Coffee Machines in Workplaces May Raise Cholesterol Levels, Study Finds

A recent study by Uppsala University and Chalmers University of Technology has found that coffee from many workplace coffee machines contains high levels of cholesterol-raising compounds. The research, published in Nutrition, Metabolism & Cardiovascular Diseases, highlights the difference between coffee brewed in these machines and coffee made using regular paper filter drip coffee makers. 

Coffee naturally contains diterpenes, such as cafestol and kahweol, which can increase LDL (“bad”) cholesterol. Paper filters in drip coffee makers effectively remove most of these substances. However, workplace coffee machines vary in their ability to filter them out, leading to higher levels of these compounds in the coffee they produce. 

Researchers analyzed coffee from 14 workplace machines, sampling five popular coffee brands multiple times. They found significant differences in diterpene levels between machines and even in different batches from the same machine. The highest concentrations were found in coffee made by brewing machines, the most common type in workplaces. For comparison, the study also examined percolator coffee, espresso, French press, and boiled coffee, with boiled coffee showing the highest diterpene levels. 

Dr. David Iggman, the study’s lead researcher, noted that most workplace coffee contained diterpene levels that could impact cholesterol and cardiovascular health. He recommended that heavy coffee drinkers opt for drip-filtered coffee or other well-filtered brewing methods to minimize cholesterol-related risks. 

If you drink a lot of coffee at work, switching to paper-filtered coffee could be a heart-healthy choice. More research is needed to confirm the exact impact on cholesterol, but choosing the right brewing method may help reduce health risks. 

Read more on this study here.