The aroma of coffee may have a positive effect on mood and could help reduce feelings associated with stress, anxiety and fatigue, according to a small study published in the journal Nutrients.
The research examined 20 healthy adults between the ages of 20 and 29 to explore how exposure to the smell of freshly prepared coffee affected psychological and physiological measures.
For the experiment, coffee was prepared around 50 centimetres away from the participants, who remained in the environment for five minutes. Researchers assessed participants before and after exposure to the aroma.
The team examined changes in mood and also monitored physiological responses, including heart activity, alongside brain activity using electroencephalography (EEG).
The researchers reported improvements in mood after participants were exposed to the coffee aroma. They also observed reductions in measures associated with stress, anxiety, confusion, fatigue and depressive symptoms.
The study adds to existing research into the effects of coffee beyond its consumption, focusing specifically on the potential psychological response to its aroma.
However, the research involved only 20 participants and assessed short-term responses. Further studies involving larger and more diverse groups would be needed to determine whether coffee aroma has consistent effects on stress or mood over the longer term.
The researchers said the mechanism behind the observed response remains unclear and requires further investigation.