Cafe au nez
The aroma of coffee delights and stimulates us. More importantly, when we wake up, there is nothing more comforting than being greeted by its scent. It is a pleasure for the senses, the taste, and the brain. In fact, a recent study tells us that its scent can motivate us, strengthen our cognitive process, and improve our mood. We have all experienced this, more than once. All you have to do is open the packaging of coffee, whether it’s a box of classic capsules stacked together or these coffee powder sachets. You can feel an indescribable pleasure at the olfactory level. We love its scent, its nuances, and the velvety depth that takes us to warmer and more pleasant places.
These hopeful experiences are nurtured by our noble brain, which is guided by one of the most powerful senses of most human beings: the sense of smell. The scent of coffee travels from the cerebral cortex to the limbic system, then to these wonderful areas, where emotions and memories share the same circuits and pathways. If the aroma of coffee improves our performance, it is not because it gives us strength or a sudden ability. We are only talking about emotions and happiness.
The noses of Cinquième Sens were asked to analyze the aroma of a series of coffees, according to four evaluation phases: freshly ground coffee, infused in hot water, then in the mouth (retro-olfaction).
It’s not easy to go from the swirls of fine perfume, the billowing gusts of Italian bergamot and the faint scent of sandalwood to the aroma of coffee. First inspiration. The smoke is held back, then exhaled. A look in the air, a frown. A second inspiration, this time longer. A moment of silent reflection, the eyes meet in an unspoken way … «That’s what sent the coffee.»
With perseverance, a few familiar notes stand out. The immersion is deep and the concentration palpable. Suddenly, we lift our heads from the grinding jar, the brown snout pinched together and the keen eye: leather, smoky notes and dusty patchouli have been detected! It doesn’t take much for the team to associate the cup with the bottle of Bel Ami; the machine is ready to go…
Once the nose has been exercised, more incongruous facets than others are analyzed: vetiver, pepper, iris, spice, but also burnt rubber, country pâté and fenugreek… Indeed, once the bitterness, its harsh effect and its warm vapours are overcome, coffee can reveal fascinating aromas!
A new experience for Cinquième Sens that enriches its olfactory expertise.
