Abstract: There is provided an apparatus for making espresso coffee comprising: a cylinder defining a cavity for receiving a liquid; a plunger axially slidable within the cavity between an inserted position and a retracted position; and an actuator comprising a biasing member for biasing the plunger towards the inserted position, wherein the actuator is adapted to change a configuration of the apparatus from a resting configuration to an actuation configuration, and wherein: in the resting configuration the plunger is at the inserted position and the biasing member exerts a minimum biasing force on the plunger; and in the actuation configuration the plunger is at the retracted position and the biasing member exerts a maximum biasing force on the plunger.

Abstract: An apparatus for making espresso coffee is described. The apparatus comprises a support frame (2) upon which an open-topped cylinder (3) is vertically mounted. A pot containing a quantity of ground coffee may be attached to the base of the cylinder, and the frame (2) and cylinder (3) provide sufficient space to insert a cup or cups below the pot. A piston with a piston head (22) is adapted to fit in the cylinder (3) and a pair of levers (6, 7) pivoted to the frame and pivotally linked to the piston enable the piston head to move up and down in the cylinder (3) by actuation of the levers (6, 7). In use, hot water is poured into the cylinder (3) and downward pressure on the levers (6, 7) expels the hot water under pressure through the ground coffee and the freshly made coffee passes out of an outlet in the base of the pot and into a waiting cup.