The Coffee Filter Dilemma: Could Your Brewing Method Affect Your Heart?

Coffee lovers, take note: while coffee is often hailed as a health booster, the way you brew it might have more impact on your health than you think.

Research suggests that unfiltered coffee could raise your LDL cholesterol, potentially increasing your risk of cardiovascular disease. The culprit? Diterpenes—a compound found in higher amounts in unfiltered coffee—that can interfere with your body’s ability to manage cholesterol levels.

An extensive observational study involving over 500,000 participants revealed a telling pattern: unfiltered coffee was linked to higher mortality rates, while filtered coffee was associated with a lower risk of death compared to both unfiltered coffee and no coffee at all.

This doesn’t mean you need to swear off unfiltered coffee forever, but if you want to play it safe, make sure most of your coffee passes through a filter. This simple step could help you enjoy your daily brew without the added cardiovascular risk.

One more thing: be cautious with cold brew, as many versions aren’t filtered. So, next time you order that trendy drink, it might be worth double-checking how it’s made.