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SPACE

VIDEO: Lavazza to bring coffee to outer space

Following complaints from Italian astronauts about the lack of decent coffee on the job, manufacturer Lavazza has teamed up with an Italian engineering company to send its signature espresso into outer space.

VIDEO: Lavazza to bring coffee to outer space
The coffee, which takes its name from the International Space Station, is called ISSpresso. Photo: Lavazza

During his mission into space last year, Italian astronaut Luca Parmitano famously complained about the lack of good coffee.

While Parmitano may never experience the delight of sipping an espresso in orbit, future astronauts might. On Friday Lavazza announced plans to bring its coffee to the International Space Station.

With the help of Argotec, an Italian engineering company that specializes in the design of aerospace systems, and the Italian Space Agency (ISA), Lavazza has developed a unique capsule-based system adapted to the extreme conditions of space.

The coffee, which takes its name from the International Space Station, is called ISSpresso. Naturally. Astronauts will also have the choice of a caffè lungo as well as other hot beverages.

The manufacturer hopes that their initiative will be up and orbiting by November for the ISA’s second long-term mission, which will see Samantha Cristoforetti become the first Italian woman to go into space. She’ll be able to celebrate with a cup of coffee.

“Our aerospace engineers have designed a new-concept coffeemaker which is safe for the astronauts and able to function in microgravity conditions, also thanks to Lavazza’s experience as a leader in capsule extraction systems,” David Avino, Managing Director of Argotec stated.

Lavazza’s Vice President, Giuseppe Lavazza, said the concept has been brewing in the company’s mind for several years.

“Indeed, as far back as ten years ago we launched the espresso into orbit artistically with the photographs taken by Thierry Le Gouès and our Mission to Espresso calendar, which at the time looked like a work of science fiction but was actually just a vision of the future,” he said.  

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