If you are currently sipping away at a perfectly brewed cup of coffee, enjoy it now, because after reading this you may think twice about your morning brew. Whether you’re consuming an espresso, a drip, a Keurig coffee, or a cappuccino, there are some things you need to know before preparing your next daily jolt.

Bacteria and Mold Could Be Lurking in Your Keurig

Amanda Busch, an unsuspecting Keurig owner, had samples from her coffee machine tested in a lab. The horrifying results of the tests concluded that Busch’s coffee maker was harboring 4.6 million colonies of bacteria and mold! Yours could be too!

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Fancy Some Staphylococcus in Your Coffee?

The CBS Dallas studios had samples from some of their coffee machines tested in a lab and were alarmed to find E.coli, staphylococcus, streptococcus and pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria growing in all of them! If you’re holding a cup of coffee at the moment, ask yourself when you last cleaned your coffee maker.

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It Might Not Be the Caffeine in Your Coffee That is Giving You Indigestion

Germs found in common coffee makers are known to cause gastrointestinal issues, especially in those who have a compromised immune system. Microbiologist Roman Golash suggests washing your hands before and after every use as an extra precaution.

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5 Out of 10 Machines Harbor Bacteria

A CBS News investigation took samples from single-serve coffeemakers in many average American homes and found that bacteria like Streptococcus and E. coli existed in approximately 5 out of every 10 machines.

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The Handle on Your Coffee Pot Could Be an Even Bigger Cause for Concern

Drinking from the communal office coffee pot? You might want to wash your hands after holding it. Studies on the viruses on doorknobs observed their travel patterns found that the viruses found their way to the coffee pot handles before any other common surfaces.

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Mold Grows Quickly on Used Coffee Grounds and Old Coffee

A warm, moist environment is perfect for the growth of mold. Forgetting a half finished cup of coffee somewhere for a few days or leaving damp coffee grounds in your coffee maker will almost always grow some mold. All the more reason to clean your coffee cups and machine immediately after use to prevent the build up of harmful germs, bacteria and mold.

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The Water Reservoir Holds More Than Just Water

The water that was left overnight in your coffee maker should not be used to make your morning brew. Bacteria like bacillus cereus and other enteric bacteria (bacteria formed in the intestines) breed in this standing water and threaten to pollute your next cup.

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Rinsing Your machine Is Not Enough

If you want to truly keep your coffee bacteria-free and prevent sickness, there are some procedures you should undertake. Try running vinegar through your machine daily, always use filtered water to brew coffee, change the water after every use and leave the lid open to give the inside of your machine a chance dry.

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Next!