Good News for Coffee Drinkers: The Health Benefits Outweigh the Risks for Most People

Morgan Wharton and Jessica Cote, National Center for Health Research

Farmin Shahabuddin, MPH, Sunny Cui, Morgan Wharton, and Jessica Cote, National Center for Health Research

Cup of coffee, coffee benefits

Most Americans drink coffee every day. The caffeine in coffee helps us stay alert, but may also cause you to feel jittery and interfere with sleeping. Numerous studies indicate that coffee with or without caffeine has numerous health benefits, perhaps because of antioxidants or acids in the coffee beans.1 For years, many people assumed that coffee wasn’t healthy. However, newer and much better research usually shows the opposite: people who drink coffee tend to live longer and have several important health benefits.

For example, a large study in 2018 analyzed nearly half a million adults in the United Kingdom.2 It found that the more coffee people drank, from none to 8 or more cups per day, the less likely they were to die from cancer or cardiovascular disease.  These benefits were consistent across men and women, different age groups, BMI levels, and people with or without previous major illnesses. These benefits were seen for decaffeinated, ground, and instant coffee, although they were slightly weaker for instant coffee. To better understand these benefits, let’s look at research on coffee’s impact on specific diseases.

What are the Health Benefits of Drinking Coffee?

Coffee is Not Bad for the Heart

A 2023 analysis of over 20,000 adults followed for nearly 20 years showed that people who drank 2–3 cups of coffee daily had fewer cardiovascular events and fewer deaths from heart disease compared with people who avoided coffee. Even people with existing heart conditions, such as arrhythmias, showed no increase in hospitalizations or complications from drinking coffee. The study also showed that people who drink 1 cup of coffee daily were less likely to die in the next 20 years from any cuase, and those who drink 2–3 cups daily tended to live the longest, challenging the long-standing belief that coffee is harmful for the heart. 3

Coffee and Atrial Fibrillation: Debunking an Old Myth

For years, people with atrial fibrillation (AF), a condition that causes an irregular heartbeat, were told to avoid coffee. But a 2025 clinical trial called the DECAF study suggests that advice may be outdated. Researchers followed 200 adults for 6 months who had undergone treatment for persistent AF. One group was told to drink at least one cup of caffeinated coffee each day, while the other group avoided all caffeine.  The results were surprising: AF returned in 47% of coffee drinkers compared to 64% of those who avoided caffeine. The study also found no increase in heart-related emergencies or hospitalizations among coffee drinkers. The results apply to regular amounts of coffee, not high-caffeine energy drinks. So, the results don’t mean unlimited coffee drinking is a good idea for A-Fib but instead suggest that moderate coffee consumption is safe and may even help reduce AF recurrence. 4

Morning Coffee and Heart Health

A 2025 study published in the European Heart Journal looked at whether the time of day people drink coffee affects their long-term health. Researchers followed more than 40,000 adults in the United States for about 10 years. They found that most people either drank coffee mainly in the morning or sipped it throughout the whole day. The results showed that people who drank their coffee only in the morning were about 16% less likely to die from any cause in the next decade and about 31% less likely to die from heart disease during that time, compared to those who did not drink coffee at all. 5 Researchers think that drinking coffee in the morning may better match the body’s natural rhythms, leading to stronger anti-inflammatory effects. While the study cannot prove cause and effect, it suggests that when you drink coffee may be just as important as how much you drink.

Colorectal Cancer

Meta-analyses are a type of statistical method that combines data from several comparable studies to create one very large analysis. These combined results are usually more reliable than any single study. Taken together, three meta-analyses suggest that drinking about four or more cups of coffee per day may reduce the chances of developing colorectal cancer by 11–24%. 6,7,8 Since the meta-analyses focus on whether people get colorectal cancer, it is also important to look at research on whether coffee affects outcomes after diagnosis, including cancer returning or the chances of dying from the disease.

