Astronauts Enjoy 'Out Of This World' Cup Of Coffee
By Edward Cardenas
SOUTHFIELD (CBS Detroit) - Crew members aboard the International Space Station are now getting their caffeine fix from an Italian-made ISSpresso espresso makers.
Italian astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti Sunday became the first person in space to drink an authentic Italian espresso in orbit made from a specially designed espresso maker.
Coffee roaster Lavazza joined to with Italian aerospace engineering company Argotec to design and create an espresso machine which can work in zero-gravity.
"With the successful conclusion of today's experiment, we have completed the challenge we set ourselves almost a year ago when we presented the project, not only overcoming the limits of weightlessness and allowing the astronauts on board the International Space Station to drink excellent espresso coffee, that undisputed symbol of Italian made products, but also improving our knowledge about fluid dynamics," Argotec Managing Director David Avino and Lavazza Group Vice President Giuseppe Lavazza, stated in a release.
Company officials state space station machine uses the same Lavazza coffee capsules used on Earth and deliver "the same quality as an authentic Italian espresso coffee in terms of cream, body, aroma and temperature."
The first drink was shared on Twitter:
Today, @AstroSamantha brewed first espresso on @Space_Station. The #ISSpresso @ISS_Research: http://t.co/sgSwGWwg67 pic.twitter.com/6hRxxORHqv
— NASA (@NASA) May 3, 2015
Previously, astronauts would get their caffeine fix through instant coffee made in a pouch and sipped through a straw. Now those aboard the space station can insert a coffee capsule - similar to a Keuhrig pod - into the specially designed machine which arrived recently at the space station on a supply capsule.
Water is then aspirated and heated before passing through the capsule and into a specially designed cup that allows for drinker's nose to be over the contents and smell the coffee, according to a NASA blog.
The system may also be used for hot drinks including tea, herbal infusions and broth for rehydrating freeze-dried foods, according to company officials.
"The experiment represents an advanced engineering project," Italian Space Agency President Roberto Battiston said in a release. "The result of a partnership between the public and private sectors which has produced innovative solutions that will not only have immediate psychological benefits for astronauts, but also generate an important economic return for Italian industry in the sector, promote its image and establish an advanced technology positioning for future space missions."