As any coffee lover knows, coffee contains numerous antioxidants and can even boost metabolism. Yet many are concerned about acrylamide exposure – a chemical formed when certain foods are cooked at high temperatures – such as cigarettes smoke. Other sources include French fries, potato chips, fried or baked foods and even toasted or roasted coffee beans containing acrylamide exposure. But does this mean that you should forego having your morning cup of joe?

Acrylamide, which forms in food through the Maillard reaction (an interaction between amino acids and reducing sugars that gives many food products their brown hue and flavor), can be reduced through new guidance drafted by the Food and Drug Administration for food producers, including coffee roasters. They are currently seeking feedback on this draft document before finalizing it.

Acrylamide poses serious threats to human health, such as nerve damage, hepatocellular insufficiency and liver cancer. Since acrylamide can be found in cigarettes as well as many food sources like fries, breads, crackers, cookies and cereals, people may worry that its harmful properties might threaten their well-being. While acrylamide is well known to be toxic and linked with various chronic illnesses – such as heart disease – its concentration levels in common foods remain minimal.

As debate surrounding acrylamide in coffee intensifies, we enlisted registered dietitian Ella Davar, RD, CDN to set the record straight. She explained that while acrylamide may cause concern, it occurs naturally through Maillard reactions as well as through paper production and water treatment processes. Dark roasted coffee was identified as one of the primary sources for acrylamide production so limiting how much you drink could make an impactful statement about its safety.

Keep this in mind when buying organic coffee: there’s no acrylamide present as beans are grown without synthetic chemicals and fertilizers being applied directly onto them. Many coffee enthusiasts claim that organic varieties offer richer flavors compared to their non-organic counterparts; so, if you still crave your caffeine fix, grab yourself an organic cup – it might just taste as satisfying!