Coffee

Space espresso for space tourists or using re-entry heat to roast coffee beans for Earth.

Updated: 2024-02-24

Created: 2018-11-01

Status

ISSpresso was sent to the International Space Station (ISS) in 2015 and is used to make coffee, tea and other hot beverages.1

Space Roasters announced plan in early 2019 to use re-entry heat to roast coffee beans. 4

Applications

  • Hot beverages for astronauts and space tourists.
  • Provide the comforts of home.
  • Could lead to new or improved brewing methods and techniques on Earth.
  • Popularize microgravity applications.
  • Roasting coffee beans in space for more even heat transfer.

Why & Solution

Crew members on long-duration space missions frequently miss the comforts of home, from favorite meals to a fresh cup of coffee. ISSpresso is not much larger than a typical Earth-based espresso machine, and produces espresso, broth or tea.1

ISSpresso is the first capsule-based espresso system able to work in the microgravity and extreme conditions of space.
Argotec and Lavazza worked together with the Italian Space Agency (ASI), in a public-private partnership, to bring the authentic Italian espresso into the International Space Station (ISS).2

Argotec has already patented innovative technologies capable of eliminating the coffee and water deposits generated by machines on Earth, thus reducing water waste by up to 30%. ISSpresso as an onboard system of the Space Station and no longer an Italian experiment. It will remain on the Station and the resources needed to keep it operational will be provided by NASA.3

ISSpresso on the International Space Station.
Link

Companies

Argotec with Lavazza, Italian Space Agency (ASI)

Argotec page at Factories in Space

Today, we enable companies to extend their horizons to Space. Tomorrow, we will empower everyone to live beyond our Planet and make Space their place.

ISSPRESSO

Public-private partnership to bring the authentic Italian espresso into the International Space Station (ISS).

In fact, the crew has successfully tested the capsule-based espresso machine ISSpresso created by Argotec for Lavazza — in a partnership with the Italian Space Agency (ASI) — which on 3 May 2015, during the Italian Futura mission, allowed Samantha Cristoforetti to drink the first espresso in micro-gravity conditions inhistory.

Paolo Nespoli also successfully tested ISSpresso on September 30, 2017, during International Coffee Day, for a very relaxing coffee break in space.


Space Roasters

Space Roasters page at Factories in Space

Using re-entry heat to roast coffee beans on a suborbital flight.

Space Roasters is an aerospace company specializing in delivering an out-of-this-world experience to our customers. We offer the opportunity to drink a cup of coffee whose beans have been roasted by the re-entry heat of the Earth’s atmosphere. Our patented technology allows for the beans to be evenly roasted to perfection by mitigating the effects of gravity.


Earthly Solution Risk

Brewed in space and will be consumed in space.

References

  1. ISSpresso (ISSpresso) - 02.07.18. Accessed 2018-11-27. Source

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  2. Argotec ISSpresso. Accessed 2018-11-27. Source

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  3. "Coffee in Space" - ISSpresso successfully completes the mission". Published 2018-01-08. Accessed 2018-11-27. Source

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  4. This company wants to use reentry heating to roast coffee beans. Published 2019-01-28. Accessed 2019-01-29. Source

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