Harmful bacteria could be THRIVING in your coffee machine

POPULAR coffee makers have the potential to be FULL of harmful bacteria, warns recent research.

 

Scientists have discovered bacteria thrives in a coffee machine environment

 

Home coffee makers - commonplace in many kitchens and offices - could be harbouring pathogenic bacteria, even though caffeine is thought to be antibacterial.

All the machines tested revealed ‘significant bacterial diversity’ in a ‘moderately to highly abundant’ quantity.

The team even revealed up to 67 types of bacteria could be lurking in your drip tray.

They noted bacteria started to multiply in the used capsule container and quickly spread to the rest of the machine.

 

Bacteria started to multiply in the used capsule container and spread to the rest of the machine

 

The scientists even highlighted that rinsing the container was ineffective in keeping bacteria at bay.

Scientists examined nine Nespresso machines and one from German brand Krups, during which samples were taken and bacterial diversity analysed.

In all the coffee machines tested a bacterial community was discovered, regardless of the brand. 

The studies authors, from the University of Valencia, said: “Our results show, for the first time, that coffee leach from standard capsule machines is a rich substrate for bacterial growth.”

 

Up to 67 types of bacteria were found to exist in some machines tested

 

One of the two most frequent bacteria found in the coffee machines was Pseudomonas. 

This strain of bacteria has pathogenic properties, meaning it has the potential to cause disease in people with weaker immune systems.

They also found high samples of the bacteria enterococcus in nine out of ten machines. Enterococcus can cause urinary tract infections, bacteremia, a rare heart infection and some digestive issues.

In order to prevent the harbouring of bacteria, the researchers advise thoroughly cleaning the drip tray, cup tray and capsule container: “The presence of bacterial genera with pathogenic properties and the fast recovery of the communities after rinsing the capsule container, strongly suggest the need for frequent maintenance of the capsule container of these machines. 

  

Scientists advised people to thoroughly clean coffee machines

 

“Maintenance should employ bacteriostatic compounds, and avoid contact of the coffee leach with other parts of the machine to avoid unintended contamination of the beverage.” 

One in five Which? members who own a coffee machine have never cleaned or descaled it. As well as being hygienic, cleaning your coffee machine prevents leaks and blockages.

The study was published in the journal Nature.