r/YouShouldKnow • u/CoffeeTeaJournal • 6d ago
Health & Sciences YSK: If you drink French Press or Turkish coffee daily, you might be accidentally raising your LDL cholesterol. A simple paper filter completely prevents this.
Why YSK: We all hear that "coffee is totally fine for you," but I recently learned that how you brew it makes a massive difference to your lipid panel. If you drink a lot of coffee and have mysterious cholesterol spikes that your diet doesn't explain, this is probably why.
Coffee beans naturally contain oils. Inside those coffee oils is a specific compound called cafestol. When we digest cafestol, it basically suppresses a receptor in our intestines, which tricks our liver into producing more LDL (the "bad" cholesterol). This isn't just a theory; it's a documented biological reaction proven in human trials.
Here is where the brewing method comes in: paper filters are incredibly good at trapping oil. If you brew your coffee through a paper filter (like a standard drip machine, V60, or Chemex), the oil and the cafestol dissolved in it gets trapped in the paper and never reaches your mug.
But if you use a metal mesh, a French Press, or drink Turkish coffee (where the ultra-fine grounds stay right in the cup), you are drinking all those oils directly.
Researchers at Wageningen University actually measured the cafestol content per cup, and the differences are crazy:
- Turkish/Greek coffee: ~4.7 mg (The absolute highest, because there is zero filtering and you consume the micro-grounds)
- French press: ~3.5 mg
- Espresso: ~1.6 mg (Lower than expected because the water zips through it so fast)
- Paper-filtered drip: ~0.1 mg (Effectively zero!)
Research shows that every 10 mg of cafestol you consume per day raises your LDL by about 5 mg/dL.
If you just have a nice cup of French press on a lazy Sunday morning, it is completely harmless. But if you work from home and casually pound 4 or 5 cups of unfiltered coffee every single day, you are consuming enough cafestol to raise your LDL by 10 to 15 points over a few weeks, just from your coffee habit alone.
Overall, coffee is still really healthy and packed with antioxidants. But if you are actively trying to lower your cholesterol and tracking your blood work, simply switching from a metal mesh or French press to a paper filter is one of the easiest, cheapest, and most scientifically backed diet changes you can make.
Sources & Further Reading:
- Wageningen University Study (Urgert & Katan): "The cholesterol-raising factor from coffee beans" – This is the primary research detailing the exact cafestol amounts in Turkish, French Press, and Filtered coffee.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9240930/
- American Journal of Epidemiology (Meta-Analysis): "Coffee consumption and serum lipids: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled clinical trials" – A comprehensive review proving that unfiltered coffee significantly raises LDL cholesterol compared to filtered coffee.
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u/Any-Rise5142 6d ago
Would instant coffee raise ldl too?
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u/CoffeeTeaJournal 6d ago
Good news, it barely has any cafestol! The commercial brewing and freeze-drying process basically eliminates all the oils. So it won't raise your LDL at all
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u/Sheev_Skywalker 6d ago
We’ve had two coffee makers break back to back so me and my partner have been on instant coffee for the last few months. Partner is dealing with some cholesterol stuff rn so I really appreciate the commenter for asking and you for answering, takes some stress off of me!
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u/Feahnor 6d ago
What about moka?
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u/CoffeeTeaJournal 6d ago
Moka uses a metal screen, so it's unfiltered and high in cafestol. But here's a great hack: an Aeropress paper filter usually fits perfectly over the Moka pot's metal screen before you screw the top on. Solves the problem completely
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u/witness555 6d ago
This might be the most helpful thing I’ve ever read on Reddit
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u/CoffeeTeaJournal 6d ago
Wow, thank you so much! I'm really glad it helped. Enjoy your cleaner Moka brews
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u/pdrock7 6d ago
I also use a Moka pot to make iced coffee every morning. Do you mean place the paper filter below the metal screen or above it? I feel like below wouldn't be tight enough to effectively filter, but above would kind of be a pain to swap out everyday. Either way, thank you for the info!
