Office Coffee Machines: Silent Culprits of Heart Health Risks

Beware of the office coffee machine: It might be doing more harm than just producing mediocre coffee. A Swedish study has flagged workplace coffee machines as possible contributors to heart health issues. Turns out, the brewing method matters more than you thought.

Researchers from Uppsala University, alongside Chalmers University of Technology, analyzed coffee brewed by 14 different workplace machines and compared it to coffee made using traditional techniques like paper filters and French presses. The study, published in Nutrition, Metabolism & Cardiovascular Diseases, revealed that office coffee machines often leave higher levels of cafestol and kahweol in your cup. These substances are linked to elevated LDL cholesterol — the infamous "bad cholesterol" that can clog arteries.

"The filtering process plays a crucial role in determining the presence of these cholesterol-elevating substances," said lead researcher David Iggman. "Not all coffee machines are efficient at removing them, and variations occur depending on the type of machine and even over time."

Here’s the kicker: cleaning routines might worsen the issue. Metal filters in coffee machines could degrade through regular cleaning, making them less effective at catching harmful substances.

If you're a coffee devotee sipping away multiple cups daily, you might want to switch to drip-filter coffee or other methods with solid filtration. Researchers found levels of cafestol and kahweol varied significantly across machines — and even between different brewing times.

Espresso machines were also tested, but the results were inconsistent. Researchers noted the need for further study to understand the variation and its implications for regular espresso drinkers.

So, next time you're reaching for that office brew, consider what’s lurking beyond the caffeine buzz. It’s not just your taste buds that might suffer — your arteries could be taking a hit too.