A recent study has revealed a surprising source of potential heart health issues lurking in many workplaces: the office coffee machine. Researchers in Sweden examined how coffee brewed in common workplace machines could be affecting cardiovascular health, and their findings suggest that what you sip at your desk each day might not be as harmless as it seems.
The issue lies in how the coffee is made. Unlike home brewers that often use paper filters, many office machines don’t filter coffee in a way that removes certain natural oils—specifically, compounds called cafestol and kahweol. These substances are known to raise levels of LDL cholesterol, often referred to as “bad” cholesterol, which is a key risk factor for heart disease.
In their study, scientists tested 14 different workplace coffee machines and found that those without paper filters allowed more of these cholesterol-raising compounds to end up in the coffee. Over time, the study suggests, this could have a measurable impact on heart health—especially for employees who drink several cups a day, every day, over many years.
In fact, the researchers estimate that switching from unfiltered coffee to paper-filtered coffee could reduce LDL cholesterol enough to significantly lower the risk of heart disease—by as much as 13% over five years, and up to 36% over a typical 40-year working life.
The study also noted that not all office machines are equal. Traditional brewing machines—like those that make pots of coffee for a break room—tended to have the highest levels of these problematic compounds. On the other hand, instant coffee and machines that use liquid concentrates had much lower levels, similar to filtered coffee made at home.
While previous research has shown that moderate coffee consumption can offer some health benefits, the way coffee is brewed matters a lot more than many people realize. Experts say if you have a choice, it’s worth opting for filtered coffee whenever possible—especially if you already have risk factors for heart disease.
So, while your morning office coffee might give you a quick energy boost, it could also be quietly working against your long-term health. It might be time to reconsider what’s brewing in the break room.
