For sheer "neato" factor, it doesn’t get much cooler than Caldo Caldo — or hotter, as the case may be.

These tiny, sealed plastic cups, imported from Italy, are unassuming enough. But press in once on the bottom (or, if you’d rather, premere il fondo), shake upside-down for 40 seconds (agitare per 40 secondi), and — presto! — one hot beverage, ready to drink.

We’re not quite sure how the mechanics work (we’ll hazard a guess that it has to do with something like activated charcoal concealed in the hollows of the cup itself), but we do know that it’s wicked nifty.

And while the actual amount of sweetened black espresso is hardly more than a few sips, a demitasse is all you’ll need for that quick caffeine kick.

Available for $4.99 for two 40-ml cups at Dairy Fresh Candies, 57 Salem Street, Boston. Hot-chocolate and tea-with-lemon varieties are also available. Call (617) 336-5536.