<p>Yes.  You should remove the lid for maximum effect.  Somewhere around <a href="http://dwb.unl.edu/teacher/nsf/C10/C10Links/ericir.syr.edu/Projects/Newton/11/tstesmll.html">three quarters of our perception of taste comes from smell</a>.  There are varying figures out there, but most are fairly high.  </p>

<p>However, much of that comes from the olfactory sense when the molecules pass from our mouth to our sinuses.  So, having a stuffy nose is more likely to reduce the taste of your coffee than drinking it with the lid on.  That being said, the aroma from brewed coffee tends to dissipate fairly quickly, so you might only need to leave the lid off your cup for the first few minutes of your "coffee experience". </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-02-09T17:35:23.087Z
2015-02-09T17:35:23.087Z
Suspended User
<p>I know that as much of our perception of flavour is down to smell as actual taste. When I get a take-out coffee with a lid, am I losing all of the smell that I would get if I drank it out of an open-topped vessel, and does this affect the taste?</p>

<p>To get the full taste should I remove the lid before drinking it?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-02-09T12:40:20.900Z
@therewillbecoffee I've tried to clear it up a bit, is that better?
fredley
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-02-09T11:55:49.290Z
Your question is unclear. You've asked three questions here:
* When I get a take-out coffee with a lid, am I losing all of the smell that I would get otherwise?
* To get the full effect should I remove the lid before drinking it?
* When drinking a takeaway coffee, am I losing half the flavour?
And it's quite confusing.
qedk
<flavor>
Will coffee taste different from a cup with lid (blocking the smell)?
fredley
# Will coffee taste different from a cup with lid (blocking the smell)?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2015-02-09)

I know that as much of our perception of flavour is down to smell as actual taste. When I get a take-out coffee with a lid, am I losing all of the smell that I would get if I drank it out of an open-topped vessel, and does this affect the taste?

To get the full taste should I remove the lid before drinking it?

**Tags:** flavor

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Your question is unclear. You've asked three questions here: * When I get a take-out coffee with a lid, am I losing all of the smell that I would get otherwise? * To get the full effect should I remove the lid before drinking it? * When drinking a takeaway coffee, am I losing half the flavour? And it's quite confusing.  
> **username_0**: @therewillbecoffee I've tried to clear it up a bit, is that better?  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2015-02-09. Score: 7 | Accepted answer

Yes. You should remove the lid for maximum effect. Somewhere around [three quarters of our perception of taste comes from smell](http://dwb.unl.edu/teacher/nsf/C10/C10Links/ericir.syr.edu/Projects/Newton/11/tstesmll.html). There are varying figures out there, but most are fairly high.

However, much of that comes from the olfactory sense when the molecules pass from our mouth to our sinuses. So, having a stuffy nose is more likely to reduce the taste of your coffee than drinking it with the lid on. That being said, the aroma from brewed coffee tends to dissipate fairly quickly, so you might only need to leave the lid off your cup for the first few minutes of your "coffee experience".


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