Technologies are generally described herein for multistage thermal flow devices and methods effective to transfer thermal energy between a heat source and a heat sink having different surface areas and thermal energy flow characteristics. Some example multistage thermal flow devices may include multiple stages of heat transfer pumps utilizing electrocaloric effect material with thermal collection devices between stages. The heat flux associated with heat transfer pumps of consecutive stages may increase to concentrate the thermal energy through the multistage thermal flow device or may decrease to diffuse the thermal energy through the multistage thermal flow device.