The Healthiest Way You Should Take Your Coffee Is Black, Researchers Say
How can you ensure your coffee is healthy? The answer is simple—literally. Drink it black.
A caffeinated cup o' joe with no additives at all is the surest way to consume coffee without any negative side effects. And not only does black coffee mean you'll avoid the drawbacks of drinking, say, a frappuccino, but it might even boost your health in other ways.
Here's why you should consider taking your coffee black in future days to come, and for even more healthy tips, be sure to check out our list of The 7 Healthiest Foods to Eat Right Now.
Drinking black coffee has one major benefit.
The American Heart Association published a study in their journal Heart Failure that linked black, caffeinated coffee to a long-term reduced risk of heart failure. After tracking and analyzing the diets of 21,000 Americans over the course of 72 years, one of their key takeaways was that people who drank two or more cups of black coffee a day reduced their risk of heart failure by about 30%.
Importantly, these benefits did not extend to decaffeinated coffee. In fact, the study found that the opposite was true: decaf coffee might actually increase your risk of heart failure. For more on the risks of drinking decaf, check out our investigation into the beverage.
Nutritionists everywhere agree that black, caffeinated coffee is the single healthiest way to get your buzz—as Sharon Katzman, MS, RD, explains, the more you add to the beverage, the less healthy it has the potential to be. She steers clients away from sweet additives in particular, as the taste of sugar triggers brain chemicals that encourage you to seek out more sugar (which must explain why a lemon loaf goes so well with that vanilla latte).
How to get the best tasting cup of black coffee.
When it comes to roasting the best tasting cup of black coffee, the best thing you can do is be particular about your beans. Parker Russell, the owner, and CEO of Black Ink Coffee, says to "avoid supermarket coffee. Big stores shelve coffee for long periods which in fact turns the coffee stale."
Don't like the taste of black coffee? For those who are looking to improve health but can't stomach it, Russell recommends modifying your process, starting with a commitment to filtered water.
"Tap water can give off a metallic taste and other unwanted flavors," he says. "Use a filter to ensure that the water you are brewing your coffee with is clean and pure. This will result in a smoother cup."
Along with avoiding stale supermarket coffee—and using filter water—be sure to keep these 9 Mistakes Everyone Makes When Brewing Coffee in mind, and you'll be sipping on a delicious cup of java in no time.
