How to Have Healthy Coffee

It surprises people that there are dangers in coffee. Let’s talk about how to make healthy coffee. Since so many of us drink it, we need to optimize this beverage and not have it be a cause of distress in our bodies.

According to Statistic Brain, 54% of Americans over the age of 18 drink coffee everyday, and we spend roughly $4 billion importing it into the U.S. each year. It’s the beverage that is at the center of daily wake-up rituals and morning commutes for millions of people. For such a popular and well-used beverage, we need to look at the quality of coffee, how we’re making it, and how we’re drinking it.

Java and Chemicals

Conventional coffee is a crop that is known for being heavily sprayed with pesticides and herbicides. It’s wise to choose organic when possible, or from a source that practices sustainable growing methods. When getting decaf, opt for water-decaffeinated. You want to avoid coffee that is decaffeinated through chemical means.

Would You Like Some Hot Plastic?

In its best state and with the right accessories, coffee can be a power-drink. Bringing antioxidants, weight-loss, and even brain-boosting power, it’s a star drink. A concern that isn’t very popular, but is the inspiration for me writing this post, is the “hot water and plastic” combination that isn’t healthy. Whether you have a standard coffee pot with a plastic base, or a one-cup machine like the Keurig, high heated water and plastic make a toxic brew. This is not good. Coffee is acidic as it is. We don’t need hot plastic water mixed in there!

Mold?

There’s a couple different ways that mold can be intermixed in your coffee. The first way is in the beans themselves. If coffee beans are not dried properly, mold can start to grow. According to some sources, it’s rare that we would accept moldy coffee at our food import checks. If you read other articles, there’s discussion of it happening. So what do you do? I say it’s better to be cautious than not. Look for small batch coffees from single locations. High elevations tend to have the driest beans, and Arabica beans are known for being best. If you know a local roaster, then I highly recommend getting your coffee from them. If you’re in the Pittsburgh area, here’s a great article discussing local roasters. A favorite of mine not listed in that article is Hunter Brothers Coffee.

Another way mold can be in your brew is by growing in the dark moist places of the coffee maker. One-cup machines and machines with plastic parts inside tend to have this problem. This is another reason I love the pour-over or french-press coffee makers.

Pour-Over

Just recently, I fell in love with pour-over coffee. Before discovering pour-over, I used tea bags (for my loose-leaf teas) to make a single cup here and there. I just stuffed some coffee in there, and let the steeping happen just like it was tea. Then once I started researching, I discovered there is a whole world of healthier and better tasting coffee brewing. I learned more after visiting my local coffee shop and getting a pour-over made there. I’ll never be able to have anything else! The texture is smooth and light, and there’s no gritty stuff at the bottom of the cup. I don’t like heavy coffee, so that’s why I prefer this kind. Pour-over coffee makers (depending on which kind you get) are made with stainless steel, glass, or ceramic. These are all much safer materials to combine with hot water than plastic.

French Press

Another great option is the french press. The flavor from a french press tends to be stronger and more robust, as the water comes in direct contact with the grinds. If you like a deeper flavor, then the press might be your match.

What to Add

Here are some additions to consider adding to your coffee to make it beneficial to you. If you can increase the health benefits of something, and it tastes better, why not? If you click on the actual item, you can view an example.

1. grass-fed butter or ghee – Yes, the key here is grass-fed so you get the healthy fatty-acids that nourish your brain and belly. One way to do this is brew your coffee, let it cool a bit (you don’t want to combine boiling coffee with plastic), and then combine it with a tablespoon of butter/ghee in a blender. A frothy and delicious beverage awaits you! You can also just stir the butter/ghee into your coffee, which I do often.
2. coconut oil – Another great way to add medium chain fatty acids to your diet is by adding coconut oil to your coffee. Just like the grass-fed butter, this is brain-boosting and increases digestion. You can do the same blending method, or simply stir it into your coffee.
3. real cocoa powder – Adding unsweetened cocoa powder provides antioxidants and a wonderful mocha flavor. Cinnamon is also delicious and provides antioxidant power as well.
4. natural sweetener – Using a little honey, maple syrup, stevia, or monk fruit to sweeten your java is highly preferred over artificial sweeteners or sugar. You want to keep your blood sugar stable, as well as avoid chemical food products like artificial sweeteners.
5. real cream – Whether it’s grass-fed dairy, coconut, or almond, your best bet is using real cream for your coffee. Ditch the fake stuff. Staying away from over-processed foods and embracing real, whole foods will improve digestion and overall health. It also tastes amazing! The cinnamon or cocoa I mentioned above is delicious with cream.
6. collagen powder – This is something I started adding to my coffee a few years ago when I first started healing my thyroid and overall hormonal health. Glycine is the star amino-acid in collagen, and is wonderful for gut health, reducing inflammation, and repairing tissues in the body. This is the same thing you find in bone broth, but the powder is more convenient for many people. You can add it to smoothies, sauces, and warm beverages/soups.

I make my cup of coffee the best quality that I can by following the guidelines above. That’s my rule for everything; strive for the best quality.

Herbal Coffees

If you’re trying to reduce the amount of coffee you drink, or avoid it altogether, something that really helps me is drinking Teeccino chicory root coffee and Four Sigmatic mushroom coffee. Four Sigmatic makes coffee blends with coffee and mushrooms combined, and they also make mushroom elixir drinks. Why? Mushrooms are a powerhouse food, and provide vitamins, minerals, and even cancer-fighting properties.

I enjoy these herbal coffees just as much (if not more) than regular coffee. I don’t know if it’s because they mesh with my body better than coffee alone, or if I just enjoy the flavors, or maybe both. Either way, if you’re looking for herbal energy over caffeine jitters, I highly recommend them.

Sip on!