For many people, coffee is a daily ritual − a staple in your morning routine that kickstarts the day. But, if you're keeping an eye on your cholesterol, you may want to also take an extra look your morning cup of joe.

Nutrition experts say coffee can impact cholesterol both in how it's brewed (what method you're using to make the coffee) and how it's prepared (what you're adding to your coffee).

Coffee contains oily compounds called diterpenes that can interfere with the body’s cholesterol-regulating processes and raise LDL, or “bad” cholesterol, when consumed regularly, according to Candace Pumper, a registered dietitian at the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center.

"Unfiltered coffee contains far more of these compounds than paper-filtered coffee, making your brewing method an important factor for cholesterol," she added.

When it comes to brewing method, paper-filtered coffee like drip or pour over may be the best choice for heart health, Pumper explained, while unfiltered methods like Scandinavian boiled and Turkish coffee contain the highest levels of these compounds.

"French press can also fall into this unfiltered category since it doesn’t use a paper filter, though it’s often grouped with metal-filtered methods like percolator because the metal mesh strains out grounds while still letting most oils through," she said.

While research on coffee alone is limited and mostly based on observational studies, Laura Ligos, a registered dietitian nutritionist, said what someone is adding to their brew will likely impact their cholesterol more than the coffee itself.

"We know that saturated fats like those found in heavy cream, butter or coconut oil can impact cholesterol and we also know that insulin resistance can also contribute to worse lipids [and] triglycerides," she said.

So, what's the best way for at-home baristas? Black, or with limited amounts of sugar and/or milk of your choice, Ligos suggested.

"If you consume a lot of saturated fats and/or added sugars throughout the day then adding more to your coffee could be an issue," she said. "But, if you eat a well-balanced diet and hydrate well and enjoy a coffee just for fun, it might be OK to add some heavy cream and/or some sugar. It truly does depend on the person, their health goals and their overall intake."

Coffee is just one part of a bigger picture, too, the experts agreed.

"Beyond the brewing method, it’s helpful to keep in mind that many different factors influence cholesterol like genetics, age, gender, diet, lifestyle and certain health conditions," Pumper said.

And for most people, coffee alone is not going to be a "big driver in cholesterol numbers," Ligos added.

"That being said, dose matters for everything and too much coffee especially the caffeinated variety may lead to other heart health issues," she said.