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u/CoffeeTeaJournal 6d ago
Definitely place it on top of the metal screen,it creates a tighter seal and is much easier to swap out! It takes an extra five seconds, but it's worth it for a cleaner cup
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u/PM_STEAM_CODES_PLS_ 6d ago
YSK that the official stance of the Mokapot subreddit is to not use any paper filters, supposedly due to risk of explosions.
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u/MoreCoffee331 4d ago
Ive had my moka pot pipe completely clogged up and the steam escaped from the release valve. It still didnt explode. Scared the crap out of me tho.
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u/New_Feature_5138 6d ago
Be careful with this. It’s probably fine but I could see an explosive situation resulting. I’ve had the thing blow a violent leak because I tamped the grounds like a normal espresso.
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u/toga_virilis 6d ago
I would also think a moka is like a regular espresso—the water is only in contact with the grounds for a few seconds.
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u/tupo-airhead 6d ago
I cut rounds of filter paper to line the portafilter of my espresso machine based on doctors advice.
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u/Salty_Feed9404 6d ago
I drink 4 espresso shots per day from my Breville...the filter paper doesn't disrupt pulling the shot at all? I'd be concerned about too much pressure.
My LDL levels are indeed high, so this is something I'll have to try and see what happens...
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u/monpittphy 6d ago
Lots of people use paper basket filters. It does not provide as much resistance as the grounds themselves. You might have to adjust your grind slightly but people say it actually can help taste.
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u/darekd003 6d ago
I’m curious how their espresso is measured. It’s say “per cup.”
Most people technically make double espresso with +/-18g of beans (about 36ml of “coffee”). So a cup would be 6-7 “double” shots of espresso.
Or is it per single shot of espresso (not cup) in which case it’s double the listed measured cafestol per drink.
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u/Salty_Feed9404 6d ago
Also a good point/catch...I'm seeing that a double shot typically has 1.5 to 3mg of cafestol.
"Clinical studies suggest that you generally need to consume about 10 mg of cafestol daily (equivalent to about 3 to 4 double espressos or 2 French presses a day) over several weeks to see a clinically noticeable rise in LDL cholesterol. Consuming one or two double shots a day is typically considered to have a very minimal impact."
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u/CoffeeTeaJournal 6d ago
A lot of specialty cafes do this now to get a more even extraction anyway, but it’s also an amazing trick for catching those oils. Your doctor definitely knows their stuff
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u/ocean_swims 6d ago
Thank you so much for sharing u/CoffeeTeaJournal ! I drink 3 cups of French press a day and my cholesterol (and LDL) levels are suddenly very high. I would never have linked it to the coffee habit! I'm so grateful!
Edit: I just found paper filters for French presses online, so I don't even have to change anything in my routine, only add the paper layer. Awesome!
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u/Pooja_7912 6d ago
Can you share the link of the paper filter that you will be using for your french press?
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u/ocean_swims 5d ago
I haven't ordered yet, but I searched Amazon and got multiple options. I'll look into them over the weekend and if they're all the same, I'll just order the cheapest one lol.
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u/CoffeeTeaJournal 6d ago
I am so glad this helped
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u/capnlatenight 6d ago
I've been eating raw coffee grounds for about 3 months without brewing it.
You've just changed my life! I really didn't think this was harmful to do until now.
I've "heard" about stuff you don't want to eat gets trapped in a filter, but I assumed it was all hogwash.
You could've maybe saved my life, by preventing a heart attack.
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u/miseleigh 6d ago
Is this true for cold-brewed too?
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u/CoffeeTeaJournal 6d ago
It depends on the filter. Cold water actually extracts less cafestol than hot water, so it's naturally lower. But if you only use a metal mesh or cheesecloth to strain it, some oils still get through. If you run your cold brew through a paper filter before drinking, you are basically at zero
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u/adrefofadre 6d ago
Big Drip been losing the game. I think this is all it has going for it.
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u/ThlimmenosBoufos 6d ago
As someone who likes Turkish (Greek!) coffee a lot, I really appreciate your post. I definitely plan on looking further into this, and your sources look like a good place to start.
