Pour over is a type of filtered coffee, which filters coffee grounds through paper. This removes harmful substances from the coffee such as oils, caffeine, and diterpenes like cafestol and kahweol which can cause high cholesterol levels. For this reason filtered coffee methods such as pour over and drip are healthier than unfiltered such as French press and Turkish coffee.
The following will explore which coffee is healthier, why pour over coffee is healthier than unfiltered coffee, and the health benefits and disadvantages of drinking coffee.
Is Pour Over Healthier than Other Coffee?
Pour over coffee is a healthier option than unfiltered coffee such as Turkish or French press. This is because it filters out harmful substances such as oils, caffeine, cafestol and kahweol. All coffee has health benefits as it contains antioxidants, but unfiltered coffee contains the bad as well as the good.
What Is Pour Over Coffee?
Pour over is a type of drip coffee but is not made in a drip machine. Instead, you pour hot water over grounds so that the water drips through the grounds and filter into a vessel. This gives you more control over your pour than an automatic drip machine, so you can alter the strength and taste to your preferences.
How Is Pour Over Coffee Made?
- Put your coffee grounds into a filter and place this on top of your vessel.
- Pour hot water over the grounds so they are evenly covered.
- Leave for 30 seconds for them to bloom.
- Slowly pour the remaining water.
- Wait for a few minutes until the water has dripped through then remove the filter.
What Are the Pros and Cons of Pour Over Coffee?
Pros:
- Coffee is smoother and less acidic as the grounds are only saturated once and flavor is slowly extracted by dripping through.
- The filter catches oil and particles to prevent sediment and bitterness.
- You have complete control over the pour to make coffee which suits your taste.
- You can make several cups at a time.
Cons:
- It is more effort than using an automatic drip machine as you must continually pour the water.
- The vessel can be difficult to clean and you may need a long-handled brush to reach inside.
Does Pour Over Coffee Raise Cholesterol?
Although it is healthier than other methods, pour over coffee can raise cholesterol. All coffee contains cafestol and kahweol in the beans. Pour over coffee filters these substances out, they are caught on the paper and do not get into the coffee itself, so it contains a lot less than unfiltered coffee and will not raise cholesterol levels as much.
Which Coffee Raises Cholesterol the Most?
Unfiltered coffee such as Turkish and French press has a higher risk of raising cholesterol. These methods steep the grounds directly in hot water and so the cafestol and kahweol are not filtered out, creating much higher levels of these substances. Healthline reported that drinking 5 cups of French press coffee each day for 4 weeks raised cholesterol levels 6-8%.
Lighter roasts contain more cafestol and kahweol than darker roasts as they are heated for less time. So using a light roast in an unfiltered method presents a higher risk of increased cholesterol.
What Are Cafestol and Kahweol?
Cafestol and kahweol are substances called diterpenes which are found in coffee beans. These hydrocarbons are present in both Arabica and Robusta coffee beans. They add aromas, oils and flavors to coffee which unfiltered methods such as French press are known for. Though they can improve taste of coffee, they can be detrimental to health.
How Does Coffee Raise Cholesterol?
Consuming cafestol and kahweol in coffee decreases bile production in the body. Bile is responsible for breaking down and digesting fatty acids. Metabolizing these fatty acids is crucial to maintaining cholesterol levels. When bile is decreased, fats in the body cannot be digested and therefore cholesterol will increase. Excessive consumption of these substances also increases the risk of liver damage.
What Are the Side Effects of High Cholesterol?
Cholesterol is vital for our health and helps our bodies to work properly. Cholesterol is part of the outer layer of each cell in the human body, so is essential for the brain, nerves, skin, bones, and muscles.
Cholesterol is a fatty substance and as it increases it builds up in the artery walls. This restricts blood flow around the body to vital organs like the brain and heart.
High cholesterol can increase the risk of various diseases:
- Heart diseases and heart attacks
- Strokes
- Transient ischaemic attack (TIA) – also known as a mini stroke
- Blood clots
- Diabetes
- Narrowing of the arteries (atherosclerosis)
- Peripheral arterial disease (PAD)
Is Coffee Bad for Your Health?
Drinking coffee in moderation hosts many health benefits as it is rich in antioxidants and minerals. Yet excessive consumption can lead to high levels of caffeine and harmful substances such as cafestol and kahweol which raise cholesterol.
- Too much caffeine can cause headaches, shakes, stomach irritation, poor sleep, insomnia, and anxiety.
- Coffee can raise cholesterol levels which increases the risk of more serious diseases such as heart attacks and strokes.
- Drinking coffee with sugar, milk, or cream adds extra fat and sugar into the diet which can cause health issues.
How Does Coffee Benefit Your Health?
Coffee is rich in antioxidants, which have anti-inflammatory properties and protect against diseases linked to inflammation. It is rich in minerals such as calcium, potassium, magnesium, and vitamin B-12, which boost immunity.
Drinking coffee has been reported to protect against certain diseases:
- Type 2 diabetes
- Parkinson’s
- Alzheimer’s
- Depression
- Liver disease
How Many Cups of Coffee Should You Drink a Day?
Many reputable sources such as the Mayo Clinic, the FDA and WebMD have reported that the recommended daily coffee intake is four cups, 8 ounces each. The maximum amount of caffeine which should be consumed each day is 400mg. Drinking more than this recommended amount is not drinking in moderation, leading to a risk of higher cholesterol and heart disease.
Hi, I’m Jen Williams, chief editor and writer for ThirstPerk.com.
I’ve been drinking coffee and tea for most of my life, but it wasn’t until I started working at Thirstperk.com that I became an expert on the subject. I’m a total caffeine addict who has spent hours upon hours reading about and experimenting with the different types of coffees out there in my search to find the perfect cup of joe.
I’ve been a tea lover for as long as I can remember as well. I grew up in a house with a mom who loved to drink herbal tea, and I think that’s where my love for tea first began. These days, I’m always on the lookout for new and interesting teas to try, and I love experimenting with different brewing methods and flavoring combinations.