If you love to drink coffee like I do, you may have heard that regular coffee drinkers tend to have higher cholesterol levels than those who do not partake. Well, research has shown that there are certain methods of brewing coffee that have a more negative effect on your cholesterol level than others.
Many coffee connoisseurs prefer the taste of French press coffee to other methods. Rather than using a paper filter, a French press uses a metal mesh to filter the coffee grounds from the liquid. This method of filtering allows more of the natural oil from coffee beans to pass through to the final product, giving the taste more depth and complexity.
Coffee brewed without a paper filter may pose a risk of higher cholesterol levels
It turns out that the use of the paper filter during the brewing process is beneficial to health because it not only filters the coffee grounds, but it also removes a substance called cafestol which raises cholesterol levels in people who consume it.
The cafestol is an alcohol that is contained in coffee oils which is partially absorbed by the paper filters. In coffee brewing methods that do not utilize a paper filter, such as espresso and the French press, much more of the cafestol is unfiltered and is ingested into your body.
Should you avoid brewing French press coffee due to these health concerns?
Whether you should abandon your favorite method of brewing coffee or not largely depends on your own personal situation and how your cholesterol level response to the added cafestol. If you are healthy and your cholesterol levels are within normal range, then I would have little concern about the matter.
If, however, your cholesterol levels are high or borderline, or you are diabetic or have some other health condition that is known to put your lipid levels and cholesterol levels at risk, then it is probably better to play it safe.
You may still enjoy your daily fix of coffee, simply choose a method of brewing that utilizes a paper filter and is more in line with maintaining a proper cholesterol level. Your health is ultimately of course more important than any extra flavor tastes you might get with brewing French press coffee.
For the Coffee Connoisseur
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| Krups Coffee Grinder | French Press Coffee Maker | Personal Coffeemaker with Travel Mug |
Vickie Bianco
The lid can be unscrewed and why not put a paper filter between the screen and the other pieces.
It’s worth a try. They sold paper filters that were round to fit into the coffee basket in percolaters in years past. It would be advantageous maybe to find out if they still make them.
Also, if you’re like me, I love my coffee from the press. How about running your cup of coffee through a filter over your cup. I wonder if that would take out the oils.