A 2024 study followed 1,719 patients with stage I–III colorectal cancer for about six years and found that those who drank more than 4 cups a day had fewer recurrences and 32% fewer deaths than people who drank fewer than 2 cups. The results showed a U-shaped pattern, meaning moderate coffee intake was linked with the best outcomes.9 A 2025 study of 1,769 colorectal cancer patients followed for almost eight years also found better survival among coffee drinkers. People who drank 2–4 cups a day had 31–40% fewer deaths, depending on whether they had other cardiometabolic diseases. Drinking more than 4 cups did not consistently add more benefit. Overall, moderate coffee drinking was most reliably linked with living longer after a colorectal cancer diagnosis.10

Endometrial (Uterine) Cancer

Using data from 67,470 women aged 34 to 59 in the Nurses’ Health Study, researchers followed participants for 26 years and found that women who drank four or more cups of coffee per day were 25% less likely to develop endometrial cancer than women who drank only one cup of coffee per day. Compared to women who did not drink any coffee, those who drank four cups or more per day were 30% less likely to develop endometrial cancer. Decaffeinated coffee was just as effective as caffeinated coffee, but caffeinated tea did not lower the risk of endometrial cancer.11

A large 2022 study examined data from over 250,000 women across different countries to see how coffee drinking relates to developing endometrial cancer. The researchers found that women who drank 2–3 cups of coffee a day were 19% less likely to develop endometrial cancer compared to women who drank less than 1 cup per day. Women drinking 4 or more cups daily were 30% less likely to develop endometrial cancer. The same study also evaluated whether it mattered if the coffee was caffeinated or decaffeinated. Both types of coffee seemed beneficial,  but caffeinated coffee showed greater benefits. 12

Liver Cancer and Cirrhosis (Scarring of the Liver/Chronic Liver Disease)

Dozens of studies from the U.S., Europe, and Asia, together involving hundreds of thousands of adults, have consistently found that coffee drinkers are less likely to develop liver cancer or cirrhosis.13-16 Although results vary somewhat, most studies show that people who drink 3–4 cups of coffee a day have about 50% lower chances of getting the most common type of liver cancer compared with non-drinkers.

A 2021 study from the UK Biobank, which followed nearly 500,000 adults for over 10 years, found fewer cases of chronic liver disease, fatty liver, and liver cancer among coffee drinkers, even for those drinking just one cup a day.14 A 2024 study explored coffee consumption among people with pre-existing liver disease, focusing on how coffee might influence cirrhosis progression. The study included more than 4,000 adults with various stages of liver disease. Participants who drank 2 or more cups daily showed 27% fewer liver-related hospitalizations compared to minimal coffee drinkers.16 A 2025 review by the American Institute for Cancer Research confirmed these findings, concluding that regular coffee consumption may lower the chances of liver cancer and cirrhosis due to coffee’s anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects.17

Skin Cancer

A 2014 study found that the more coffee participants drank, the less likely they were to develop malignant melanoma over the next 10 years. Melanoma is the most dangerous form of skin cancer. Almost 450,000 White adults aged 50-71, participated in the study. Researchers found that the adults who drank four or more cups of coffee per day were 20% less likely to develop malignant melanoma. People who drank decaffeinated coffee were not more or less likely to develop melanoma compared to non-coffee drinkers. 18

Basal cell carcinoma is the most common and least dangerous type of skin cancer. A 2019 analysis combined data from 13 different studies that included more than 1 million people, to examine whether coffee or caffeine seems to affect the diagnosis of non-melanoma skin cancers. The review showed that people who drank 4 or more cups a day were about 18% less likely to develop basal cell carcinoma compared to those who consumed fewer than 4 cups a day. Researchers noted that this benefit seemed more likely for caffeinated coffee than for decaf. 19

Type 2 Diabetes

People in Finland consume more coffee than almost any other nation, and a study of 14,000 people over 12 years found that men who drank 10 or more cups of coffee daily were 55% less likely to develop type 2 diabetes mellitus than men who drank 2 cups of coffee a day or fewer.  Even more dramatically, women who drank 10 or more cups per day were 79% less likely to develop type 2 diabetes than those who drank fewer than 2 cups daily.20

A major 2021 review combined data from over 1.1 million adults across Europe, the United States, and Asia, following them for up to 24 years. It found that people who drank 3–4 cups of coffee a day were about one-third less likely to develop type 2 diabetes compared with those who drank little or none. The benefits were similar for caffeinated and decaf coffee, suggesting that antioxidants in coffee may be the reason for the benefit. The review also found that people who increased their coffee intake by one extra cup per day were about 6–7% less likely to develop diabetes during the next several years. Researchers explained that coffee may help prevent diabetes by improving insulin sensitivity, lowering inflammation, and supporting healthier glucose metabolism. 21

Parkinson’s Disease

A 2023 review summarized decades of research showing that men and women who drink coffee regularly tend to be less likely to be diagnosed with  Parkinson’s disease. 22 Several studies included in the review showed that people drinking 3–5 cups daily were 30–60% less likely to develop Parkinson’s than non-coffee drinkers. The authors emphasized that this pattern has been consistently observed across many international studies.

