When it comes to paper filters, most people have a preference. Some prefer the way it makes their coffee tastes, while others prefer the way naked gold tone filtered coffee tastes.
Some swear by paper filters for their convenience – by lining your filter basket with a paper filter before adding the grounds, clean up becomes a doddle. Once you wrap the grounds up and throw it in the bin, you’re all set for the next day – no washing is necessary.
But for those who prefer the taste of basket filtered coffee, convenience isn’t an issue. With the right coffee maker, clean-up can be almost as easy with a quick release basket – dump the grounds, rinse the basket and you’re done.
Others won’t use paper filters because it creates more waste which harms the environment. However if you’re environmentally conscious and love the paper filtered taste, they are biodegradable and fine for composting.
What’s the effect of a paper filter on your health?
Paper filtered coffee can be good for you if you have high blood pressure, or want to avoid it.
The oily part of coffee is trapped by the paper and filtered out. This oily part contains cafestol, and cafestol stimulates LDL cholesterol by blocking a cholesterol regulating receptor found in the intestines.
LDL is the bad cholesterol, which can build up in your arteries and can lead to high blood pressure, heart attacks or strokes.
Since paper filters trap the oil and cafestol, you’re reducing the risk of cholesterol related problems.
So I must use paper filters or I’ll die??
Not necessarily. A study found that consuming five cups of French press coffee per day (30 milligrams of cafestol) for four weeks raises cholesterol in the blood 6 to 8 percent.
This is a lot of coffee, so if you’re only drinking one or two cups a day the effect will be much less.
At the end of the day, the choice is yours. Weigh up the taste, convenience, and the impact on the environment and your health and decide for yourself!
What about French Press and Espresso?
‘Open brewing’ coffees like French press or Greek coffee are much higher in cafestol, and Espresso lies in between paper filtered drip coffee and French press.
If you’re a French press lover and concerned by the effect of cafestol on your health, you can buy and use special filters for use with your French press:
What’s your opinion on paper filters? Let me know below!
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