Coffee and Cardiology: Germany vs. USA
- blairmueller28
- Mar 4
- 3 min read
As someone who has developed a deep fondness for coffee, it breaks my heart that caffeine poses a risk of triggering my arrhythmia. Therefore, drinking coffee has become a balancing act in both Germany and the USA.
However, this led to the question of which one is necessarily healthier for the heart both in the experience and the drink itself.
For example, in Germany, I walk from my place of residence to a nearby, but not too distant, cafe. Even in a small town, there are plenty of choices for a delightful drink, but I have my regular place in the Altstadt. There, I sit in a quiet, beautiful atmosphere and meet with friends, read, or write. One could say that not only is the coffee richer, but so is the experience in Germany.
However, in the USA, I need to drive to a location, usually a chain such as Starbucks, where I get a drive-through or if I do go inside, the music is loud. The decorations are either dark or, in my opinion, if it is not a chain coffee shop, if often tries too hard to stand out via fancy decorations, music, or atmosphere. Instead of offering a unique and relaxing environment, the coffee's stimulation is enhanced by the shop itself.
On the downside, German coffee has a generally increased level of caffeine. Therefore, to be on the cardiac-safe-side, I tend to order one shot of espresso rather than the customary two to limit the risk of arrhythmia, which happens on occasion, despite my efforts.
While, in my opinion, Germany is better from both a coffee-drinking environment and a coffee drink perspective, what do the experts say?
Medically speaking, the findings of the article, "Impact of Coffee Consumption on Cardiovascular Health" suggest "moderate coffee consumption leads to a decrease in all-cause and cardiovascular-related mortality, hypertension, cholesterol, heart failure, and atrial fibrillation" (Mendoza et al., 2023). On the other hand, it should be remembered that, "no conclusive relationship between coffee and coronary heart disease risk has been consistently identified" (Mendoza et al., 2023). Sugar, on the other hand, is another matter.
An article, "Sugar In Coffee: Exploring An Age-Old Habit" highlights the connection to coffee and sugar consumption in the USA. It should be considered how "third-wave coffee consumers generally lean towards drinking coffee without milk or sugar, it is still an established habit in the sector that isn't going anywhere soon. In the USA alone, a study shows that more than 50% of surveyed coffee drinkers sweeten their coffee" (SanMax, 2021). Furthermore, syrups and sweetened flavors are also common in the USA.
In connection to heart disease, however, the article "The Sweet Danger of Sugar" by Harvard Health Publishing highlights how basically, "consuming too much added sugar can raise blood pressure and increase chronic inflammation, both of which are pathological pathways to heart disease" (Harvard Health Publishing, 2022). Therefore, in summary, "the higher the intake of added sugar, the higher the risk for heart disease" (Harvard Health Publishing, 2022). Sugar, especially added sugar, is considered medically unhelpful to the functioning of one's cardiovascular system.
Therefore, with this in mind, considering the icreased sugar in American coffee, it could be said that European coffee is the heart-healthier choice in both the generally-walkable locations, the quieter, more peaceful environments, as well as the healthier beaverages, it is better to drink European, my favorite is German, coffee for one's heart health.
A toast to German coffee and to heart health!
How about you? Which do you prefer?
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