Posted Sun Jan 8, 2006, 11:16am Subject: French Press and Cholesterol
Not surprisingly, Melitta states that paper filters are good for your health, because they filter out harmful oils. They further claim that these oils can raise your cholesterol levels. (Source: http://www.melitta.com/ct_whyfilter.html).
Obviously, Melitta has an interest in getting people to use their filters, but I was wondering what you all think? Specifically, are there studies that might contradict Melitta's claims in this regard?
Posted Sun Jan 8, 2006, 2:29pm Subject: Re: French Press and Cholesterol
This sounds a little weak. Does Melitta defines cholesterol as the chemical 5-cholesten-3B-ol? Cholesterol is one of the most abundant steroid found in animal tissue. There is ~10-15% fat & oils found in green beans. The fat & oils are an essential element to the taste of coffee. IMO filtering them out would yield a lesser cup. There has been debate about the effects of coffee on free fatty acids, triglyceride and total cholesterol levels in the human body. Coffee is such a complex mix of substances. I wonder if Melittas sources extracted the oils, gave them orally to individuals in a double blinded, large sample study? Considering the millions....billions of cupsys humanity has consumed over a long period of time IMO low to moderate consumption of coffee is relatively safe for a healthy human. Aging, obesity, diet choices and the lack of routine physical activity are significantly more important factors in elevating cholesterol levels. If your intrested in specific articles and can get access try searching the data bases of : International Pharmaceutical Index, IndexMedicus, The Medical Letter, The Pharmacist Letter, The Mayo Proceedings for primary & secondary info.
Noel Mano dell 'operatore> Macinadosatore> Miscela> Macchina espresso
thatguy Senior Member Joined: 23 Sep 2005 Posts: 21 Location: Glendale, AZ Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Francis X5 Grinder: Rancilio Rocky Roaster: SC/CO, Poppery II
Posted Sun Jan 8, 2006, 6:20pm Subject: Re: French Press and Cholesterol
From what I've read, the harmful oils you speak of are diterpenes - cafestol and kahweol. These diterpenes are found in coffee and can raise cholesterol. - Coffee filtered through paper has low levels of diterpenes. - Coffee filtered through metal filters, such as french press and espresso, have moderate levels of diterpenes. - Unfiltered coffee, such as middle eastern, has high levels of diterpenes. Studies have shown that unfiltered coffee can raise LDL cholesterol levels, however, it is minimal. I've read the same about metal filtered coffee as well. So, paper filtered coffee should have the least amount of diterpenes and, therefore, have less of a chance of raising cholesterol levels. Most of my information came from here, the coffee science information centre which has the names of the studies to back everything up.
counting Senior Member Joined: 8 May 2005 Posts: 823 Location: Baltimore, MD
Posted Sun Jan 8, 2006, 8:06pm Subject: Re: French Press and Cholesterol
Interesting article at the Coffee Science Information Center. The most important conclusion is that there is no support for the hypothesis that coffee drinking increases coronary disease, nonfatal heart attacks, coronary mortality, or total mortality in men or women. One study showed coffee protects against coronary disease.
With regard to the cholesterol question, I didn't find free articles, although I didn't search all the authors in the citations. The available abstracts, as always, don't show who paid for the research. Neither do they indicate whether statistical analysis controlled for the amount of dairy and other animal fat consumed. People who drink more coffee or stronger coffee might drink more dairy. The abstracts do show that study cohorts typically are quite small, and studies are short term.
thatguy Senior Member Joined: 23 Sep 2005 Posts: 21 Location: Glendale, AZ Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Francis X5 Grinder: Rancilio Rocky Roaster: SC/CO, Poppery II
Posted Sun Jan 8, 2006, 9:32pm Subject: Re: French Press and Cholesterol
I agree that there is not really any conclusive evidence that drinking coffee has negative health affects particularly to the cardiovascular system. The only possible negative affects I've read about are the slight increase in cholesterol levels, which is fairly inconclusive, and possible increases in homocysteine levels, which is also in the article from the coffee science information center. This increase in homocysteine levels is also somewhat unsubtantiated. It's much easier to find the health benefits of coffee than the risks.
Posted Mon Jan 9, 2006, 12:07am Subject: Re: French Press and Cholesterol
Every other month (or so it seems), there seems to be a new study out on coffee either being good or bad for your health. I was curious about the claim that unfiltered coffee has some particularly bad effect on health.
By the by, I don't think French Press coffee is really filtered. The grounds are simply pressed away from the brew at the very end of the process.
Posted Mon Jan 9, 2006, 11:39am Subject: Re: French Press and Cholesterol
Ok from my point, and after having a heart attack due to cholesterol build up on a cornary artery, my Dr. stated I could drink coffee no problem. that it 'the coffee' was not a factor, my total cholesterol levels went from 276 to 110 in 2.5 months with the help of diet, and lipitor, and all the fresh roasted, fresh brewed coffee I could drink.
Posted Mon Jan 9, 2006, 12:39pm Subject: Re: French Press and Cholesterol
Filtered coffee or press coffee?
steamer Said:
Ok from my point, and after having a heart attack due to cholesterol build up on a cornary artery, my Dr. stated I could drink coffee no problem. that it 'the coffee' was not a factor, my total cholesterol levels went from 276 to 110 in 2.5 months with the help of diet, and lipitor, and all the fresh roasted, fresh brewed coffee I could drink.
Posted Mon Jan 9, 2006, 1:11pm Subject: Re: French Press and Cholesterol
IMHO, this article is nothing more than marketing. A paper filter manufacturer is trying to convince people to use their product. It's called advertising and it's biased (otherwise it would be called science). They don't cite specific studies, just general "studies in the Netherlands". What did they study? Who did they study? When did they study? They could be referring to an 1820 study of foot fungus in house cats. :)
The oils in coffee help contribute to the flavor. Oils in coffee or other foods, contribute to the flavor and are a naturally occuring byproduct. They try to equate the oils you see in a cup of coffee with something negative (e.g., the phrase "oil slick" in your cup). Yes, too much coffee oil is probably bad for you and probably tastes lousy all by itself. But hopefully no one is sitting around and separating out coffee oil to drink.
One of the few things that everyone seems to be able to agree upon is that coffee is one of the more chemically complex plants. Scientists have not been able to track down all of the chemicals or chemical reactions that happen in roasting and brewing. So there are all these conflicting "reports" of the good or bad that it allegedly does.
So, unless you're drinking 50 pots of coffee a day, you're probably just fine.
It's like toothpaste. It is useful and has its place, in moderation. But too much of that will kill you, too.
Brent Roasting in an SC/TO and iRoast 2 Europiccola/Drip/Presspot
counting Senior Member Joined: 8 May 2005 Posts: 823 Location: Baltimore, MD
Posted Mon Jan 9, 2006, 7:46pm Subject: Re: French Press and Cholesterol
Brent, I thought the article was sober, responsible, and very informative. As Dave said, the many underlying studies are all cited at the end of the article.
Steamer: 2.5 months? That's great! Bespeaks considerable discipline, I bet.
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