Many people across the globe rely on a cup of coffee to wake up and fuel them throughout the day.
Most coffee enthusiasts have a preferred brewing style. Some prefer brewing with a Moka pot while others prefer pour-over or French press coffee among other coffee brewing methods.
For many people, their preferred brewing method is mostly determined by taste and convenience.
The French press is one of the most preferred brewing methods.
However, it’s important to consider the drawbacks and benefits of any coffee brewing method before sticking to it. Let’s discuss why French press coffee is bad for you.
The Basics of French Press Coffee
The French press is the most commonly used device for making unfiltered coffee. Also referred to as a coffee plunger or coffee press, the device features a carafe for brewing coffee manually and a coffee pitcher that’s used to serve coffee.
The device is typically made of metal and glass. Thus, you’ll be able to see the interior of the device when brewing coffee.
The French press separates used ground coffee from the brew using a plunger that’s built on the lid. Thus, it doesn’t use a paper filter. As a result, your brew will have maximum coffee oils.
Also, your brew will have any impurities that were on the grounds. Some coffee lovers argue that French press coffee tastes better than filtered coffee as it doesn’t filter coffee oils.
Is French Press Coffee Bad for You?
If you don’t filter coffee with a paper filter when brewing, some undesirable coffee ingredients may find their way into your final brew. Unfiltered coffee contains coffee oils.
These coffee oils are made up of chemicals known as diterpenes among other compounds. Research findings link diterpenes to an increased risk of developing heart disease. The reason behind this finding is that diterpenes increase the level of bad cholesterol in the blood.
In a study done involving thousands of participants over a period of 20 years, those who drank unfiltered coffee had a higher risk of developing heart disease than those who drank filtered coffee.
These findings indicate that consuming a lot of unfiltered coffee such as French press coffee is bad for you.
Diterpenes are known to raise the level of bad LDL cholesterol, especially among individuals who consume about 5 to 8 cups of French press coffee or any other form of unfiltered coffee per day.
The diterpenes responsible for this problem include kahweol and cafestol. These diterpenes are also found in other substances such as antibiotics, stevia, chemotherapy treatments, and anti-inflammatory medications.
However, consuming a lot of coffee can increase the amount of diterpenes in your body system, hence a higher amount of bad cholesterol in the blood.
If LDL cholesterol increases in the blood, it may form plaques. As the plaques build up within the arteries, the arteries will become harder and narrower.
Consequently, there’ll be impaired blood flow to your heart. Oxygen is usually carried to the heart by the blood. A reduction in blood flow to your heart means it won’t get sufficient oxygen.
Insufficient oxygen in the blood will make it hard for the heart muscles to function. Consequently, you may experience a form of chest pain referred to as angina.
In case there’s severe blockage of the arteries, blood won’t flow to the heart, thereby resulting in a life-threatening heart attack.
What Is the Best and Healthiest Way of Brewing Coffee?
In case you love French press coffee, avoid drinking it excessively. Preferably, drink it occasionally. If you already have high cholesterol levels in your blood, you should avoid French press coffee.
If you must drink coffee, switch to filtered coffee. Filtered coffee is the healthiest coffee brewing method as it filters out harmful coffee oils that contain diterpenes.
Is French Pressed Coffee Good for You?
Although French press coffee has some drawbacks, it also has several benefits. For instance, the French press offers convenience. You can easily brew coffee with a French press.
Also, you can carry it along with you while traveling because it brews coffee manually without the need for a power source or constant source of heat.
As a result, it won’t dent your pockets due to reduced energy bills when compared to coffee makers that require electricity and a constant source of heat.
Also, French press coffee allows your brew to have maximum coffee oils and essential coffee ingredients. Since coffee oils aren’t filtered, you’ll have a less watery and thicker brew. Also, the brew will have a rich aroma and maximum flavor.
Final Thoughts
Considering the aforementioned benefits and drawbacks of French press coffee, you now know why French press coffee is bad for you.
Although the French press coffee brewing method is simple, affordable, and convenient, you should avoid consuming French coffee excessively.
Never drink more than 4 cups of French coffee per day to avoid raising the level of LDL cholesterol in the blood. If you have underlying health issues, especially those related to LDL cholesterol, consider foregoing French press coffee.
If you must drink French press coffee, add a paper filter when brewing to prevent harmful coffee oils from getting into your brew.
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