I was shocked at how you are right now. My preferred coffee-making method is a French Press, so when I learned this, I decided to investigate why people are saying these horrible things about the best invention since coffee was founded.
Pressed coffee has been a staple to many households because it is convenient, practical, and needs no power source. However, evidence-based data reveals that the French press may potentially harm your health. The worst is this: it can increase your cholesterol levels.
The culprit for this is a coffee diterpene compound called cafestol. Unfiltered drinks house large amounts of this cholesterol-raising compound. You may continue enjoying your French press coffee if you’re perfectly healthy. However, if you already have some high cholesterol issues, this may cause some concern.
French Press History
As early as 1852, the idea of French press brewing rose. A couple of French people, Mayer and Delforge, came up with this brilliant idea. Of course, as the world evolved, the design evolved too. In 1965, Michael Caine used this in the movie Ipcress File, which made it popular in Europe.
Today, the French press consists of a cylindrical beaker mainly made of glass. However, some models have this in plastic too. The lid is either metal or plastic with a stainless steel wire. Additionally, it comes with a mesh filter.
The majority of coffee lovers hate the idea of grounds in their coffee. The grounds are allowed to settle in the French press, and coffee is poured carefully with no filter.
Health concerns
As we have stated, a French press can potentially raise your low-density lipoproteins, commonly known as bad cholesterol, over time. Bad cholesterol promotes the build-up of clots in the blood vessels, which can lead to heart diseases. If there are clots, blood flow is obstructed, which may lead to chest pain or angina symptoms.
The study showed unfiltered coffee increases both the total and bad cholesterol. This is due to the coffee oils, especially oily substances called diterpenes, such as cafestol and kahweol, present in these beverages.
If you can steer away from the joy, French press coffee brings, make it a point to have your blood regularly tested to ensure that you remain as healthy as possible. However, remember that you may have to think twice if high cholesterol runs in your family.
One to two cups of unfiltered coffee may not make your blood vessels go crazy, but if you’re the type who consumes 5-8 cups a day, then we must say your risk is significantly higher.
Now, if you can’t resist, you may add extra filtration to decrease the potential harmful risk of drinking unfiltered coffee. Simply use a coffee filters and run your coffee through them.
Benefits of French press coffee
- No need for electricity
- Easy to clean
- You can adjust the coffee to taste
- More delicious than drip coffee
- No need for a filter
- Thicker and less watery coffee texture
- Cheaper than other regular coffee makers
- Compact
Tips
Suppose unfiltered coffee does add value to your life. In that case, Dr. Eric Rimm, a professor of epidemiology and nutrition at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, suggests testing your lipid profile to ensure normal LDL levels. He recommends that you practice consuming no more than four cups a day to keep health problems at bay. Also, he recommends cutting off any additives such as creamers and refined sugars because these may even add to health risks.
You should also consider the roast! As a rule of thumb: the darker the roast, the lower the cholesterol.
Final words
Now that we have laid out the truth, it’s all up to you what you want to do. Remember, health is wealth!
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase using these links. Remember to support us by purchasing through the Amazon/Walmart/Impact Radius links provided. Last update on 2024-04-25 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Disclosure: No compensation or free products were received in exchange for writing this review.
Editorial Staff
The editorial staff at Crazy Coffee Crave is a team of coffee enthusiasts & Baristas who enjoy the one thing we all think about as soon as we get up in the morning. Trusted by thousands of readers worldwide.
