Lilliput style coffee pot
One of the news headlines in a couple of the national online newspapers this week focused on something very small.
Just one inch in height to be exact.
What was it? A teeny weeny coffee pot which has been created by an Italian goldsmith called Pietro Marmo.
The little vessel looked like something which had come from Lilliput or has perhaps been borrowed from a doll’s house.
However it is no toy – the clever Mr Marmo has created a coffee maker that is not just a visual treat.
According to reports, it really works. So well, in fact, that it produces a cup of coffee in less than half a minute – 25 seconds to be precise about it.
As well as being pleasing to the eye, the little coffee maker has lots of miniscule but working parts to it.
This includes a heater, coffee pot, along with a gasket and a couple of filters. The coffee pot itself is said to be made of sterling silver.
However, there are of course, limits on the production of coffee from this tiny machine.
Even when it has done its stuff, you are still only likely to get about a tear-drop of coffee for your troubles.
This might be adequate for the average Lilliputian, but you might want to take a trip to your local coffee shop for a full-sized thirst-quenching serving of caffeine.
Apparently, the creator of the coffee pot has now decided to start on other versions of his design, including a gold miniature coffee pot dazzling with tiny gem stones.
Pretty cool. How about doing a distillery next. James