Your Coffee May Boost Your Mood Before You Even Drink It

Morning Ritual: Your morning coffee may start working on your mood before the caffeine reaches your bloodstream — or even your lips. New research suggests the smell alone may help you feel calmer.

The Study: Researchers studied 20 healthy adults ages 20 to 29, exposing each person to the aroma of freshly brewed coffee for five minutes. Participants sat about 20 inches from the coffee and breathed normally. Before and after, researchers assessed mood using the Profile of Mood States questionnaire and measured brain activity with EEG and heart rate.

After smelling the coffee, participants showed a significant reduction in overall mood disturbance. Several specific measures also improved: tension and anxiety, fatigue, confusion, and depression/dejection all decreased. Meanwhile, an EEG-based measure of relaxation increased modestly, from about 0.74 to 0.78. Heart rate did not significantly change, and energy levels stayed consistent.

The Takeaway: The finding suggests coffee’s aroma may have a calming effect, as opposed to the jolt of energy we generally associate with coffee.

Keep in Mind: This was a tiny study with no control group, so researchers can’t establish that the aroma itself caused the changes. It may just as well have been the concept of ritual.