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u/CoffeeTeaJournal 6d ago
Thanks so much! And haha, Turkish, Greek, Cypriot, Bosnian,whatever we call it, we all share the same love for the exact same amazing brew! Enjoy the deep dive into the research.
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u/Liquidas 6d ago
Shit. I just discovered bosanska kafa and Fell in love with it :(
Is it the same with fully automatic machines?
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u/CoffeeTeaJournal 6d ago
Bosanska kafa is so good! But yeah, fully automatic machines usually use metal screens instead of paper, so they still let those oils through
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u/dogucan97 6d ago
Oil is the best part of these methods though.
Also, the serving sizes of Turkish coffee and espresso are tiny; you don't drink as much of it as you would with French press or pourover/drip. Maybe "cafestol content per serving size" would be a better metric to see (though it could be subjective), or "cafestol per gram of coffee grounds".
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u/CoffeeTeaJournal 6d ago
those numbers actually are per standard serving. Turkish coffee packs so much cafestol into a tiny cup because the ultra-fine grind basically maximizes the oil extraction. A coarse French press grind just doesn't extract oil at that same intense rate, even with a much bigger cup
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u/Decent_spinach69 6d ago
Dude you're packed with the answers!! We're you a researcher on these papers?
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u/shpoopie2020 5d ago
So, what about a bean-to-cup machine? It grinds the beans and there isn't any paper filter. I can't see why this wouldn't be just as bad as French press 🤔
I've recently lowered my overall cholesterol by a fair amount (including triglycerides), but LDL went up which I thought was weird
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u/undertheliveoaktrees 6d ago
I didn’t realize the oil was why the flavor was better until I tried paper filters for my french press coffee. It tasted absolutely terrible - bland, boring, pointless. I went back to no filter and decided I’ll have to exercise more to handle the LDL some other way. Personal choice.
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u/fasterthanfood 6d ago
Exercise doesn’t do that much to lower LDL (although it’s great for your heart and your health in general). The big fixes are eating less saturated fat and more fiber.
I was already exercising a lot but my LDL was over 150. (The doctor wants it under 100 for most people, even lower in some circumstances.) By paying attention to saturated fat and fiber, plus a few smaller changes (including changing to filtered coffee), I got my cholesterol into the 80s.
I had my “cheat meals.” You can definitely have your “cheat coffee” as long as you stay on top of the other stuff and get tested regularly (my insurance covers once a year, but I did an extra test after 4 months to see if the changes had helped — they did).
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u/Orion14159 6d ago
My doctor advised that foods high in omega 3s combat LDL and triglycerides. Personally I don't like fatty fish (salmon, mackerel, etc) so I had to find an alternative and landed on chia seeds. Now most mornings I have a chia "pudding" and it gets me like 5g of Omega 3s and a decent chunk of fiber. I wouldn't order it at a restaurant but it's decidedly ok based on the necessity
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u/helgepopanz 6d ago
problem is: the oils contain all the flavour. french press or some steel filter tastes almost always better than a paper filter, because the paper filter doesnt let the oils through
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u/CoffeeTeaJournal 6d ago
The oils give it that heavy body and rich mouthfeel. It really comes down to a personal trade-off: if your blood work is fine, enjoy the oils! But if your LDL is high, sacrificing a bit of body for a healthier lipid panel is totally worth it.
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u/techforallseasons 6d ago
What LDL impacts does adding ( real ) creamer to filtered coffee? The oils make it worth drinking, and if I'm subbing one for the other - I think I'd rather have the coffee oils instead of adding creamer.
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u/CoffeeTeaJournal 6d ago
If you're comparing them, coffee oils contain cafestol, while dairy creamers (especially high-fat ones) contain saturated fats,both can impact cholesterol differently. If your LDL is already high, it might be a balancing act, but sticking to black filtered coffee is generally the 'safest' bet for your numbers
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u/RoosterClan2 6d ago
What about K-cups?
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u/CoffeeTeaJournal 6d ago
Almost all standard disposable K-Cups actually have a tiny paper filter built inside the plastic pod, so they are generally safe and low in cafestol. Just watch out for those reusable plastic pods that use a metal mesh screen those will let the oils right through
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u/mamoocando 6d ago
And Nespresso pods? They're aluminum...
