Why have you forsaken us, Science? Eater reports that a new study published in the Harvard Health Letter suggests that drinking unfiltered coffee, a la French press, could lead to higher levels of LDL cholesterol, the bad kind.
Because of the larger pores in the metal screen, unfiltered coffee allows for more of the oils extracted during the brewing process to make it into the cup. The research published in the Harvard Health Letter states that these oils, called diterpenes, have negative effects on a person’s health and may ultimately lead to higher cholesterol.
But the good news is that it takes quite a few cups of unfiltered coffee for any potential negative side effects to manifest. Harvard Professor of Epidemiology Dr. Eric Rimm states that a person would have to drink five to eight cups of unfiltered coffee daily before running into the risk of raised LDL cholesterol.
And while this is good news (because who really drinks five to eight cups of French press a day. I mean, really?), the study only focuses on French press but there are a host of other “unfiltered” brews. Steampunks, Kone filters, espresso!?! – they all use metal filters that allow coffee oils to make it into the cup, and it would be pretty ungreat news for any espresso drinker if this research does in fact apply to all metal filtered beverages. Just to be safe, maybe consider having a v60 every now and again.
Zac Cadwalader is the news editor at Sprudge Media Network.
*top image via Stumptown
