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Disgust studies In coffee from the machine, germs accumulate like in the drain
For coffee lovers, the research results of a German student should sound anything but appetizing. As part of his thesis, he has found that coffee machines can be a source of microorganisms and bacteria can also be found in brewed coffee.
Germans love coffee
Coffee is one of the most popular drinks of the Germans. Every German citizen drinks on average more than 160 liters per year. Although it has long been considered harmful to health, today it is well known that the popular hot drink is healthier than is often assumed. Investigations have shown, however, that in coffee can also be germs that sometimes harm the health. The bacteria enter the beverage via the coffee machines.
In coffee machines often lurk germs that are also found in the drain. Even in brewed coffee are such bacteria. (Image: Rawpixel.com/fotolia.com) Bacteria in coffee
What the student Jan Schages found out in his graduation project in the Food Science degree program at Rhein-Waal University of Applied Sciences is truly unappealing.
In the master thesis under the supervision of Prof. Dr. med. Dirk Bockmühl, professor of hygiene and microbiology at the Faculty of Life Sciences, Schages noted with which hygienic risks the consumers are confronted with coffee consumption from coffee machines.
"It became clear that the coffee machine can be a source of microorganisms and, above all, bacteria can also be found in brewed coffee afterwards," it says in a statement.
Germs like out of the drain
"The bacteria settle among other things in the water-carrying elements (hoses and water tank) of the coffee machines. Among other things, they form a biofilm, "explained Schages.
According to the information, this slimy biofilm consists of bacterial colonies on which more germs then multiply. "You know such biofilms from the drain, if you clean it," said the graduate.
Such pathogens are basically to be found everywhere, where it is moist and warm.
Clean coffee machines regularly
"Although there is currently no evidence of a health risk from contaminated coffee, it is advised to regularly clean coffee machines," says the university press release.
And: "Even a high coffee temperature protects according to the results of the study before a high bacterial load."
It is advised not only to regularly clean the machine's water tank, but also to fill the tank with fresh water daily. It is also important not only to empty the coffee grounds container, but to make it properly clean.
In addition, if possible, the output temperature of the coffee should be increased to reduce the germs in the coffee.
"On average, these temperatures are 60 to 63 degrees Celsius," said Schages, according to RP. It would have been shown that by a small increase to 68 degrees Celsius, a large part of the germs is killed.
Health impairments caused by bacteria
In previous studies it was also found that in coffee machines often unhygienic conditions prevail. For example, scientists from the Universidad de Valencia (Spain) have found that Nespresso coffee machines are often contaminated with bacteria.
The researchers found, among other things, germs from the group of enterococci and Pseudomonas. The former are especially for people whose immune system is already weakened and for young children a health risk.
They are prone to urinary and gastrointestinal infections, which may be accompanied by symptoms such as diarrhea, nausea and vomiting.
The pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa can indeed harm healthy people. But for certain high-risk patients, whose immune system is already weakened, the germ represents a serious health risk.
Reusable cups as an alternative to "coffee-to-go" cups
In his Master's thesis, Jan Schages also devoted himself to the use of reusable cups as an alternative to so-called "coffee-to-go" cups.
"It has been shown that the potential germ burden of reusable coffee cups is negligible compared to the potential risks of a poorly maintained machine," the statement said.
Philip Heldt, who has accompanied the project from the Verbraucherzentrale NRW, welcomes these findings and sees this as confirmation that the use of reusable cups is also to be promoted for ecological reasons. (Ad)