How to Brew Coffee for Better Heart Health, According to Science

Hey friend,

Let me start with a little confession: I used to think that all coffee was good coffee, as long as it had caffeine and smelled amazing, I was happy.

But a conversation with a long-time customer, Dave, changed that. He’s a 60-something coffee lover who told me over one of our usual chats:

“Reya, I love my morning cup, but my doc said to be careful with how I brew it.”

Say what now? Turns out, the way we brew our coffee actually matters, especially when it comes to cholesterol.

🧠 Wait... Coffee Affects Cholesterol?

Yup. Here’s the scoop, straight from science:
Unfiltered coffee (like French press or boiled coffee) contains cafestol and kahweol, two natural oils that can raise LDL (aka “bad”) cholesterol levels.

But here’s the good news: Filtered coffee, think pour-over, drip, or even a well-done AeroPress with a paper filter, removes most of those compounds.

Which means you can still enjoy your daily brew and look out for your heart.

💡 The Brew I Recommend: Pour-Over with a Paper Filter

Why pour-over? It’s:

• Clean and smooth in flavor

• Simple to do at home

• Easy to tweak to your taste

• And most importantly, filter-friendly

☕ How I Brew Mine (With Win Win Coffee, Of Course)

My go-to bean: Win Win Ethiopia, it’s light, citrusy, and floral with notes of stone fruit that absolutely shine with pour-over.

How I do it:

📝 Reya’s Simple Cholesterol-Friendly Pour-Over Recipe

• 18g freshly ground Win Win Ethiopia (medium-fine)

• 300ml hot water (195–205°F)

• Paper filter + pour-over cone

• Timer (or just count in your head!)

Steps:

1. Rinse your paper filter to get rid of that papery taste.

2. Add your grounds and start your timer.

3. Bloom with 40ml water (let it sit for 30 seconds).

4. Slowly pour the rest of the water in circles, over 2–3 minutes.

5. Let it drip through, then sip and smile.

💬 A Quick Story From a Reader

A few weeks back, I got a DM from Anna, one of our longtime Win Win drinkers. She said:

“I switched from my French press to pour-over after my cholesterol numbers crept up. Didn’t think I’d like the switch, but now I love how clean and bright the coffee tastes. I feel better and my morning cup feels like a ritual again.”

It’s little stories like these that remind me: coffee isn’t just a drink, it’s a daily choice that can either serve your body or sneak up on it.

🗳️ Your Turn: What’s Your Brew Style?

Even though there’s no comment section here, I’d love for you to join the conversation over on Instagram or email. Are you a French press fan thinking about switching? Have you tried pour-over before?

I’m even considering releasing a “heart-healthy coffee kit” featuring our best filter-friendly blends. If that’s something you’d want to see, let me know by voting in our stories this week!

Thanks for reading (and sipping) with me. Here’s to coffee that loves us back 💛