Pocket Size Espresso Machine

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By Sean Michael Ragan
Posted 2011/11/27 @ 6:00 am
Category Food & Beverage, Tools

Instructables user urant shows us how to turn some copper pipe fittings, lead-free solder, a plastic syringe, and a few odd bits of hardware into a truly pocket-sized espresso maker, complete with integral alcohol stove and boiler.

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BY Sean Michael Ragan

I am descended from 5,000 generations of tool-using primates. Also, I went to college and stuff. I write for MAKE, serve as Technical Editor for MAKE magazine, and develop original DIY content for Make: Projects.

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8 Responses to Pocket Size Espresso Machine

Anonymous on November 27th, 2011 at 8:22 am said:

Very old school and steampunk-ish. I can imagine seeing something like this in the back of a 19th-century sportsman’s magazine. “Gentleman’s Portable Espresso Outfit: Do not be without one’s proper cup of espresso whilst hunting African elephants and suchlike… Send 48¢ c/o Wentworth & Sons, Bigby Street, London…”

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- Anonymous on November 27th, 2011 at 8:26 am said:
  
  (If you get pulled over with this, they’re going to think its a crack pipe.)
  
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Colin Aubrey on November 27th, 2011 at 9:14 am said:

I like a shot of espresso as much as the next guy, but these days who knows where the copper was made and what it contains…

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- Sean Michael Ragan on November 28th, 2011 at 12:43 pm said:
  
  Wherever it was made, and whatever was on it, it can be cleaned off. Pipe like this carries drinking water all over the world!
  
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Phillip C Reed on November 28th, 2011 at 3:25 am said:

I’d be concerned about lead-based solder.

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- Sean Michael Ragan on November 28th, 2011 at 12:41 pm said:
  
  So would I! Note, however, “lead-free” in the post, above, and in the comments on the linked Instructable. =]
  
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- motormouse on January 20th, 2012 at 3:04 pm said:
  
  use silver solder like jewerly people use, it’s got a higher melting point, but with that small size heating it up enough shouldn’t be *too* hard… I’ve done it on copper pipe as part of a jewelry project.. I suggest some Mapp gas if someone doesn’t have a full torch setup
  
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Phillip C Reed on November 28th, 2011 at 3:27 am said:

[comment deleted by author]

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