A new study from Sweden says the method you use to brew your coffee can affect the amount of cholesterol-elevating substances in your cup, impacting your heart health.
Different ways to brew coffee can net higher or lower levels of two types of diterpenes, lipids known for raising LDL cholesterol: cafestol and kahweol. While previous research has identified some of these differences, the latest study sought to measure specific amounts of diterpenes left behind in typical publicly available coffee machines found in public places.
“Considering how much coffee is consumed in Swedish workplaces, we wanted to get a picture of the content of cholesterol-elevating substances in coffee from these types of machines,” said the study’s lead researcher, David Iggman, of Uppsala University, in a March 21 release.
To conduct the study, the team of researchers assessed brews made by 14 types of coffee machines, as well as other preparation methods like an espresso maker, French press, boiling method (Turkish coffee), and boiled coffee poured through a fabric filter.
The highest levels of diterpenes were found in boiled coffee. Espresso samples also showed elevated levels, though the results varied widely between samples. Brewing machines were found to have the third highest level, followed by percolators, French presses, and finally, paper-filtered coffee with the lowest level of diterpenes.
While some brewing methods were found to be worse than others, Iggman said all methods resulted in levels of diterpenes that can theoretically impact LDL cholesterol and harm cardiovascular health.
“For people who drink a lot of coffee every day, it’s clear that drip-filter coffee, or other well-filtered coffee, is preferable. To determine the precise effects on LDL cholesterol levels, we would need to conduct a controlled study of subjects who would drink the coffee,” said Iggman.
Still, the study authors concluded that, given the results, thoroughly filtered coffee appears to be the healthiest choice for reducing cardiovascular disease risk.
The researchers say that by replacing three cups of machine coffee with paper-filtered coffee five days a week, LDL cholesterol could be slashed by an estimated 13% over five years and 36% over forty years.
However, not all prior research on coffee has found it harmful to heart health. A study from 2023 detailed in The Dallas Express found that coffee consumption was not linked to cardiac risk, nor did it find that drinking the beverage resulted in an abnormal heartbeat pattern called atrial fibrillation.