Those single-serving capsule coffee machines have become wildly popular in the last few years, but the waste they produce is a big problem. Designers Nikolaus Schwarz, Stefan Riegebauer and Florian Kainz of creative group DNA Australia developed Il Tiro as an antidote to those trash-producing one-shot coffee makers: the espresso gun.
The espresso gun works by fitting into a base unit where beans are ground up and then tamped into the grounds chambers. A separate water chamber in the “gun” keeps the ingredients separate until the user is ready for a hot, fresh cuppa.
Once the user pulls the trigger, hot water is moved into the coffee chamber, brewing a fresh shot of espresso. The coffee then pours out and into the waiting cup.
l Tiro is able to produce espresso in demand with virtually no waste other than the coffee grounds themselves, which can easily be recycled in a garden. Of course, most counter top espresso machines allow you to brew one shot at a time with less hassle, so we can’t say for certain that this device would be a better choice for coffee lovers – but you sure will look cool using it.
