Sitting down to enjoy a hot cup of coffee can now be a design-driven event. A clutch of designers from around the world have rethought the process of making and drinking coffee, adding some tongue-in-cheek flair to an otherwise mundane ritual.

Take, for example, the maracas-inspired coffee shaker by Roberto Giacomucci (giacomuccidesign.com). Reminiscent of a cocktail shaker, the sleek metal device, which is currently in prototype phase, is shaped like a small hand-held percussion instrument. Shaking coffee grinds is said to give them extra flavour.

Swiss designer Tomas Kral (tomaskral.ch) has created a limited-edition coffee set for silverware brand Christofle. The ensemble is called Float because the pots for coffee, cream and sugar are placed on a silver tray in such a way that they appear to be hovering.