Until now, there have been many research reports published on the various effects of coffee on the human body. But what we are discussing this time is not the effects of coffee on us, but, what are the effects of the French press coffee that we all love so much on our bodies. Let's get started.
Is Coffee, or French Press Coffee Bad For Me?
Yes, coffee will have certain effects on the body, not only good ones but also bad ones. However, it would be imprudent for us to discuss the effects of coffee on the body directly without discussing the portion size of each drink.
On that basis, isn't the effect on the body the same for coffee and French press coffee? We all end up drinking "coffee", so do the different ways of making it affect our bodies differently?
This is a subject that requires a lot of research, and here I want to tell you simply: coffee and French press coffee do not have the same effect on our bodies (in the same amount), and the effect of the French press is bigger.
We all know that there are many ways to be able to brew coffee, and a simple way to distinguish them is whether or not to use a filter:
- Those that use filters, for example, automatic drip, Hario V60 and Chemex, pour-over coffee, etc.
- Those that do not use a filter: for example, Moka pots, French press pots, cowboy coffee, etc.
By far the most popular method of brewing coffee without a filter is the French press maker. The unfiltered brewing method does a good job of retaining the original flavor of the coffee beans, but because of this, it can lead to health problems if consumed in large quantities. Why? Let's read on.
Filtered vs Unfiltered Coffee
Coffee is one of the world's most popular drinks and an essential part of many people's lives, but Professor Dag Thelle of the Department of Public Health and Community Medicine at the University of Gothenburg in Sweden found that coffee consumption is closely related to elevated total and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL), which may harm heart health.
Therefore, researchers began a 20-year survey of 500,000 healthy Norwegian men and women between the ages of 20 and 79 and found that a cup of unfiltered coffee contains substances that raise blood quality 30 times more than filtered coffee, concluding that using a filter after brewing is the safest.
Compared to non-coffee drinkers, filter coffee drinkers had a 15% lower mortality rate, and male drinkers had a 12% lower risk of death from cardiovascular disease, while women had a 20% lower risk. Those who drank one to four cups of filtered coffee per day had the lowest mortality rate.
"The results of this study cannot be explained by variables such as age, gender, or lifestyle habits. So we think this study is plausible." Dag S Thelle said.
Alternatives to French Press
People who like coffee with a French press are less likely to accept an alternative brewing method, especially one that uses a filter. Unfortunately, no filter brewing method has a coffee flavor similar to a French press, but this brewing method is something to try.
Pour-Over Coffee
Besides the paper filter style, there are also non-filter filters. Some people cannot accept paper brewing, so try this way: ceramic filters. Make a good warm cup filter before brewing, ceramic will lock the temperature very well and keep the temperature of the brewing process in a better balance.
Except for the ceramic material, there is also a stainless steel filter. Food grade stainless steel, the brewing process does not have a metallic taste, easy to clean, can be recycled, and is an environmentally friendly way to brew, especially for outdoor use.
French Press Coffee & Your Health
According to the American Heart Association (AHA), coffee can focus the mind, improve mood, and make people perform better during exercise.
The British Medical Journal published a comprehensive study in 2017 that reviewed more than 200 meta-analyses on coffee and found that drinking 3 to 4 cups of black coffee per day was the most beneficial for the body.
These benefits include lower rates of heart disease, some neurological, metabolic, and liver diseases, and many types of cancer, as well as lower overall mortality. Other studies have found that drinking coffee reduces the risk of diseases such as melanoma, multiple sclerosis, type 2 diabetes, prostate cancer, Alzheimer's disease, and back pain.
But Professor Dag S Thelle also stressed: "These are observational data, but for those who already know they have high cholesterol, stay away from unfiltered brew if you want to change, and filter your coffee first if you want to drink it". And the findings were published in this year's International Journal of the European Society of Cardiology.
So, do we need to discontinue the French press coffee? I don't think so.
If you are already suffering from cholesterol, then please reduce your consumption of French press coffee, or stop drinking it for a while.
If you are in good health, proper consumption of French press coffee will not have a significant impact on your body. After all, coffee is metabolized in the body in about four hours.
Whether you drink coffee, tea, or even water, once you exceed a healthy portion, it can be harmful to the body.
No need to worry too much, feel a good time that coffee brings us!
Reference:
https://academic.oup.com/eurjpc/article/27/18/1986/6125530