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u/_pinkstripes_ 6d ago edited 6d ago
My guess would be (at least for Vertuo) that there isn’t much filtering going on as it spins the brewed coffee back up through the holes it punches in the aluminum top. Unless of course the contents are more like instant coffee than actual grounds, then it’s probably clear. I’m going to look into that and come back.
Edit: It would appear that I was generally correct. Vertuo uses regular (not instant) grounds and the result is comparable to a French press as far as oils go.
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u/mamoocando 5d ago
But the length of time the water spends in the beans would be similar to an espresso machine, which is quite low. A French press sits for quite a few minutes in the water allowing for more oils to be extracted.
I might do a little research into this...
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u/ocherthulu 6d ago
I've been exclusively drinking French press for 20 years. Currently my doc is worried about my bad cholesterol and I'll grant that this could be a big contributor. I don't want to not drink french press, so how can I minimize the harm? What would happen if I put a standard coffee filter on top of the metal mesh filter before presisng down? Would that isolate/remove the bulk of the oils?
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u/CoffeeTeaJournal 6d ago
Good idea in theory, but please don't do this! It creates way too much pressure and boiling coffee can shoot out everywhere. Just brew it normally, then pour the finished coffee through a regular paper filter into your mug. Same routine, zero oil
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u/BagelAmpersandLox 6d ago
They sell paper filters that fit specifically on a French press in between the metal filters.
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u/LowTechDesigns 6d ago
I beg to differ. I use standard unbleached drip filters (8-12 cup size) and as long as you don’t push too fast the French Press works great. Go slow! If you push too hard you will hear the coffee grounds leaking into the filtered coffee.
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u/mkmckinley 6d ago edited 6d ago
Just go on a statin.
The coffee might contribute to your LDL but its also largely genetic.
Statins are not scary. They’re really safe, cheap, and well tolerated
Also worth noting that coffee (2 or 3 cups a day) has proven heart and lover health benefits.
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u/DavisKennethM 6d ago
Unfortunately adherence is pretty low, often cited at dropping to <50% over time for primary prevention (i.e., not yet had a cardiovascular event).
Unless you've proven to yourself you can take them consistently for years, it's best to also make lifestyle changes.
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u/berdot 6d ago edited 6d ago
Excellent post. This is true. I personally use a Chemex, which has a thicker filter and remove even more oil from the coffee during extraction. But I guess any paper filter will do.
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u/Dismal_mood 6d ago
Switching to Chemex helped me get my lipids under control. Also love the taste.
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u/Choosemyusername 6d ago
Keep in mind that a lot of what I thought were “paper” filters turned out to have plastics in them.
I used Chemex for a while but the filters were damn expensive. And I am not sure theh are pure paper either.
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u/SixamSS 6d ago
Chemex filters are more similar to a laboratory filter paper so they are going to be different than your standard off the shelf drip coffee filter.
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u/Choosemyusername 6d ago
Yes different, I can feel that much. Just wondering what specifically is in them.
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u/CoffeeTeaJournal 6d ago
Chemex filters are significantly thicker than standard V60 or drip papers, so they are absolute champions at trapping those oils. You are getting pretty much the cleanest cup possible
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u/Seastep 6d ago
Ive been using a reusable/metal filter in my chemex for so long, mainly just to save money but now I might have to reconsider.
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u/cabamayo 6d ago
Yeah, same. Bummer, but I know my LDL is higher than ideal, so will try this. Anyone know if the paper filters are easier to find now? During COVID I had a hard time finding them, which is when I found the metal filter.
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u/Seastep 6d ago
Just ordered some unbleached ones from Amazon. Unfortunately had to pay the bad guys for a short round of testing.
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u/TrippyTiger69 6d ago
I’d imagine aeropress is similar to paper filter drip
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u/CoffeeTeaJournal 6d ago
Yep, exactly! As long as you use the paper filters it comes with, you're good to go. Just avoid those reusable metal mesh filters if you want to keep the oils out
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u/Drunken_pizza 6d ago edited 6d ago
Reddit is just 90% of these fucking ChatGPT bot accounts these days. Dead internet theory is coming true.
