Italian companies Lavazza and Argotec have joined together to create an expresso system that will be able to travel into space and deliver good expresso to the astronauts at the International Space Station (ISS).
Named ISSpresso for obvious reasons, this machine has been adapted to survive the extreme conditions of space. Just a few of the adaptations made to the machine to prepare it for space include a special method for drinking that allows astronauts to use some sort of mug without the expresso floating around, and steel tubing that can resist an amazing amount of pressure, as reported by Nature World News.
While this invention might seem like an unnecessary extravagance, for the astronauts at the ISS, it is sure to be an unexpected treat. In a release put out by Lavazza, managing director of Argotec David Avino stated, “Food provides an important psychological support and being able to enjoy a good Italian espresso may be just the right way to finish off the menu designed especially for each astronaut, helping him or her to feel closer to home.”
The expresso machine will possibly be sent up to the ISS with Italian astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti according to the same release.
Check out this video about the ISSpresso: