How to Make Better Coffee With Non-Toxic Coffee Makers

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How important is a coffee maker in most homes? According to some sources, excluding water, people consume coffee more than any other beverage in the world, and it is the second most traded commodity. Though the health benefits of coffee can be debated, most people (myself included!) consume it in large amounts every day.

How much coffee exactly? Well, the world consumes over 2 BILLION cups of coffee a day. This means that the way we choose to drink coffee can have a big impact on our health and on the environment.

The Rich History of Coffee

According to one (very interesting!) legend, Ethiopian shepherds first discovered the stimulating properties of coffee after noticing that their goats had extra energy after eating coffee berries. A little research uncovers many other interesting facts about coffee’s history:

  • The French philosopher Voltaire consumed up to 50 cups of coffee a day. (Fun fact: The lethal dose is 100 cups/day!)
  • Teddy Roosevelt drank 16 cups per day.
  • The Italian government regulates espresso because it is considered an essential part of daily life (similar to how carbohydrates and proteins are listed and regulated on food packaging here). Baristas are also highly respected in Italy.
  • Bach wrote an opera about a woman who drank too much coffee.
  • The word “cappuccino” comes from the similarity of the drink in color to the robes worn by Capuchin monks.
  • The King banned coffee houses in England in the 1600s because he thought people were conspiring against him in coffee houses.
  • Before coffee gained popularity, beer was the breakfast drink of choice in the U.S.
  • The world’s most expensive coffee, Kopi Luwak, costs $600 per pound and is literally coffee beans eaten and excreted by a Asian Palm Civet (a large cat).
  • Money may not grow on trees, but coffee does. The coffee “bean” is actually the roasted seed of a bright red berry (making it a fruit).

So we know the world universally loves coffee … but is it healthy?

The Effects of Coffee on Health

A way to supercharge coffee and make it healthy and great for your skinAlthough I’ve covered the health risks and benefits of coffee before, here’s a recap of some of the issues with consuming a large amount of coffee:

  • Caffeine dependence – Over-reliance on caffeine as a stimulant can affect the adrenals in a negative way.
  • Pesticide exposure – Coffee is a notoriously heavily sprayed crop.
  • Mold – Dave Asprey has several good articles on how much mold coffee from inferior sources can harbor.

The good news is, this doesn’t mean you have to give up coffee. Coffee contains antioxidants and other proven health benefits, and there are ways to limit its downsides:

  1. Something as simple as when you have your coffee can make a difference. Consume coffee between 9:30 and 11:30 a.m. to protect natural cortisol patterns.
  2. Add a boost of healthy fats ups the benefits of a morning cup of joe.
  3. The way you make your coffee makes a difference to your health. Choosing a healthy coffee maker is an important way to maximize coffee benefits without adding harmful chemicals or burdening the environment.

The Problem with (Some) Coffee Makers

Even if you choose organic and fair trade coffee to avoid the pesticides, some unsavory substances may end up in your brew from other sources.

Ditch the Pods!

Unfortunately, some modern methods of consuming coffee carry their own set of risks. For instance, the popular coffee pods (or k-cups) have become an increasing burden for the environment. Over 10 billion of them ended up in landfills last year alone! Endocrine-disrupting plastic chemicals from the pods can end up in the finished coffee, and these plastics have been linked to various health problems.

Even regular coffee makers (and coffee pod machines) contain plastics that come in contact with hot liquid. These can leach plastic chemicals into the finished coffee.

Yep … Mold in Your Coffee, Again

It makes sense if you think about it. The perpetually dark, wet, and warm environment in the tubes of many coffee machines provides the perfect environment for mold, mildew, and even biofilms to grow.

In fact half of all coffee mugs tested contained mold spores, potentially from the tubing inside coffee makers, and unfortunately the hot water and acidity of coffee is not enough to kill this mold.

Safer Non-Toxic Coffee Makers (That Make Better Coffee Too!)

