Coffee, Diterpenes, and Your Health
Did you know your brew method might be affecting your cholesterol? Brewed coffee contains compounds called diterpenes — specifically cafestol and kahweol — which are lipids that can raise LDL cholesterol (the "bad" kind), triacylglycerols, and liver enzymes. According to studies, unfiltered coffee contains up to 30 times more diterpenes than filtered coffee.
The good news: diterpenes are released during brewing and are easily captured by a filter. The brew method matters more than the coffee itself.
Brew methods that effectively filter out diterpenes
Both paper and metal filters reduce diterpenes significantly. Here's how the most common methods compare:
- Paper filter pour-overs (V60, Kalita, Chemex, and others) — lowest diterpene levels; paper captures more than metal
- Drip coffee makers with paper filters — similarly low
- AeroPress — low to moderate, depending on paper vs. metal filter
- Espresso — moderate; the pressure and short brew time limit extraction
Paper filters remove more diterpenes than metal filters, while still retaining the polyphenols that give coffee its health benefits. If you use paper filters, rinse them with hot water before brewing to remove any paper taste.
From our shopBrew methods to be mindful of if you have high cholesterol
-
Paper filter pour-overs — lowest diterpene levels; paper captures more than metal
V60 Dripper · Kalita Wave Brewer · Kalita Filters · Chemex Carafe · Chemex Filters - Drip coffee makers with paper filters — similarly low
- AeroPress — low to moderate, depending on paper vs. metal filter → Shop on Amazon
- Espresso — moderate; the pressure and short brew time limit extraction
A note on decaf and diterpenes
Here's something most people don't know: the Swiss Water® Process — which we use for all of our decaf — removes caffeine by washing the green beans in water, which also removes a significant portion of the coffee oil. Diterpenes live in that oil. So our Swiss Water Process decaf is naturally lower in diterpenes than most unfiltered caffeinated coffees, in addition to being 99.9% caffeine-free.
Coffee has real health benefits — antioxidants, polyphenols, and micronutrients among them. For most people, diterpenes at typical consumption levels aren't a major concern. But if you have high cholesterol or are monitoring your lipids, your brew method is worth paying attention to.
— Carol
This post is for informational purposes only. Please consult your healthcare provider about your specific situation.
It seems you did a great job explaining diterpenes and their impact on health! I particularly liked the part about how brewing methods affect cholesterol. Valuable info for coffee lovers! If you want to learn more about the topic, you can check out this page. https://menuwars.com/food-blog/is-coffee-good-for-you/