Coffee lovers were treated to a unique sensory experience at a London gallery today, where an interactive art exhibition explored how coffee affects brain activity.
The exclusive one-day event, ‘Art of the Espresso’, took place at Gallery Different on October 8 and invited visitors to enjoy a freshly brewed coffee while creating a personalised piece of art, using their own brainwaves. Visitors wore electroencephalogram (EEG) headsets, typically used in scientific research, to monitor their brain activity as they engaged with coffee through sight, smell, touch, and taste.
The brain patterns were then transformed into bespoke artworks for guests to take home, offering a visual celebration of the UK’s favourite morning ritual.
The pop-up marked the launch of Breville’s new Barista Series coffee machines, including the Slimline, Classic, and Sense models.
Food anthropologist Caroline Hobkinson, who helped interpret the brainwave data, said:"Coffee is a deeply personal ritual. The sheer anticipation, the smell and the final much longed-for sip create mesmerising brain signatures that are completely personal.
"I've transformed these into visualisations, depicting glowing streams of liquid energy, capturing the sensation of stimulation as it spreads through the brain."
The exhibition follows new research from Breville, which surveyed 2,000 coffee drinkers and found that nearly a quarter (23%) say they can’t function without their morning brew.
One in ten admitted they won’t utter a word to anyone until they’ve had their first sip, while others refuse to tackle breakfast, shower, check emails, or make decisions until they’ve had their coffee. Some even avoid smiling or kissing their partner before their caffeine fix.
The survey also revealed that two-thirds of respondents lack the confidence to brew the perfect cup at home, citing a lack of equipment, quality beans, or time.
As a result, 53% opt for takeaway coffee, buying an average of three cups a week and spending around £11.22, adding up to £583 per year.
For a third of those surveyed, when coffee is made just right, “it’s like art.”
A spokesperson for Breville, whose new range of machines which is designed to produce café-quality coffee at home is available now, said: "Coffee isn't just a drink - it's the spark that powers the nation's mornings.
"Today's unique café experience shows the hidden magic behind that first sip, and how the right machine can bring that joy into kitchens every day."
TOP 10 FAVOURITE TYPES OF COFFEE:
- Cappuccino
- Latte
- Americano
- Flat White
- Espresso
- Filter with milk
- Iced Coffee
- Mocha
- Iced Latte
- Macchiato
