Your Coffee Habit Could Be Harming—or Helping—Your Heart

Millions of people start their day with a cup of coffee, but not all brewing methods are equal when it comes to health. New research shows that the way coffee is prepared can affect heart disease risk and longevity. A study in the European Heart Journal suggests drinking coffee before noon may lower these risks, while another highlights the dangers of unfiltered brews. The key difference lies in how coffee is filtered. Paper filters trap harmful compounds like cafestol and kahweol, which raise LDL cholesterol. But methods without fine filters—such as French press, espresso, and many workplace machines—let these compounds pass into the cup. These substances are not removed by roasting, grinding, or choosing different beans.

Research published in *Nutrition, Metabolism, and Cardiovascular Diseases* found that switching from metal-filtered machine coffee to paper-filtered drip coffee could lower LDL cholesterol by 0.58 mmol/L. Over time, this change might reduce heart disease risk by 13% in five years and 36% over four decades. The Nordic Nutrition Recommendations already endorse filtered coffee for its health advantages over unfiltered versions. The study also noted that coffee brewed with metal filters in workplace machines contains far higher levels of cafestol and kahweol than paper-filtered options. While filtered coffee is linked to health benefits or neutral effects, unfiltered coffee is associated with higher cholesterol, increased heart disease risk, and earlier mortality.

For a healthier cup, experts recommend using paper filters and avoiding metal-filtered methods like espresso, especially in large amounts. The findings suggest simple changes in brewing habits could lead to long-term health improvements. Filtered coffee remains the safer choice for daily drinkers concerned about heart health.