Decoding the secret: Why is coffee shop 'better' than coffee at home?

To enjoy a cup of morning coffee, some people have the habit of making it at home, but many people prefer to sip their morning coffee at a cafe.

Here, experts explain why many people prefer sipping coffee at a cafe rather than at home.

Why does coffee taste better when someone makes it for you?

Coffee flavor is a perception, but this can be influenced by internal and external factors, explains Dr. Gail Saltz, associate professor of clinical psychiatry at Weill-Cornell Medical School at New York Presbyterian Hospital (USA).

While it technically doesn't taste that special if someone else makes it for you (unless their brewing technique is actually better than yours), it feels great to have someone do something for you, explains Aaron Brinen, PhD, an associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

Many people prefer to sip coffee at a cafe than at home.

Photo: AI

Dr Brinen says the act of having someone else make your coffee can cause your brain to release “happy hormones” like serotonin – which makes you feel good about sipping your coffee. He points out that this can affect your perception of taste, according to Well And Good.

Dr. Brinen said he has experienced this, saying: "Even if I have made my own cup of coffee, if my wife makes me another cup, I still find it to be better than the coffee I make."

Drinking coffee made by someone else at a coffee shop has a similar effect, says psychologist Thea Gallagher, PhD, an associate clinical professor at New York University School of Medicine. You get a little bit of the “happy hormone” dopamine, she explains. Even if the coffee is the same as at home, you still feel like you’re giving yourself a treat, says Dr. Gallagher.

Not everyone finds coffee brewed by someone else better, but...

Still, Dr. Saltz says, not everyone finds coffee made by someone else to taste better. But for those who consider having someone else make their coffee a treat, a show of love and care, or something special, it can enhance their perception of the coffee's flavor.

According to Dr. Saltz, many people view drinking coffee as a time to relax, and not having to make your own coffee can make the cup taste better.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/giai-ma-bi-mat-tai-sao-ca-phe-quan-ngon-hon-ca-phe-nha-185250606232812901.htm