Though modern drip coffee makers are certainly a convenient way to make coffee, there are other much healthier options that (in my opinion) produce a much better cup of coffee. These are some of my favorite non-toxic coffee makers:

French Press

There are some great French Press options in the coffee maker world. A French Press allows you to have control over the temperature and intensity of your coffee. The water must be pre-heated using another method, but French Press coffee makers don’t require any electricity or heat. They don’t keep coffee warm like a drip coffee pot would but are a great option for making a couple of cups of high-quality coffee. As an added bonus, they can also be used to make tea.

Traditional French Press coffee makers (like this one) are typically glass with a stainless steel interior filter, but there is now also a completely stainless steel French Press machine that won’t crack or break like some of the glass options.

Pour-Over

As the name suggests, this method of brewing involves pouring hot water over coffee grounds and letting gravity do the work. Unlike the French Press, there isn’t a way to push down the coffee to speed up the process, and the pour over method does take a little longer. I find that the extra time and effort are worth it for the quality of the coffee. In fact, This many high-end coffee shops use the pour-over method.

Popular pour-over brewing options include:

  • The Chemex – An all-glass system that has won awards for its design and is even on display at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City. It does require filters and I personally like either the unbleached disposable filters or a stainless steel reusable filter.
  • Cone Coffee Drippers – Slightly less expensive, simple cone filters (like this stainless one) or this ceramic Hario) also use the pour-over method and are typically used to make one cup at a time.
  • Ratio Coffee Maker – This is like a pour over coffee maker but is electric and automatic, so you don’t have to stand over it and manually pour the water. It has no plastic parts (hurray!) and makes some of the best coffee I’ve ever tasted! Check it out here.

Old-Fashioned Percolator

What’s old is certainly often new again! Old-fashioned percolator coffee makers are a great alternative to drip coffee pots. Many of us may remember these iconic machines even though they lost popularity (largely due to modern drip coffee pots and more recent coffee pod brewers). Percolators don’t require any additional equipment or filters though, are easily cleaned, and plug in much like a drip machine. They also keep coffee warm like a coffee pot, so they are a good option for anyone who likes having a pot of warm coffee ready for longer than a few minutes.

Just make sure to use a completely stainless steel model for both durability and to avoid plastic.

Stainless Espresso Makers

The traditional Bialetti espresso makers are often made of aluminum (my husband has used one since college and refuses to get rid of it, much to my chagrin!) instead of steel. Though harder to find, stainless steel stove-top espresso makers work just as well and don’t have the health risks of aluminum. These are a good option for those who prefer espresso to regular coffee.

Coffee Makers: Bottom Line

Don’t let a mold-infested plastic coffee maker ruin a good cup of coffee. Try one of these non-toxic coffee makers. Many have the added benefit of not needing disposable filters and create a better cup of coffee anyway!

Are you a coffee drinker? What is your coffee maker of choice?

Most coffee makers can harbor mold or mildew and may leach plastic chemicals into coffee. Try non-toxic methods like pour-over, French press and percolator.

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Katie Wells Avatar

About Katie Wells

Katie Wells, CTNC, MCHC, Founder of Wellness Mama and Co-founder of Wellnesse, has a background in research, journalism, and nutrition. As a mom of six, she turned to research and took health into her own hands to find answers to her health problems. WellnessMama.com is the culmination of her thousands of hours of research and all posts are medically reviewed and verified by the Wellness Mama research team. Katie is also the author of the bestselling books The Wellness Mama Cookbook and The Wellness Mama 5-Step Lifestyle Detox.

Comments

154 responses to “How to Make Better Coffee With Non-Toxic Coffee Makers”

  1. Taylor Avatar

    Can I just say that, not only are you my favorite and go-to blog for wellness, but I love the layout and readability of your blog. Every time I read a popular blog, AND I MEAN EVERY TIME, it slows down my computer from all the badly placed and over-used advertisements. I stopped reading certain blogs because of this reason. I don’t know what you are doing, or how you are doing it, but thank you so, so much for taking my time and sanity into consideration when configuring your blog. I really, really appreciate it! Keep these amazing recipes and tips coming! (And I’ll keep using your affiliate links) I support you 100%!