Suicide

Because suicide may be related to alcohol intake, medications, and stress levels, suicide studies took those factors into account.  A 10-year study of 128,000 people in California found that the chances of committing suicide decreased by 13% for every additional cup of coffee consumed per day. Even one cup of coffee per day seemed to lower the chances of committing suicide. It also reported that women who drank two or more cups of coffee per day were 50% less likely to commit suicide compared to women who did not drink coffee.23

A 2025 study that combined data from more than 150,000 adults in the U.S. recorded 512 suicides over the next 10–20 years. People who drank 2–3 cups of coffee a day were about 35% less likely to die by suicide compared with adults who drank less than one cup per day. Those who drank 4 or more cups a day were 45% less likely to commit suicide. The researchers suggested that caffeine’s effects on mood, alertness, and brain chemicals such as serotonin and dopamine may help explain the lower suicide rates but emphasized that coffee should never be considered a treatment for depression. 24

Brain Power and Aging

In a new 2026 study, researchers followed more than 131,000 men and women for up to 43 years to examine the relationship between coffee, tea, and brain health. During that time, about 11,000 participants developed dementia. People who drank the most caffeinated coffee were less likely to develop dementia than those who drank the least. Each year, about 0.33% of people in the lowest coffee group developed dementia, compared to about 0.14% in the highest coffee group. People who drank more caffeinated coffee were also less likely to report memory problems, with 7.8% reporting cognitive decline compared to 9.5% in the lowest coffee group. Tea showed similar benefits. However, decaffeinated coffee showed no association with lowering the chances of developing dementia or improving memory performance. This suggests that caffeine may play a key role as the active ingredient. The strongest benefits were seen among people who drank about 2 to 3 cups of caffeinated coffee per day or 1 to 2 cups of tea per day.29

A 2024 study of 2,475 older men and women (ages 60 and above) evaluated how coffee influences memory and thinking ability. People who drank 2–3 cups a day performed better on tests of attention, memory, and overall cognitive performance compared with non-coffee drinkers. In follow-up testing, these coffee drinkers showed a slower decline in brain function over time. The study found that moderate coffee intake was linked with better performance on working memory tests and higher overall cognitive scores, while very low or very high intake did not show the same level of benefit. 25

Possible Harm During Pregnancy

Although coffee has many benefits for most adults, research shows that caffeine during pregnancy may harm the developing fetus. Studies suggest that even moderate amounts of caffeine could affect conception and early growth.

A 2016 NIH study found that miscarriage was more likely when either partner drank two or more caffeinated beverages a day before conception, and when women drank that amount during the first seven weeks of pregnancy.²⁶ A 2018 study in Norway reported that pregnant women who consumed more than 200 mg of caffeine per day (about 2–3 cups of coffee) were more likely to have children who were overweight through age 8. 27

A 2021 NIH study of more than 2,000 pregnant women found that even caffeine levels below 200 mg/day were linked to slightly smaller birth size. For example, babies of mothers in the highest caffeine group were, on average, 84 grams (nearly 3 ounces) lighter, had 0.44 cm smaller thigh circumference, and had 0.68 mm smaller arm circumference compared with women who had almost no caffeine. Although these differences were small, they showed that even moderate caffeine intake can be associated with slower fetal growth. 28

The Bottom Line

For most people, drinking coffee seems to improve health more than harm it. Many of coffee’s health benefits increase with the number of cups per day, but even one cup a day lowers the risk of several diseases. However, women who want to get pregnant or are already pregnant should probably limit their coffee intake because, in their case, the risks may outweigh the health benefits.

Even though many studies show coffee has benefits, it is still not clear why. How can one popular beverage help metabolism (for example, lowering the risk of type 2 diabetes) and also protect against a range of cancers? Until further research can solve that puzzle, most adults should continue to enjoy their cup (or two, or three) of Joe. Finally, remember that nearly all studies on coffee and health have been done on adults. Coffee may affect children and teens differently.

All articles are reviewed and approved by Dr. Diana Zuckerman and other senior staff.

The National Center for Health Research is a nonprofit, nonpartisan research, education and advocacy organization that analyzes and explains the latest medical research and speaks out on policies and programs. We do not accept funding from pharmaceutical companies or medical device manufacturers. Find out how you can support us here.

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