TIME Space Exploration

The International Space Station Is Getting an Espresso Machine

The lattes will be out of this world

The International Space Station is 240 miles above earth, but that doesn’t mean astronauts don’t have a hard time getting up in the morning — after all, they can make a run to the stars, but not a run to the Starbucks.

But the ISS is about to get a little caffeinated pep in its one-small-step-for-man, in the form of ISSpresso, its very own, customized espresso machine. Italian coffee brand Lavazza teamed up with aerospace engineering company Argotec to design the device, which will be the first machine designed to withstand travel when it arrives at the space station later this year as a part of the Italian Space Agency’s Futura Mission.

When it connects, astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti won’t just become the first Italian woman in space — she’ll likely be the first person in space to sip an Italian espresso.

We’re getting an espresso machine on the SPACE STATION! And we’re calling it ISSpresso http://t.co/jUVmEMXSFj pic.twitter.com/CEQJN1YfZo

— ISS Research (@ISS_Research) June 15, 2014

Tap to read full story

Your browser is out of date. Please update your browser at http://update.microsoft.com


YOU BROKE TIME.COM!

Dear TIME Reader,

As a regular visitor to TIME.com, we are sure you enjoy all the great journalism created by our editors and reporters. Great journalism has great value, and it costs money to make it. One of the main ways we cover our costs is through advertising.

The use of software that blocks ads limits our ability to provide you with the journalism you enjoy. Consider turning your Ad Blocker off so that we can continue to provide the world class journalism you have become accustomed to.

The TIME Team