The machine, dubbed the ISSpresso, will be delivered to astronauts in November

Jun 17, 2014 12:09 GMT  ·  By
The International Space Station is getting its first, custom-made coffee machine
   The International Space Station is getting its first, custom-made coffee machine

In just a few months, astronauts aboard the International Space Station will finally be able to enjoy a nice cup of coffee or, as some like to call it, the gods' most wondrous gift to humanity.

Thus, media reports say that, come November, the International Space Station will get its very first espresso machine, which astronauts will use to brew their own hot coffee.

Mind you, the problem is not that caffeine availability is an issue in space. If this were the case, chances are no astronaut in their right mind would have ever agreed to spend even one day aboard the Station.

On the contrary, Space tells us that what astronauts are unhappy about is the fact that, over the past 13 years, the only coffee that they have been able to enjoy while in space is instant one, which is sort of like actual coffee but not quite.

The espresso machine that is expected to be delivered to the International Space Station this coming November is dubbed ISSpresso, and no, this is not because its makers, Lavazza and the Argotec aerospace company, can't spell.

Thus, the coffee machine owes its name to the fact that, when shortened, the International Space Station is referred to as the ISS. Simply put, astronauts will not only get a coffee machine, they will get one that has been custom made for them.

Interestingly enough, the coffee machine will not serve to get astronauts intoxicated with the divine aroma of a freshly brewed cup of coffee. In a nutshell, the machine is expected to also make it easier for space explorers to feel at ease and at home.

“[The ISSpresso will be] a venue for getting together, chatting and relaxing: an aspect that should not be ignored in missions that keep the astronauts away from home for many months in a challenging environment,” explains Giuseppe Lavazza.

Besides, the machine will help make sure that astronauts eat a healthy and varied diet and will also make it possible for folks aboard the International Space Station to gain a better understanding of how various liquids are affected by microgravity.

Commenting on this initiative, Giuseppe Lavazza says, “Today we are in a position to overcome the limits of weightlessness and enjoy a good espresso – the indisputable symbol of made in Italy products – on board the International Space Station.”

“ISSpresso is a technological challenge that meets very stringent requirements in terms of technical functionality and safety,” David Avino, the current managing director of the Arogtec space company, wishes to stress.