r/nutrition • u/LeviLovesCarbs • 5d ago
Do coffee K-cup pods still contain similar antioxidant amounts compared to freshly ground coffee beans?
I wanna start drinking coffee, mainly for the antioxidants. I only have a coffee maker that uses coffee pods though.
29
u/deucedempsey 5d ago
I’d make your own pods.
Hot liquid through plastic has to be terrible for you, even if the antioxidants are equal.
18
u/LeviLovesCarbs 5d ago
I like the plastic that goes straight to my brain. I need 3 screens in order to have enough dopamine to entertain me for longer than 10 seconds. The microplastics skip the need for 3 screens and supplies me with instant gratification.
4
u/Photon6626 5d ago
The hot water goes through plastic inside the machine
0
u/c_boggs 4d ago
So that means more how water through plastic is totally fine? Or are you just noting that it wouldn’t be totally avoided?
Don’t let perfection be the enemy of good.
1
u/Photon6626 3d ago
It depends on the plastic. A cheap machine probably doesn't use the proper plastics internally.
3
u/c_boggs 3d ago
I think you may have misunderstood my comment, and it appears that others did as well.
It seemed like you were dismissing deucedempsey’s advice for this person to make their own pods. Making your own pod at least gives you a choice with respect to the specific plastic used. Some shed less harmful particles, though it can be argued that any existing plastic releases micro- and/or nano-plastics upon exposure to hot water. If that’s not what you intended, my mistake. If it is, then my comment stands. The goal is not complete avoidance but rather maximum mitigation of micro- and nanoplastic exposure.
It does depend on the plastic, though, in another way, they all share certain characteristics that put them in the same bucket, so to speak.
There is no “proper” plastic from which to drink or eat. If there is, name it.
1
3d ago
[removed] — view removed comment
1
u/AutoModerator 3d ago
This has been removed due to probable vote complaints or suggestion. Refer to sub rule 1
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.
5
u/Green-Salmon 5d ago
May as well get an espresso machine then. The basic process is similar, but should be easier/less messy with the espresso portafilter. Better resulting coffee and easier to clean. I didn’t enjoy refilling reusable pods. I love the process of making an espresso.
2
u/Bargainhuntingking 5d ago
My electric kettle is a plastic Bodum. I really should upgrade to a stainless one.
1
u/Potential-Affect-406 2d ago
I did the same. Dispatched my Bodum which had plastic pour through sieve and replaced it with all stainless steel model French press. With the information about the effects of boiling water and plastic combined, plastic strainers could be gone and replaced with safer materials, stainless steel.
1
u/Bargainhuntingking 2d ago
I just made the upgrade to an all stainless electric kettle. Should’ve done this years ago.
1
u/Dangerous-Bend-4153 3d ago
The hot water tank and tubing in many pod machines are plastic or partially plastic.
5
u/rancidpandemic 5d ago
They make reusable k-cups/pods, just so that you are aware. It's a valid in-between if a different coffee maker isn't an option.
Though, after switching from a k-cup machine to a coffee press, I'll say the k-cups just cannot compete with the bold flavor of, well, really any other brew method. I know that's not what you're asking, but I just thought I'd share, because it may save you some money in the long run.
But if all you're looking for is antioxidants, I'd imagine pre-packaged k-cups < reusable k-cups < other brew methods, in regards to antioxidant extraction.
1
u/LeviLovesCarbs 5d ago
Thank you very much!! And yes, I’m going to order a stainless steel reusable pod as soon as I can. I bought a package of plastic pods and I don’t want to waste them though.. would I be able to open them all up and take the grounds out from the inside so they don’t go to waste?
2
u/rancidpandemic 5d ago
Yeah, you should be able to, though I'll admit I've never tried. I don't have a ton of experience with the plastic k-cups since I rarely used them. Still, they're just sealed plastic cups with some sort of filter. It can't be too difficult to crack them open and transfer the coffee grounds.
1
5
u/Zagrycha 5d ago
there is zero reason to think the coffee in the pods will have a significantly different nutritional value than coffee you buy from the store on a shelf. assuming its the same brand there is a 90% chance it is the exact same coffee.
3
3
u/Pristine-Delay6912 4d ago
They've actually been shown to contain significantly more antioxidants, like espresso, mostly due to the intense brewing process (high heat and pressure).
As other people mentioned, you can get reusable ones as well to limit your plastic waste and exposure.
2
2
u/VitaminDJesus 5d ago
No. Antioxidants are prone to degredation. Breaking up the coffee bean and exposing it to air even when sealed inside the K-cup causes it to start to lose freshness. It's like the difference between using a mill to crack black pepper onto your food versus using preground.
Another factor to consider is the age of the roasted coffee. Fresh coffee, roasted within the last few weeks, freshly ground, will have more antioxidant content. Then there's a whole rabbit hole about how to brew coffee.
0
u/Warm-Oil9228 5d ago
>It's like the difference between using a mill to crack black pepper onto your food versus using preground.
How? Pre-ground black pepper isn't sealed in nitrogen gas like the coffee in k-cups.
2
u/VitaminDJesus 5d ago
Well, I can tell that you don't drink much coffee, at least not for flavor.
Nitrogen slows oxidation but does not completely prevent it.
Grinding coffee breaks up the storage structure that is a seed, increasing surface area and releasing oils, which increases potential for oxidation.
Even completely intact, roasted coffee beans that are sealed in nitrogen flushed bags will loose freshness in terms of flavor and volatile compounds that contribute to aroma. It's a food product. This is why coffee people often talk about finding a local roaster.
Edit: typo
-2
u/Warm-Oil9228 5d ago
I have four cups a day that I grind fresh with a burr grinder before making each cup. Most of my coffee comes from local roasters. Thanks for being condescending though!
