Astronauts on the International Space Station Can Now Enjoy Espresso

[Perspicuo]

Astronauts on the International Space Station Can Now Enjoy Espresso
http://time.com/3610426/italy-espresso-international-space-station/

The Italian engineered 'ISSpresso' can be sipped through a straw

If the only thing keeping you from joining the space program was a lack of decent coffee outside Earth’s orbit, you no longer have that excuse.

Well, we should be grateful Italy is on our side These things are important, BTW!

All we need is for France to get involved with some cabernet sauvignon, and they're all set for a months-long trip to Mars!

 

[Loren Pechtel]

Astronauts on the International Space Station Can Now Enjoy Espresso
http://time.com/3610426/italy-espresso-international-space-station/

The Italian engineered 'ISSpresso' can be sipped through a straw

If the only thing keeping you from joining the space program was a lack of decent coffee outside Earth’s orbit, you no longer have that excuse.

View attachment 1669

Well, we should be grateful Italy is on our side These things are important, BTW!

All we need is for France to get involved with some cabernet sauvignon, and they're all set for a months-long trip to Mars!

And why do you assume that it must be good coffee if it's espresso?

 

[bilby]

Astronauts on the International Space Station Can Now Enjoy Espresso
http://time.com/3610426/italy-espresso-international-space-station/


View attachment 1669

Well, we should be grateful Italy is on our side These things are important, BTW!

All we need is for France to get involved with some cabernet sauvignon, and they're all set for a months-long trip to Mars!

And why do you assume that it must be good coffee if it's espresso?

I think the assumption is rather that it definitely isn't good coffee if it is the freeze-dried instant crap that was previously the only option on the ISS.

Probably the biggest issue with infused drinks on the ISS is that due to the low pressure, you cannot infuse the grounds or leaves at 100C or higher in any vessel that is not specifically designed to work at ambient pressure.

An espresso machine on Earth works at a significant overpressure; presumably the same is true of this contraption, in which case it may well produce dramatically better results than could previously be obtained in space - and any attempt at improvement has be be a good thing for morale.

I imagine that an overpressure device operating at ~1 atmosphere for a few minutes of mashing would also be needed to make a decent cup of tea in space. The English are notorious for putting up with hardships - British Rail got away with selling 'tea' that was beyond vile for several decades - so no doubt the handful of British astronauts who have visited the ISS have done little to lobby for tea making facilities that work; However with the rise of both Indian and Chinese manned space-flight, I think it is likely that proper tea-making facilities in space are not too far off.

 

[DBT]

And why do you assume that it must be good coffee if it's espresso?

Proven in business. Proven in practice. How many customers would go to a cafe and order an instant coffee (Bogan dust) rather than an espresso?