CRI听力:Barista Style Coffee Blasts off to Space

Italy's century-old coffee firm Lavazza has teamed up with a Turin-based engineering company, Argotec, along with the Italian Space Agency, to improve coffee conditions aboard the orbiting outpost.

Argotec Managing Director David Avino.

"The concept of this machine was for an experiment, so we started as a technology demonstration experiment but NASA was very much interested in getting this machine, in keeping most likely this machine for a long time - so not only for making a few coffees, but actually for keeping it on the station."

Engineers have replaced the typical plastic tubing in the espresso machine with steel.

The machine also has buttons and switches similar to those already on-use in the space station to allow the astronauts to feel familiar with the design.

Marcello Arcangeli is with Lavazza.

"We are very proud, not only as Italians but also as residents of Turin - the first espresso machine was created in Turin in 1884, so about 130 years ago. And today in 2014, another two Turin based realities - Lavazza and Argotec - developed a machine that will bring espresso - not only across the world, but even in space."

The ISSpresso is designed to operate at the same temperature and pressure as Earth-bound espresso makers, which the creators say will ensure the same taste and flavor.

Alberto Cabilli is the Food Technology Research and Development Manager with Lavazza.

"(We had to figure out) how to make coffee on the station exactly like we make it on earth. The other difficulty consisted in respecting safety measures in order to qualify the machine as 'On-Board software' on the International Space Station."

ISSpresso has arrived at the International Space Station with 20 coffee capsules.

Extra packets will be re-supplied to the six-member crew, provided they're satisfied with the machine.

A Russian capsule carrying three astronauts, including Italy's first female astronaut, arrived at the International Space Station on Monday.