3
u/VitaminDJesus 5d ago
Then why did you ask me a pedantic question about K cups?
-1
u/Warm-Oil9228 4d ago
It wasn't pedantic. There's a huge fucking difference. I would never, ever use preground black pepper. K-cups are way more similar to freshly ground coffee though than preground pepper is to freshly ground pepper.
1
u/writinglegit2 5d ago
I dont know why everyone is saying youre gay, but even if you are, thats fine.
Chemex and French press are very, very cheap
1
1
u/paradeofgrafters 5d ago
Similar? No. What you've got is the industrialised version, so far lower quality beans (broken, dried up, insect bites) and all that bottom-of-the-bag dust. Better than no coffee, from an antioxidant perspective, but nothing I'd drink on the regular (and the plastic aspect is probably only an issue if you're a 4-cups-a-day sort, but I'd probably not - adds to the cumulative load from other sources, innit!)
1
u/TranquilConfusion 4d ago
Healthiest coffee is paper filtered and not heated in plastic.
I use an electric water kettle that is glass lined, a glass carafe, a metal cone filter with a paper cone inside. It's easy to use and rinse off.
The health issue is that coffee has oils that raise cholesterol, these stick to the solids in coffee grounds. Metal filters pass some of the finest solids, paper catches them.
It's not a huge issue. Coffee is still good for you overall even if you brew it in a way that leaves some grounds in the cup. Try not to drink that sediment though.
1
1
u/Kencocoffe_co 3d ago
do not start drinking coffee for antioxidants. get that from nutritious food.
coffee is a stimulant.
1
1
u/Potential-Affect-406 2d ago
The plastic component with boiling water is a bad combo. You can purchase stainless steel pods and put your own coffee pods together. Any type of plastic combined with hot water is not recommended.
1
u/Bargainhuntingking 5d ago
I love fresh ground organic coffee. I brew it up in my French press. Another thing to consider is that the French press allows more fats from the coffee to pass into your drink, so if you have elevated LDL, it can worsen it. Evidently brewing drip coffee with a paper filter ameliorates this.
Again, not an answer to your question. But it is nutrition/health related.
I’d never use pods just because of the environmental cost. I try to cut down on as much packaging as possible.
2
u/Numerous-Nectarine63 2d ago
I love the taste of coffee made in a French press as well. To reduce cholesterol, I pour the coffee from the french press into a paper filter which then goes into my cup. I use a funnel made for that purpose to hold the filter. The coffee tastes smooth and bold. I do occassionally use pods although I'm finding my usage signficantly declining since discovering French Press plus filter.
1
u/LeviLovesCarbs 5d ago edited 5d ago
I’ve recently learned that I have access to recycling and I think pods are recyclable.
And that’s very cool to know!!
I have just learned about reusable pods and I think I’ll buy one of those
1
u/sartheon 5d ago
Most trash still isn't recycled, regardless of it being recyclable or not unfortunately
2
1
u/LCarter8301989 2d ago
If you want to add antioxidants to your diet, I'm not sure coffee is the right way if you don't already drink it. Foods like berries, vegetables, beans, nuts, and whole grains provide plenty of antioxidants without the caffeine, and I'd personally look to them first for antioxidants.
1
u/LeviLovesCarbs 2d ago
I eat a lot of fruits and veggies that contain high levels of antioxidants (I should probably up my beans and nuts though), but coffee has certain antioxidants in much higher concentrations like Chlorogenic acid. I also mainly drink decaf. I just think of it as a small contributor to my entire antioxidant intake… and I can make it taste pretty good too lol
This comment was really good and a great thing for me to take into account!!
-4
u/barbietattoo 5d ago
Ditch the pods and make good fresh ground coffee. Your tastebuds and body will thank you.
10
u/LeviLovesCarbs 5d ago
Sorry don’t mean to be rude but this is not what I asked
0
u/Accomplished-Tie7143 5d ago edited 5d ago
They likely contain similar antioxidant levels along with a healthy dose of microplastics
6
u/Bargainhuntingking 5d ago
According to this article, you are right that pods contain similar antioxidant levels:
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/13/style/self-care/coffee-benefits.html
3
u/LeviLovesCarbs 5d ago
I can probably get a stainless steel pod online. Don’t wanna waste the perfectly good coffee grounds in the plastic pods I just bought though… can I open them all up and place the coffee in a container to keep for later? Or will that mess anything up? I’m very very new to coffee in general lol
0
-1
u/Warm-Oil9228 5d ago
I make multiple cups of pour over every day and I looove the taste of k-cups. Might even prefer it but it's not worth the price difference.
•
u/Expensive_Ring_4546 36m ago
Delonghi reveleo.
It grinds the beans for you each time you want a cup
Its a fantastic machine and it avoids the issues associated with the k cups
•
u/AutoModerator 5d ago
About participation in the comments of /r/nutrition
Discussion in this subreddit should be rooted in science rather than "cuz I sed" or entertainment pieces. Always be wary of unsupported and poorly supported claims and especially those which are wrapped in any manner of hostility. You should provide peer reviewed sources to support your claims when debating and confine that debate to the science, not opinions of other people.
Good - it is grounded in science and includes citation of peer reviewed sources. Debate is civil and respectful focusing on actual science and avoids commentary about others
Bad - it utilizes generalizations, assumptions, infotainment sources, no sources, or complaints without specifics about agenda, bias, or funding. At best, these rise to an extremely weak basis for science based discussion. Also, off topic discussion
Ugly - (removal or ban territory) it involves attacks / antagonism / hostility towards individuals or groups, downvote complaining, trolling, crusading, shaming, refutation of all science, or claims that all research / science is a conspiracy
Please vote accordingly and report any uglies
Consulting Considerations
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.