Redolence of Coffee

PERSONAL | NOVEMBER 4, 2021

The smell of freshly roasted coffee is one of the most distinct and comforting aromas. For me, the scent released when grinding coffee in the morning signals the start of a new day and encourages a time to slow down during my pour over routine. Coffee’s fragrance is also an essential part of experiencing a good cup of coffee. Smell plays a dominant role in the perception of flavor, and the importance of this sense is reflected in the coffee cupping process where the complex aromatics within a certain roast are assessed multiple times along the way.

The word redolence describes a sweet or agreeable odor that is reminiscent of something else. Encountering a familiar perfume while walking through a busy street may suddenly remind you of a loved one and evoke a feeling of warmth or nostalgia. The sense of smell is processed by parts of the brain associated with emotion and memory, and certain smells can bring to mind a specific time or place we’ve been before.

The smell of coffee is no different and means many things to different people. For some, the fragrance is reminiscent of brief, but pleasant childhood memories watching parents brew coffee in the morning before heading out to work. For others, the scent of roasted coffee is closely tied to memories in local cafes back home, a shared space where we could spend afternoons to pause and be with friends and family.

Coffee can be redolent of ordinary, but deeply personal experiences that encompass not only the coffee, but precious moments and the people we share them with.

Words by Samuel Han