A short podcast about everyday risks from germs

ChatGPT image description: Two identical versions of the same gray-haired, bespectacled man face each other, pointing accusingly. Between them sits a sealed brick of old coffee. Their exaggerated expressions echo the Spider-Man pointing meme, humorously suggesting confusion or self-comparison over the aging coffee.

881. 40 Year Old Dry Aged Coffee

January 26, 2026 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of consuming 40 year old dry aged coffee.

Dr. Don - not risky 👍🏼
Professor Ben - not risky 👍🏼

ChatGPT image description: A coffee barista in a café places a white plastic scoop into a countertop sanitizing box. The open box emits a purple-blue light, illuminating the scoop’s surface. Stainless steel counters and blurred coffee equipment in the background suggest a clean, professional coffee bar setting.

878. Not UV Sterilizing Coffee Scoop After Use

January 19, 2026 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of not UV sterilizing coffee scoop after use.

Dr. Don - not risky 👍🏼
Professor Ben - not risky 👍🏼

ChatGPT image description: An illustrated instructional diagram titled “How to Use a French Press” shows a circular process: add ground coffee, add hot water, press and brew, then rinse and clean. Arrows emphasize repetition, humorously suggesting the cycle of brewing coffee and cleaning the French press over and over.

876. Continuously Reusing an Unwashed French Press for Coffee and Tea

January 14, 2026 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from continuously reusing an unwashed french press for coffee and tea.

Dr. Don - not risky 👍🏼
Professor Ben - not risky 👍🏼

DALL·E image text: A white drip coffee maker sits on a beige countertop. The glass carafe is filled with dark coffee, while the clear water reservoir shows a small patch of green algae confined to the bottom left corner. The design is simple, clean, and highlighted by soft, even lighting.

831. Drinking Coffee Made With Water From a Reservoir With a Bit of Algae

October 01, 2025 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of drinking coffee made from a coffee maker that has algae growing in the transparent water reservoir.

Dr. Don - not risky 👍🏼
Professor Ben - not risky 👍🏼

A grimy single-cup coffee maker sits on a speckled countertop, heavily stained with rust and old coffee residue. The machine looks neglected and unclean. A filthy, streaked paper cup rests on the drip tray, emphasizing the unhygienic condition. The setting evokes discomfort, like a poorly maintained hotel room.

773. Single Cup Hotel Coffee Makers

May 19, 2025 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from using hotel single cup coffee makers.

Dr. Don - not risky 👍🏼
Professor Ben - not risky 👍🏼

The image features a small, vibrant parrot perched on a person's finger, holding a tiny spoon in its beak and stirring a steaming cup of coffee. The background is warm and cozy, with soft lighting. The parrot appears curious and focused, adding a whimsical touch to the charming scene.

742. Stirring Your Coffee With "Pickle" the Barrista Bird Daily

March 07, 2025 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of letting a parrot stir you coffee with a spoon every day.

Dr. Don - risky ☣️
Professor Ben - not risky 👍🏼

DALL·E - A detailed image of a person in an office, sneaking behind a coffee maker, with only a small part of them visible, such as an eye peeking out...

660. Coffee Made With Water From a Strangers Water Bottle

August 28, 2024 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from drinking coffee made with water from a strangers water bottle.

Dr. Don - not risky 👍🏼
Professor Ben - not risky 👍🏼

DALL·E - A cup of coffee placed on an airline tray table, with a mysterious and eerie atmosphere. The coffee is steaming, but the steam forms into strange shapes.

659. Drinking Coffee or Tea on an Airplane

August 26, 2024 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from drinking coffee or tea brewed on an airplane.

Dr. Don - not risky 👍🏼
Professor Ben - not risky 👍🏼

DALL·E - A coffee cup sitting on a bathroom counter next to a flushing toilet. The bathroom has white tiles and the toilet is modern with a chrome flush handle.

646. Taking Your Coffee Cup Into the Bathroom With You

July 26, 2024 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from taking your coffee cup into the bathroom with you while pooping.

Dr. Don - not risky 👍🏼
Professor Ben - not risky 👍🏼

DALL·E - A raindrop falling off an awning into a cup of coffee in the style of MC Escher

572. Awning Drip Coffee

February 05, 2024 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of drinking a cup of coffee into which a drop of water from an awning has fallen.

Dr. Don - not risky 👍🏼
Professor Ben - not risky 👍🏼

DALL·E Coffee in a clear glass filled with metal bolts

470. Recalled Cold Brew Coffee With a Bolt

June 12, 2023 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of drinking cold brew coffee that was recalled because of a missing bolt.

Dr. Don - not risky 👍🏼
Professor Ben - not risky 👍🏼

Dirty Coffee Carafe and Filter Basket in the style of Vermeer

411. Brewing More Coffee Without Cleaning the Carafe and Filter Basket

January 25, 2023 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of brewing more coffee without cleaning the carafe and filter basket.

Dr. Don - not risky 👍🏼
Professor Ben - not risky 👍🏼

Risky or Not? episodes with Coffee tag

370. Chuck's Cold Brew

October 21, 2022 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of making cold brew in the style of Dr. Chuck Haas.

Dr. Don - not risky 👍🏼
Professor Ben - not risky 👍🏼

OK, I know there's no pen, but it is American Independence Day. This is a shitty low resolution photo which kind of captures my patriotic spirit at the moment.

323. Stirring Your Coffee With a Hotel Pen

July 04, 2022 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of stirring your coffee with a hotel pen.

Dr. Don - not risky 👍🏼
Professor Ben - not risky 👍🏼

310. Really Old Green Coffee Beans

June 03, 2022 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of drinking coffee made from really old coffee beans.

Dr. Don - not risky 👍🏼
Professor Ben - not risky 👍🏼

208. Not Washing Coffee Making Devices

October 08, 2021 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from not washing coffee making devices.

Dr. Don - not risky 👍🏼
Professor Ben - not risky 👍🏼

130. Drinking Civit Poop Coffee

April 09, 2021 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of drinking coffee made from beans pooped our by a civit.

Dr. Don - not risky 👍🏼
Professor Ben - not risky 👍🏼

60. Reusing Disposable Coffee Cups

October 28, 2020 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of reusing disposable coffee cups.
Dr. Don - not risky 👍🏼
Professor Ben - not risky 👍🏼

black-coffee-cup-isometric-view-vector-25105173 dws.jpg

38: Black Coffee at Room Temperature

September 07, 2020 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of holding black coffee at room temperature all day.

Dr. Don - not risky 👍🏼
Professor Ben - not risky 👍🏼