A new Swedish study reveals that office coffee machines may raise cholesterol levels, potentially increasing the risk of heart disease. Daily coffee drinkers may want to consider switching to tea.
Researchers from Uppsala University, with Chalmers University of Technology, tested coffee machines in break rooms at various workplaces. They found high levels of two substances—cafestol and kahweol—that can elevate cholesterol. These compounds are naturally found in coffee beans.
The researchers collected samples from fourteen coffee machines using five different coffee brands. The results, published in Nutrition, Metabolism & Cardiovascular Diseases, show significant variation in the amount of these substances depending on the type of machine and brewing time.
Brewing machines, which are commonly used in workplaces, and boiled coffee in a pot had the highest levels of cholesterol-raising substances. “The filtering process plays a key role in reducing these substances,” explained David Iggman, lead author of the study from Uppsala University.
Iggman added that not all coffee machines filter out these compounds effectively, and the amount present can fluctuate over time. He stressed that many coffee samples contained levels of cafestol and kahweol that could affect LDL (low-density lipoprotein) cholesterol, also known as “bad” cholesterol, and increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases.
For daily coffee drinkers, Iggman recommends choosing drip-filtered coffee or other well-filtered brewing methods. The study found that paper filters effectively remove these harmful compounds.
Although more research is needed to fully understand the long-term effects on cholesterol, high cholesterol can lead to plaque buildup in arteries, making them narrow and hard. If a plaque breaks loose, it could cause a heart attack or stroke, as per the Mayo Clinic.
Europe has the highest rate of high cholesterol worldwide, with over 50% of adults affected. Data from Statista shows that Lithuania has one of the highest average cholesterol levels in Europe, while Greece has one of the lowest.
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