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How To Make Espresso In Space

Posted by timothy on from the they-finally-saw-airplane-II dept.

In a story that's sure to bring to the surface the long-debunked myth of an over-elaborate NASA quest to create a pen to operate in space, Wired reports that the coffee situation aboard the International Space Station is about to improve: the station will be getting a 20kg, custom designed Lavazza espresso machine, to be delivered along with Italian astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti. Among other differences from terrestrial espresso machines: the resulting beverage must be pumped into a straw-friendly bag rather than a demitasse. I wonder if there could be some way to adapt a (much lighter) Aeropress for space purposes, as a backup.

7 of 192 comments (clear)

  1. Putting the "Star" in Starbucks... by __aajfby9338 · · Score: 4, Funny

    Now I want a machine that can make an iced latte in zero G.

    1. Re:Putting the "Star" in Starbucks... by quenda · · Score: 4, Interesting

      Last I heard, it cost around $20k/kg to lift cargo to orbit. Add in the extra weight of beans vs instant, and the world will finally see (albeit from a distance) coffee even more overpriced than Starbucks'.

  2. Short black with one by aXis100 · · Score: 4, Interesting

    How do they add sugar!!!

    Look, I love coffee as much as the next guy but when they are replacing 20kg of scientific payload with a 20kg coffee machine (plus the pods and waste management), they might have their priorities a little skewed. If they'd spent the money on produging a better freeze dried espresso, all of humanity could benefit.

    1. Re:Short black with one by M8e · · Score: 4, Funny

      And I, for one, welcome our new insect overlords!

    2. Re:Short black with one by TapeCutter · · Score: 4, Funny

      Instead they add this thing called "creamer" for which I have no idea how it relates to a cow.

      I'm an Aussie, many moons ago I was in a bar in Amsterdam talking to a Dutch guy and a bloke from Chicago. The American asked "What's wrong with the milk over here, it goes off after 3-4 days in the fridge?", the dutchman and I nearly died laughing.

      --
      And did you exchange a walk on part in the war for a lead role in a cage? - Pink Floyd.
  3. Seems kinda extravagant by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    " to be delivered along with Italian astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti " it requires a barista?

  4. Re:yuck epresso by Opportunist · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I never got the whole syrup thing. Coffee needs no flavoring. It has a flavor already. Its flavor is called COFFEE.

    --
    We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.