drinkers, enabling them to get an espresso anywhere a microwave is accessible – at the office, at home and even when travelling.’

Users fill the chamber with water, place ground coffee or an espresso pad inside the filter and connect the two components. The water chamber and filter are stacked, flipped over and attached to the cup before being microwaved for 30 seconds. Piamo can be cleaned by hand or in a dishwasher.

Gemodo Coffee and Lunar Europe are seeking €250,000 ($338,435, £214,390) funding via Startnext. They are also working on other coffee solutions including a cappuccino maker.

Consumers are modifying mass-market products to enhance their functionality. For more, read our Hacktivism microtrend.