A daily office coffee binge for many professionals is nothing less than a ritual to step up to the coffee machine, and with the highest regard, a coffee cup is a brain dump for one meeting or during a marathon workday of coffee consumption.

Coffee drinking has some benefits in that it makes one more awake, and it may shield one from some chronic diseases; however, recent studies imply that the coffee you drink at work could be hurting you more than you think. The manner in which coffee machines in the break rooms brew and filter beans may even cause compounds to accumulate in your body that affect your cardiovascular health in the long run. In addition to brewing methods, hygienic issues, and the servicing of the machines, other factors can also affect what finally ends up in your cup.

Being aware of the concealed risks can empower you to make healthier choices that don't necessitate giving up your must-have daily coffee.

Science behind why office coffee machines may affect your health

According to the study published in The National Library of Medicine, experts say consuming unfiltered coffee, including boiled or press-style brews commonly produced by some office machines, can significantly raise total and LDL (“bad”) cholesterol levels. In contrast, filtered coffee showed little effect on blood lipids.

The study explains that paper filtration removes cholesterol-raising compounds called diterpenes, which are present in higher amounts in unfiltered coffee.

This evidence highlights how brewing methods can influence long-term cardiovascular health.

Is coffee really bad for you?

Risks of office coffee machines: What you should know

1. Higher levels of cholesterol-raising compoundsThe report on the study mentioned above revealed that in the case of coffee brewed in common office machines, researchers regularly stumbled upon the identification of unusually high content of plant-derived compounds that can raise LDL cholesterol if they are eaten regularly.

Stand for these compounds (cafestol and kahweol), which are trapped in paper. Filtered coffee: many workplace brewers do not filter effectively; thus, heavy coffee consumers are exposed to higher cholesterol in the long run through increased intake of these substances without being aware of it.2. Inconsistent filtration leads to health differencesFirst of all, different types of coffee machines do not have the same working principles. Those that employ metal filters, pressurised brewing, or do not have any filters at all can leave your cup with more harmful compounds than a paper filter system would.