A study says unfiltered coffee like Espresso can spike your “bad,” cholesterol and lead to heart disease.
What is unfiltered compared to filtered Brew?
Unfiltered coffee is coffee brewed without using a paper filter. The paper filter is a very efficient barrier in capturing extra grinds and bad oils of coffee called diterpenes and can be thrown out after each brew. Standard Drip Coffee makers use a disposable paper filter, as do coffee pods and K-cups capturing 99 % of oils that raise cholesterol.
Unfiltered coffee includes coffee brewed without a paper filter like espresso makers, French presses with metal filters, and brewing machines that employ boiling techniques. Ironically, the cleaner the non-paper filters the more oils or diterpenes are released into the coffee brew as “dirtier,” filters seem to catch the oils and grinds better.
The way diterpenes or oils work to boost cholesterol is a cup of coffee rich in oils and bottom grinds goes to our gut and travels to the liver. The liver detoxifies the fats into cholesterol then gets rid of the “bad” cholesterol in bile (waste) that leaves our body. Unfortunately, the oils or diterpenes slows down the removal of bile or liver detoxification and cholesterol starts to build up.
How can Coffee raise Cholesterol?
National Coffee Association says 2 out of every 3 Americans drink coffee almost every day. It’s an all-time favorite beverage linked to good heart and healthy outcomes especially when brewed right. A recent study out of European Journal of Cardiology found that unfiltered brew was associated with a greater risk of dying. Interestingly, those who drank filtered coffee brews did better than those who did not drink coffee at all.
About 40 % of coffee brewed in the U.S. is unfiltered and the rest filtered (usually made in Drip Coffee makers). In countries like Scandinavia there is a deep tradition in “boiling,” coarsely ground coffee directly in hot water called Kokekaffe. Classic Italian, Spanish, American and French Espresso are brewed unfiltered or without paper filters. The fine grounds pass through a metal filter (no barrier) with the oils, and small coffee grounds ending up in the cup of Joe during the brew.
Turkish and Greek coffee is traditional unfiltered coffee, boiled in a special container with the grounds left to settle in the bottom creating a rich brew with froth on top. Some coffee lovers say the difference is in the “oils,” that adds a special rich taste.
What is the impact on LDL by drinking unfiltered coffee?
There have been only a handful of studies but drinking 4 to 6 cups of unfiltered coffee may raise the “bad,” cholesterol or LDL by 9 to 14 % or by as much as 15 mg/dl or points. Heavy consumption or 5 to 8 cups of boiled or French press coffee can spike cholesterol by 30 points over time. Espresso also has a moderate rise in cholesterol levels.
Paper filters used with the traditional Drip Coffee makers, k-cups or pods have been linked to better heart outcomes as trap the oils and can be discarded. The good news is switching from unfiltered to filtered brew can reverse the effects of high cholesterol within a few weeks.
Any final advice on filtered Coffee?
Coffee is one of the world’s most popular beverage with worldwide consumption of over 2.25 billion cups of coffee enjoyed every day with more people brewing coffee at home. It is loaded with good antioxidants, magnesium and potassium and when consumed on a regular basis and in moderation (no more than 5 cups daily) it’s linked to good health and lower cholesterol, and when a paper filter is used is excellent in removing the “oily,” particles that spike cholesterol.
So, enjoy your filtered Drip brew, K-cups, and coffee pods and even the occasional Espresso or Espresso martini (there are special paper filters that can be used) as filtered brew has better health and heart outcomes. And when you drink your cup of Joe the time of the day matters with better heart benefits in people who drink coffee earlier in the day. It’s important to also limit the extra stuff we add to our brew like cream, syrups, milk and ever popular “butter,” (for the keto effect) or trendy “bulletproof,” coffee.
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