First espresso machine in space

In May 2015, an experimental espresso machine was delivered to the International Space Station. Dubbed “ISSpresso”, it was developed by coffee manufacturer Lavazza and engineering firm Argotec (both Italy), in collaboration with the Italian Space Agency (ASI). Astronauts drink the hot beverage, generated from coffee capsules, out of a 3D-printed plastic cup specially designed to work in zero gravity.

On 3 May 2015, at 12:44 GMT, astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti (Italy) became the first person to sample an espresso from the machine. She posted a photo of herself sipping the fresh brew on Twitter, having donned a Star Trek uniform for the occasion. Her tweet – “‘Coffee: the finest organic suspension ever devised.’ Fresh espresso in the new Zero-G cup! To boldly brew…” – also referenced Star Trek. As of January 2015, Cristoforetti also hold the record for the longest continuous spaceflight by a woman, having spent nearly 200 hours in space on the International Space Station between November 2014 and June 2015.

The act of brewing up an espresso in space also fulfilled a more serious scientific purpose. “Until Sunday, we didn’t know exactly how hot fluid under high pressure reacted” within the space station’s zero-gravity environment, stated Roberto Battiston, president of ASI. “Now we do.”