Filtered vs Unfiltered Coffee: Which Is Better for Your Health?

Do you start your morning with a cup of fresh-brewed coffee? You aren't alone. Research shows that about three in four U.S. adults drink coffee daily. It's a delicious and flavorful beverage that offers the perfect pick-me-up. Coffee, of course, can be classified as either filtered or unfiltered, depending on whether or not the water passes through a filter. So, which type of coffee is better for your health?

The Scoop on Coffee

The health benefits of coffee have been well known for a while now. Numerous studies have shown that coffee, when consumed regularly, lowers the risk of heart disease. It's an all-natural beverage that contains antioxidants and other inflammation-suppressing compounds.

Coffee is brewed in many different ways. Some brewing methods involve passing the water through a filter, whereas others don't use a filter. While they may look and taste the same, there are some major differences regarding their health benefits.

Study Shows Unfiltered Coffee Is Better for Your Health

Researchers in Norway conducted a study to investigate the health effects of filtered coffee versus that of unfiltered coffee. Not surprisingly, they found that filtered coffee offers greater health benefits.

For the study, researchers analyzed health data from over a half-million men and women. They found that most of the study's participants preferred drinking filtered coffee over unfiltered coffee. Nearly 60% of participants drank filtered coffee, compared to just 20% who drank unfiltered coffee.

What's truly remarkable, though, is that participants who consumed one to four cups of filtered coffee per day had the lowest rates of heart disease and early mortality. Participants who drank unfiltered coffee, on the other hand, had the highest rates of heart disease and early mortality.

Why is filtered coffee better for your health than unfiltered coffee? One theory is that filtered water contains fewer toxins and chemicals -- specifically those that impact heart health. If you consume unfiltered coffee, you'll also be consuming toxins and chemicals that can potentially impact your heart health. Unfiltered coffee reduces 99% of these impurities by removing them from the water.

Whether you choose filtered or unfiltered coffee, you should use caution to avoid filling it with too much sugar or cream. There's nothing wrong with adding a little sugar or cream to your coffee, but moderation is key for good health.

This study was published in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology.