Which invention aimed to shorten workers' coffee breaks?

The invention designed to shorten workers' coffee breaks is the non-automatic steam-based espresso machine. This innovative machine introduced a more efficient method for brewing coffee quickly, allowing users to prepare espresso in a fraction of the time it took using traditional methods. By utilizing steam pressure, this machine was capable of producing a rich and concentrated coffee beverage rapidly, thus enabling workers to enjoy their coffee in less time than previously required.

While the other choices relate to coffee making in various ways, they do not specifically address the goal of saving time during coffee breaks. The manual espresso machine required more effort and time from the user, while the automatic brewing machine improved convenience overall but did not directly focus on espresso preparation. The pour-over coffee maker, although it can produce a great cup of coffee, typically takes more time and attention compared to the espresso machines designed for speed. Hence, the non-automatic steam-based espresso machine stands out for its direct contribution to reducing the length of coffee breaks in a work environment.