Like many people, astronauts love their coffee, but the challenges of microgravity alter the way they prepare and enjoy it compared to life on Earth.
Recently, NASA released a brief video showcasing how the astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS) satisfy their caffeine cravings.
To brew their coffee, astronauts utilize a specially designed water dispensing system that sources recycled liquids and moisture from the air. After heating the water, they take a pouch filled with freeze-dried coffee grounds, connect it to the dispenser, and fill it with the hot water. Then they can sip their coffee through a straw—or from a cup, which leads us to an interesting innovation.
The Zero Gravity Coffee Cup
In 2008, astronaut Don Pettit, who is currently aboard the ISS, wanted to enjoy his coffee like everyone else—with a mug. He engineered what would eventually be known as the Zero Gravity coffee cup, visible in the video. For the initial design, Pettit repurposed a piece of plastic from his mission book to create a teardrop-shaped cup. Its unique shape leverages surface tension and physics to keep the liquid in place, even in microgravity.
After several design iterations, the Zero Gravity coffee cup became the first patented product conceived in space.
Now that you know how drinking coffee works in space, you might be curious about how astronauts handle their bathroom needs—a question that often arises. This topic is also covered in the same video.
For further insights into life aboard the ISS, check out the collection of videos produced by visitors to this remarkable floating laboratory over the years.