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u/Seastep 6d ago
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u/locketine 6d ago
So it's not a bot
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u/Seastep 6d ago
At best, there's a human in the loop. 90% of the comment history is a precise two sentence structure, never closing off punctuation and it also answered my strawberry question seriously.
I hate that I'm even devoting this mental energy.
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u/locketine 5d ago
Both of those responses were one sentence and they seemed humorous. I don't think the person responding to you in the those two comments were AI. They passed your bot check from what I can tell.
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u/francaisetanglais 6d ago
This is helpful, I've been losing a lot of weight and my doctors have wondered why my cholesterol keeps spiking despite the diet getting better and weight going down. I drink my protein shake every day using cold brew coffee, with a metal strainer. Maybe this is why.
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u/ordosays 6d ago edited 6d ago
This study is tiny and 20 years old.
“Espresso: ~1.6 mg (Lower than expected because the water zips through it so fast)” - where did this assumption come from?? Espresso is essentially a pressurized depth filter… that’s how it works.
Ultra fine mesh metal filters not tested.
“This line gives doubt to the whole thing “Overall, coffee is still really healthy and packed with antioxidants. “
In the second study participants were given 4.5 grams of solids the equivalent of 2L of tea… that’s a lot of tea and not equivalent to tea
“Chlorogenic acid could be partly responsible for the higher homocysteine concentrations observed in coffee drinkers. Whether these effects on homocysteine influence cardiovascular disease risk remains to be established.” -
so… what was the point here?
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u/ip-p 5d ago
How does 4 give doubt to the whole thing? Coffee can have many benefits and still contain oils that raise your LDL, it’s not mutually exclusive. And what does “that’s a lot of tea and not equivalent to tea” even mean?
Not blindly defending them or anything, your comment just didn’t make sense to me
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u/100moonlight100 6d ago
What about instant coffee? (I know it is the worst in general but still very convinient.)
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u/CoffeeTeaJournal 6d ago
Good news for instant coffee drinkers, it barely has any cafestol! The commercial brewing and freeze-drying process basically eliminates all the oils. So it won't raise your LDL at all
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u/alexseiji 6d ago
I wonder where instant coffee falls in all of this?
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u/CoffeeTeaJournal 6d ago
Instant coffee actually falls in the 'safe' zone! Because of the heavy filtration during the commercial freeze-drying process, it contains almost zero cafestol. So it won't affect your LDL at all
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u/alexseiji 6d ago
Awesome!! Ever since I had my kid I’ve been drinking instant to save on the time it takes to make a pour over or brewed coffee. From the sound of it looks like instant could be the safest?
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u/q_eyeroll 5d ago
Well shit. Enthusiastic coffee drinker here with unexplained high cholesterol. Off to get a filter. Thank you so much!
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u/paintedsaint 6d ago
I have an espresso machine and I drink two daily and my cholesterol is high since doing so and now I finally know the reason (I guess?)
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u/CoffeeTeaJournal 6d ago
Two shots a day is roughly 3.2 mg of cafestol. While it's lower than multiple cups of French press, it definitely adds up! Switching to filtered coffee for just a month before your next blood test could be a really interesting experiment to see how much your body is reacting to it.
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u/Denan004 6d ago
I percolate my coffee , but put a paper filter in the basket. I hope that works
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u/bridgey_ 6d ago
Are people in Turkey, France or Greece dying younger from heart disease than anywhere else?
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u/timetrapp99 6d ago
I cold brew with a metal “basket” that holds the grounds. I imagine I’m going to have the same issue, or is the heat part of the equation?
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u/AsheStriker 6d ago
The oils in the French press are what make it my favorite format for home. No way am I using a paper filter to get rid of that.
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u/Orion14159 6d ago
The full text link seems to be broken, any idea the difference between mesh filter drip vs paper filter drip?
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u/Fair_Yard5582 6d ago
This study suggests it is good for you. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11205330/
I'll keep my french press coffee thank you.