  2. LAURA GRIMES Avatar
    LAURA GRIMES

    I only use the french press (I have several sizes) and the pour over which I like for large amounts of coffee for meetings. I used to own several of the Chemex glass and when I moved 12 years they were sold in a yard sale as I had to resize but I so regret that since they are pricey now. However there is one thing you did not mention in your post that I have noticed as I try to find coffee to brew. With the K cups mania there seems to be less and less choice of coffee in stores and literally no beans for sale, and yes I do order online but sometimes run short. The K cups makes awful coffee and is expensive and makes a lot of trash not to mention the chemicals in all that plastic and packaging. And the grind needs to be coarse so buying ground coffee in a store is not a good choice. Old fashioned grocery stores had the grinder where you could purchase beans and grind to your choice but except for my co-op that is gone also. Just wondering if anyone else has noticed the change on the shelves in stores. Thanks

    1. Faye Avatar

      Check out your local Kijiji and maybe you will luck out and find one of the grinders just like they have in a grocery store. I got one for $50 that hadn’t been used in a commercial establishment but had been in an office setting for a few years. It was sparkling clean. It I did grind some organic rice through it before I used it anyway. I wouldn’t give it up. I’ve had so many domestic grinders: messy things spraying ground coffee everywhere and lasting no time at all. I had 3 replacement Cuisinart grinders in one month!

  3. Morghan Avatar

    Vacuum Siphon, like the Yama I own, is another good one.

    It’s also usable without power, like the above listed methods, because it uses a little burner (mine is ethanol, but there are butane ones as well) to heat the coffee.

    That, and pour over, are the only ways to make coffee.

  4. Alicia Avatar

    I use my French press maker for groups, but for day-to-day drinking, we use a 4-cub stainless steel espresso maker, much like the classic Bialetti. We steam milk for lattes, or if my husband wants a tall cup of coffee, we simply add hot water to his share of the espresso to make an Americano. My press pots are both more than 15 years old, and the espresso maker is 10. Nothing, save for the reusable mesh filter on the press pots, needs be replaceable–and you can probably get 5-10 years out of those if you’re careful. Both are economical options–and space-saving!

    1. spoan Avatar

      Unfortunately, this model has an aluminum well inside the pot, at the bottom 🙁

      1. JoCarole Avatar
        JoCarole

        Does the description say that?

        This is why I bought it: Luxurious stainless steel construction for easy cleaning and lasting beauty

        Thanks

    2. JoCarole Avatar
      JoCarole

      I am updating my original post. This coffee maker was excellent but sorry to say that there is a piece of aluminum on the bottom which I only found out about after a year so I don’t use it anymore!

      I then started using a stainless steel filter but it took so long for the coffee to drip out that it was always lukewarm. I finally found exactly what I wanted. It’s a stainless steel french press, no plastic parts, just ss. I do have to heat the water in a separate pot first but it’s only a few minutes, then I pour it into the french press, let it say for 5 minutes. Then I have hot steaming rich coffee. It comes with a scoop that is just the right amount of coffee for me.

  5. Marion Avatar

    Just checked out the coffee perk on Amazon and was surprised to see someone post that they returned it because there is some aluminum at the bottom of it. That is disappointing as it sounded like it might be a good option. Have you heard about this?

  6. Chuck Huss Avatar
    Chuck Huss

    I have a keurig and I never thought about the plastic parts problem but I do use the reusable filters. I was looking at those pourover coffee makers and I must say they look interesting.

    1. Rachel Dubois Avatar
      Rachel Dubois

      I have used a Chemex pour over for years. Love the fact that there are no plastic parts. Unbleached natural filters for me. Yes, it does take a little longer because the water (I use distilled) must be heated in a separate vessel, but in my opinion, a good cup of coffee should be a ritual to be enjoyed properly to take full advantage of those rare moments of quiet.

  7. Melanie Avatar

    Katie, you may be interested in this information on different brewing methods and their effect on cholesterol. If you’re waffling between French press and pour over, there is a clear answer health-wise (that being said, I personally still use French press):

    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10971787

  8. Herman Rutner Avatar
    Herman Rutner

    Ladies, you may have forgotten water quality, as hardness and presence of both added toxic fluoride and aluminum used in water processing…..all affecting coffee flavor. Best option use distilled water at less than $1 per gallon or high quality spring water.

