Whether filter coffee, espresso or soluble coffee, there is no evidence that coffee consumption in the usual quantities taken is associated with a health risk, reports nutritionist Anja Baustian of the Gesellschaft für Ernährungsmedizin und Diätetik e.V. in Aachen, Germany. An American research group examined the effect of caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee on heart, blood circulation and metabolism in the year 2005. Caffeinated coffee had no negative effect on the measured parameters of blood pressure, pulse rate, body mass index, blood glucose levels, insulin levels or various blood lipid levels (total cholesterol, HDL, LDL) (1). Those who have problems with cholesterol levels, on the other hand, should rather reach for filter coffee, as this filters out the coffee oils to a large extent.
Influence of caffeine on the body
After a sumptuous meal, espresso and coffee stimulate gastric acid production as well as bile secretion, thus getting the stomach and intestines moving. Coffee drinkers with a sensitive stomach should reach for espresso rather than a cup of filter coffee. Espresso is easier on the stomach than filter coffee.
The reason is the longer and stronger roasting of the beans. Acids and other irritating substances that often upset the stomach are thus destroyed. Furthermore, caffeine can increase blood pressure. Therefore, caffeine helps with headaches. However, migraines and chronic headaches cannot be treated with a cup of coffee.
Different methods of production
The most classic way to enjoy a coffee is with the help of the filter method. Espresso is prepared using the steam pressure principle. It is characterized by its short contact time, around 20 to 30 seconds, between espresso grounds and water. Soluble coffee is a product made exclusively from roasted coffee using water. The instant powder is made from the liquid of brewed beans, which are concentrated and dried after removing the coffee grounds.
In terms of ingredients, the three differ only slightly. Coffee consists of over 1200 ingredients: insoluble carbohydrates, soluble carbohydrates, coffee oils, Maillard products, alkaloids including caffeine, minerals, acids such as citric, acetic, malic, chlorogenic and quinic acids, and 1000 volatile aroma compounds.
Conclusion
Even though coffee is safe for health, a balanced diet should not consume more than four to five cups daily. Except for the preparation, the ingredients and therefore the physiological effects are relatively the same. Whether it should be filter coffee, espresso or soluble coffee after all, depends solely on taste. Literature:
(1) Coffee and Lipoprotein Metabolism study (CALM). The National Institutes of Health
