For many of us, the sound of the office coffee machine means the workday is truly starting. Whether it’s a quick cup before a meeting or a caffeine boost in the afternoon, office coffee feels like a small daily joy. But a new study says it might not be so harmless — especially for your heart health.
A study published in the journal Nutrition, Metabolism and Cardiovascular Diseases warns that coffee from your office machine could be increasing your cholesterol levels, which is bad for your heart.
What’s the Problem with Office Coffee?
Researchers from Sweden tested 14 different office coffee machines in four workplaces. They wanted to see how this coffee affects the body compared to coffee made at home.
The focus was on two compounds: cafestol and kahweol. These are natural chemicals found in coffee, and they are known to raise LDL (bad) cholesterol in the blood.
Types of Office Coffee Machines Studied
- Machines with metal filters
- Liquid coffee machines that mix coffee concentrate with hot water (no filter)
- Instant coffee machines using freeze-dried coffee and hot water
These were compared to home coffee-making methods like:
- Drip coffee using paper filters
- Percolators
- French press
The result? Most office coffee methods — especially those without paper filters — were found to be worse for your heart than coffee made at home.
What’s the Big Deal?
The study found that drinking just three cups of office machine coffee per week could raise your cholesterol. But the good news is, switching to paper-filtered coffee even a few times a week could lower LDL cholesterol over time.
What Should Offices Do?
For employers and office managers, it might be time to:
- Switch to coffee machines with paper filters
- Encourage employees to bring their own filtered coffee
- Educate teams about how coffee brewing methods can affect heart health
This doesn’t mean you need to quit coffee altogether. In fact, experts like Dr. Donald Hensrud from the Mayo Clinic say that moderate coffee drinking can lower the risk of diseases like Parkinson’s, type 2 diabetes, Alzheimer’s, and liver issues.
The Bottom Line
It’s not just about what coffee you drink, but how it’s brewed. So next time you’re heading to the office coffee machine, think about choosing a paper-filtered brew. A small change like this could make a big difference for your heart health — and it’s definitely smarter than blaming the biscuit tin for your health issues!
