You know how everyone argues about the “best” way to make coffee? Turns out, it actually matters, a lot. Not just for taste, but for your health.
Here’s what nobody tells you: the way you brew your coffee can seriously change how it affects your body. If you love French press, espresso, or boiled coffee, you’re letting oily stuff called diterpenes slide right into your cup. These sneaky compounds can push your bad cholesterol (LDL) way up, sometimes by 30 points in just a few weeks! That’s a big deal for your heart.
But here’s the plot twist: filter your coffee (like with a classic drip machine or pour-over), and those troublemakers get trapped before they reach your mug. You still get all the good stuff, like powerful antioxidants (polyphenols) that fight inflammation and protect your brain, but without the cholesterol spike.
The science is really cool. People who drink filtered coffee live longer on average and have a 20% lower risk of dying from heart problems. Unfiltered coffee? Not so much. And get this: filtered coffee drinkers can have up to a 50% lower risk of dementia. But if you’re pounding eight cups of boiled coffee a day, your dementia risk could actually double.
Espresso fans, don’t panic. Even though it’s unfiltered, moderate espresso drinking (two or three shots a day) seems to do more good than harm, probably because it’s loaded with antioxidants like those powerful polyphenols. Instant coffee lovers, you’re winning too, same heart and brain benefits as filtered coffee.
One quick tip: If your coffee maker runs hot water through plastic, you could be getting a side of microplastics with your brew. Glass or stainless steel pour-over is the move.
In conclusion, if you want your coffee habit to actually help you live longer and think clearer, grab a paper filter. Your heart and brain will thank you. And yes, you can totally share this with your coffee-obsessed friends.
Tom
Links for the science nerds:
CNN
Harvard Health
PubMed
MDPI