ISS astronauts to brew coffee in space

The wait for a cup of coffee for astronauts at the International Space Station (ISS) - 435 km above in the sky - will soon be over.

Italian astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti is all set to take an "ISSpresso" machine to the ISS this November, courtesy the Italian Space Agency (ISA).

"ISSpresso", made by global coffee company Lavazza with engineering firm Argotec, is the first  coffee machine able to work in micro gravity on the ISS. The machine uses a normal Lavazza coffee capsule that is posted on top of the machine.

Water is aspirated and pressurised in a unique electrical system and is then heated. The granules mix with the hot water and the coffee is piped into a pouch.

It is securely fastened to the machine using a "rapid coupling/uncoupling system". Astronauts drink the coffee straight from the pouch using a straw, media reports said.

"ISSpresso represents a technologically high-value project which will help improve our  understanding of the principles of fluid dynamics and conditions in micro gravity," Giuseppe Lavazza, vice president of Lavazza, was quoted as saying.