Le Nez du Café 2025: the updated coffee aroma kit launching at Specialty Coffee Expo

If you’ve ever trained for a Q Grader exam or just wanted to know what people mean when they say “stone fruit” in a cup of coffee, you’ve probably heard of Le Nez du Café. It’s the most respected coffee aroma kit in the world—and for over 25 years, it’s been the go-to tool for teaching people how to identify the complex smells in coffee.

Now, just in time for Specialty Coffee Expo 2025 in Houston (April 25–27), the kit is being re-released in its most ambitious form yet.

And yes, it’s still beautifully French.

The origin of Le Nez du Café

The story begins in Burgundy in 1981, when Jean Lenoir—originally a professor of culture—launched Le Nez du Vin, the first aroma training kit for wine lovers. His idea was to take the often vague, mysterious world of taste and turn it into something teachable and universal. You couldn’t become fluent in flavor if you didn’t have the words for what you were smelling.

A few years later, Lenoir brought that same philosophy to coffee with the launch of Le Nez du Café. Over time, the kit became a staple of sensory training, helping baristas, roasters, and Q Graders build a shared language around taste. Until now, that original kit—36 aromas tucked inside a formal black box—has remained unchanged.

Introducing Le Nez du Café 2025

The 2025 edition of Le Nez du Café is a ground-up reimagining, curated by Jean Lenoir’s daughter, Viva Lenoir, who now leads Éditions Jean Lenoir as Deputy CEO. This new version features 60 expertly formulated aromas, including 16 brand-new ones critical to evaluating Robusta—a meaningful addition at a time when Robusta is being reexamined for quality and climate resilience.

Each aroma now comes with its own reference card explaining the scent’s chemical structure, flavor family, and tasting notes. These cards also feature QR codes linking to deeper educational content—ideal for both structured learning and self-guided discovery.

The entire kit is housed in a travel-friendly aroma atlas, a cloth-bound journal-like design that’s more practical than the original box—but just as elegant. It’s clearly been created with mobility in mind, making it easier to use during training sessions, competitions, and on-the-go cuppings.

Not just for professionals

One of the most remarkable things about the Le Nez du Café 2025 edition is how approachable it is. While it’s still used in Q Grader certification and professional cupping labs, the new version doesn’t assume you’re a certified taster. It assumes you’re curious.

Whether you’re a home brewer trying to figure out what “floral” actually smells like—or a sensory trainer looking to level up your materials—this new edition meets you where you are. It’s a bridge between expertise and exploration.

And at a time when more people are trying to understand coffee beyond taste scores and brew ratios, a tool like this makes the invisible world of aroma feel just a little more tangible.

Try it at Specialty Coffee Expo 2025

If you’re attending the Specialty Coffee Expo in Houston, you can get your hands (and nose) on the new edition before it ships globally. Stop by booth #1438 between April 25–27, 2025, for a full sensory demo and a chance to explore the updated aroma profiles for both Arabica and Robusta coffees.

Can’t make it to Houston? Global distribution begins in July 2025.

For full specs or to preorder, visit the official Le Nez du Café website