  9. Ann Avatar

    I make coffee for my husband the same way my parents and grandparents did it.Boil some water in a small 1 qt stainless steel pot,add the coffee and let it boil for a few seconds.Turn off the heat and let it rest for 1 min so the coffee grounds will rest on the bottom of the pot.Strain it through a very fine stainless steel mesh and done.Where I come from this was called Turkish coffee.Also takes less time than using a coffee machine.

  10. Stacy Avatar

    The Hario pour over brewer makes terrible coffee. The hole in the cone is way too big and doesn’t allow the coffee to steep properly. We tried to make it work and ended up throwing it away. We have one that came with a reusable stainless steel filter and the cone is made of glass. It makes a wonderful cup of coffee.

  11. Katie Avatar

    Have you ever heard of/tried a Coffee Siphon? Also known as a Vacpot.

    It is a all glass pot with a glass filter, nothing else. So everything is very clean and ensures a refined coffee product with no flavor removed. I find it makes the best coffee and is as green as it can get.

    KT

  12. Patty Rodgers Avatar
    Patty Rodgers

    I’m late to the coffee party! 🙂 I traded in my drip pot for counter space! I got a ceramic pourover and have never turned back! Now friends and family who visit ask me to make them a cup of my yummy coffee 🙂
    I only drink one cup a day (whereas for years I had an extra appendage coming out of my hand 24/7) because I only like it with sugar and half & half! Yumm.
    Love your blog, still check every email and read so many that catch my interest! Thanks so much!
    ~Patty

  13. Kavita Goyal Avatar
    Kavita Goyal

    After reading the post, I am thinking of purchasing French Press as it suits my needs far better than the others. Anyone tried these other types of coffee makers? Please explain your experiences.

  14. Cynthia Fleming Avatar
    Cynthia Fleming

    This is a comment about making coffee. For the past 5 years we have used a little non-electric espresso maker called a ROK that I bought my husband as a birthday present half expecting it to be a 5 day wonder. We have gone through SO many coffee makers in the past 25 years so having the same one and using it every day for 5 years is a really big deal! I promise you, I am nothing to do with the company and receive no money from them for my endorsement- I am just a regular coffee-loving person. Here is the website and it has a little YouTube video showing the designer making coffee with it. Enjoy! https://www.rok.coffee/
    p.s. I make mine with more water than he does and most days add coconut oil and butter whizzed up with a stick blender. Yum!

    1. Ann Avatar

      I looked it up and not only is quite expensive,this thing doesn’t have the best reviews.Also,pretty much everything that comes in contact with your coffee is made out of plastic.

    2. katie Avatar

      we use a ROK too,and we love it. you must have a good burr grinder that can get a very fine, even grind in order to pull good shots. my husband bought me this for Mothers day last year, and we have been using it daily since. hen ikes gadgets so he has about 8 different ways to make coffee, but after using the ROK i wont really drink any coffee he makes with his other makers! once you figure outyour variables, it makes the best espresso shots for great Americanos or lattes. everyone loves a cup of our coffee when they come over, so i dont know why the other commenter said it has bad reviews.

  15. Beth Day Avatar
    Beth Day

    What about the old stove top Melita drip coffee makers from years ago?? I still have mine!

  16. Tasha Avatar

    Wow. Had no idea there are some toxicity issues with coffee makers. I exclusively use a French press, but sometimes I wonder if I’m better off with the convenience of a drip coffee maker. This gives me another reason to stick to my French press.

  17. Dave Weber Avatar
    Dave Weber

    Another option for brewing coffee is the ‘cold brew” method. It makes a coffee concentrate that can be refrigerated then reconstituted 1:3 ( ie 2 oz. of concentrate and 6 oz. of hot water) to provide a very rich cup of coffee. If left to brew for 8-10 hours the coffee concentrate is caffeine free while left longer, say 24 hours it makes a caffeinated concentrate. The caffeine free coffee is also acid free. I find I can drink as many cups a day as I like and not get “buzzed” on caffeine. It even taste good cold. There are lots of websites with the particulars for making coffee this way.

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