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u/BabyGiraffe207 5d ago
We just bought a coffee maker today because of this news. We have always been a French Press coffee drinking household. My wife's LDL cholesterol has always been higher than normal. We thought it was genetics because she eats healthy and works out regularly. She has her yearly physical scheduled in October. It will be interesting to see if her LDL goes down slightly by then.
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u/Hastur13 5d ago
Legitimately, thank you for this. I've been panicking for a year about some lab results that my diet and exercise didn't support. I regularly drink pour over through a metal mesh or stovetop with no mesh at all. This is worth looking at!
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u/MediocreClue9957 5d ago
If high ldl is the price I pay to save the environment from disposable paper filters I'll take the hit coach
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u/breadycapybara 5d ago
Oh my gosh! This totally explains my weird spike in cholesterol, despite being an avid exerciser and really watching my diet. I make Nespresso coffee now…would that also affect my cholesterol?
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u/diablette 4d ago
Damnit. Been troubleshooting persistently high LDL while everything else improved. Doc blamed perimenopause. Never mentioned coffee. Off to buy an aeropress.
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u/lightingOsparky 3d ago
didn't realize french press was doing this to my cholesterol. switching to a pour over, thanks for the heads up.
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u/Seastep 6d ago
OP is a bot. Prove me wrong.
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u/CoffeeTeaJournal 6d ago
I promise I'm 100% human,just a giant coffee nerd who spends way too much time obsessing over extraction physics and filters.Thanks for the support on the post
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u/Seastep 6d ago
No problem. It's really good information, and well-researched. Can you tell me how many R's there are in the word "strawberry?"
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u/shandrolis 6d ago
Research shows that every 10 mg of cafestol you consume per day raises your LDL by about 5 mg/d
It would be neat if you would add how much this actually matters to your post. This is just a number that doesn't really mean anything to laymen.
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u/CoffeeTeaJournal 6d ago
To put it in perspective, for someone with healthy cholesterol, a 5 mg/dL increase might not be a huge concern. But for someone already bordering on high levels, that spike can be the difference between being 'in range' or needing medication. It’s definitely more impactful for people who are already monitoring their blood work closely
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u/budsonguy 6d ago
This is big coffee propaganda people
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u/ranchodelgatos 6d ago
💯 True. My ldl was crazy high and my friend told me it was because I started drinking French press coffee and said a paper filter would help. I’m grateful every day for that advice. All I changed in my diet before the next test was the paper filter and my cholesterol went way down. … still higher but not exponentially high, like it was. Now whenever I hear anyone talk about how they have high cholesterol I always ask them if they’re using a paper filter.
Edit … you can still drink French press, just get one of those ceramic filter holders that sits on top of your mug and put a paper filter in it before you pour it into it. World Market used to sell them. I don’t know if they do now.
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u/hardingd 6d ago
I have a Delonghi espresso machine and I have 2 double extra long (basically 8oz Americano) a day. Wonder what cafestol is for that.
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u/techforallseasons 6d ago
Not a huge coffee lover; but this explains why I can stand French Press and not Pour Over - the oils are what make the cup drinkable.
I might have a cup once every other week; so I can justify staying with French Press - the mouthfeel of the "oily" coffee makes a HUGE difference. Moka and Expresso are also both acceptable.
Bitter water is all I get from filtered coffee.
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u/WecallthemWalkers 6d ago
My coffee maker has a steel basket to hold the ground coffee. No paper filter. So that’s just as bad?
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u/CoffeeTeaJournal 6d ago
yes.steel baskets don't trap those diterpenes (cafestol) that raise LDL, so it's essentially the same as a French press. If you want to keep the machine, just pop a paper filter inside the basket or over the grounds if possible
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u/Muffles79 6d ago
Cold brew as well. I recently started using a linen bag for the grounds in my cold brew
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u/Dry-Clock-1470 6d ago
So I have about 8oz a day of drip but through a reusable mesh filter. Cooked?
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u/naskai8117 6d ago
Can verify - drank exclusively french press coffee for a few years but never linked it to my higher LDL. Replaced with an aeropress (paper filter) and LDL dropped more than any other intervention.