credits: https://it.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:ISS-43_Samantha_Cristoforetti_drinks_coffee_in_the_Cupola.jpg

Coffee is much more than just a drink; it is a ritual, a pleasure shared by people worldwide. However, when it comes to preparing and enjoying good coffee in space, things get complicated.

Have you ever wondered if astronauts can also enjoy this drink during their missions? The answer is yes, and their solution for doing it seems quite simple.

The importance of coffee for astronauts

Astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti has revealed the secret of how to satisfy a coffee craving in space. In a tutorial published on TikTok, she showed the process of preparing and enjoying a gravity-free espresso. A gesture that for us on Earth is ordinary, but becomes a complex undertaking in space. The answer is yes, and their solution for doing for doing it seems quite simple and clever.

The characteristics of a gravity-free cup

Imagine the challenge of drinking coffee without gravity. This is where the “Space Cup” comes in, the special cup designed to overcome the lack of gravity. This cup takes on a unique shape that allows the coffee to flow by capillarity, enabling astronauts to enjoy their beloved espresso without the annoying problem of zero gravity.

The experiments in fluid dynamics, the pleasure and value of espresso

The idea behind this cup is amazing: using the principles of fluid dynamics, the coffee is ‘piped’ to the astronaut, ensuring that he can enjoy it without any problems. This is not just a scientific exercise, but a way of preserving one of life’s little pleasures even in space.

Coffee, with its cultural and social importance, is not just a drink. It is a ritual that transcends the barriers of gravity. Thanks to ingenuous inventions like the Space Cup, astronauts can enjoy a moment of comfort and normality amidst the inscrutable emptiness of space.