Coming in from a damp November walk, hanging up a coat and wrapping cold fingers around a favourite mug can feel extremely comforting. Then there is the smell: ground coffee beans, your favourite brew steeping in hot water, that familiar aroma filling the kitchen before the first sip.
This offers an ideal opportunity for hygge, the Danish idea of enjoying everyday comfort, warmth and togetherness. A good coffee, a comfortable chair and an unhurried conversation offer a simple way to embrace the season. And recent research suggests that coffee’s aroma deserves a little attention of its own.
A study published this September in the journal Nutrients explored what happened when twenty healthy adults in their twenties smelled coffee for five minutes without drinking it. Afterwards, participants reported less fatigue, tension, confusion and low mood. Researchers also recorded an increase in a measure of brain activity associated with relaxation. It is an intriguing finding, albeit with some limitations. There was no comparison group, so we cannot tell how much of the change came from coffee’s aroma and how much from simply pausing quietly. What it does offer is a reason to be curious about a moment in our day that many of us already enjoy. So why not use this knowledge to our advantage? While the coffee brews notice the aroma, the warmth and the anticipation. Recognise that making a drink can be a small interval in the day, rather than another task completed while doing three other things.
Coffee already has an interesting and well-established health story. Research has repeatedly linked coffee consumption with lower risks of several conditions, including type 2 diabetes and liver disease, alongside lower overall mortality. Much of this evidence comes from observational studies which show associations, rather than proving that coffee causes better health. Nevertheless, the overall picture is reassuring for many of us who enjoy it.
Coffee is chemically complex. Alongside caffeine, it contains plant compounds including chlorogenic acids, part of the polyphenol family. These compounds are among the possible contributors to its health associations. Interestingly, both caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee have been associated with a lower risk of type 2 diabetes, suggesting that caffeine alone cannot explain the findings.
Caffeine itself deserves some credit too. In moderate amounts, it can increase alertness, improve attention and reduce sleepiness, helping us concentrate on the task at hand. It can also support exercise performance, particularly endurance, and make physical effort feel less demanding. For those who tolerate it well, the familiar lift from a cup of coffee can therefore offer benefits for both mental focus and physical activity.
Of course, a comforting coffee should suit the person drinking it. Caffeine can disturb sleep, and even relatively modest amounts near bedtime affect some folk, though people vary enormously in this respect. Decaf offers a way to enjoy the ritual – whilst retaining many of the health benefits – while reducing caffeine intake.
This interest in what lies within the bean brings me to Exhale, a British coffee company whose approach centres on sourcing and roasting organic coffee with attention to its polyphenol content. The company publishes independent laboratory testing for compounds including chlorogenic acids and total polyphenols, alongside testing for selected contaminants. It is an appealing example of looking beyond caffeine when considering what makes a good cup and intentionally seeking to preserve coffee’s beneficial compounds.
We can appreciate the health research and still simply enjoy our coffee for its flavour, its fragrance and the moment it creates. However, recognising that coffee has so many health benefits can only enhance our enjoyment. This November, enjoy your coffee after a morning walk, beside a rain-streaked window or across the table from someone whose company you treasure. Let its warmth register. Notice its aroma before taking that first sip. Some of the pleasures that help us embrace the colder months are wonderfully ordinary. A good cup of coffee gives us one of them.
For more about Exhale and my referral offer of 50% off your first subscription order, please visit my home page.
Originally published in Sherborne Times November 2026