Agnirva Space Premier League - Expedition #31103: Coffee Among the Stars: How ISSpresso Brought Espresso to the ISS

ISSpresso is more than a clever name — it’s a bold technological experiment that brought authentic Italian espresso into orbit. Developed by Argotec in collaboration with Lavazza and the Italian Space Agency, ISSpresso aimed to study fluid dynamics under microgravity while also improving astronauts’ quality of life. Making coffee in space isn’t as simple as pressing a button. Water behaves differently in microgravity, and pressure systems must be adapted to prevent leaks or malfunction. The ISSpresso machine tackles these challenges with a complex system of steel tubing and capsules that safely brew coffee, enabling astronauts to enjoy a familiar comfort from Earth. Beyond morale, the project also served as a platform for studying the behavior of high-temperature fluids in space and improving the design of onboard appliances. ISSpresso helped refine how we manage pressure, flow, and temperature in microgravity — lessons that will inform everything from space kitchens to life support systems on future missions.

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