Health benefits of coffee

Coffee is a natural food (it grows on trees!) that people have enjoyed for many centuries. It is one of the most popular and most studied beverages in the world, and decades of independent evidence show that drinking coffee is associated with significant health benefits.

The National Coffee Association continuously reviews the research on coffee to evaluate links between coffee and health. Some of the health outcomes where evidence is strongest include:

Below, you’ll find a quick overview of these four featured benefits, with links to specific research studies for more information.

For many people, it may be obvious that coffee can improve your day quickly by helping you stay alert, feel more energetic, and boost your mood. There is also substantial evidence that coffee’s unique compounds (including but not limited to caffeine) are linked to other brain function and mental health benefits, including:

Coffee contains thousands of natural compounds, including anti-inflammatory compounds and caffeine, which research suggests are associated with brain function and mental health benefits such as enhanced attention and anti-inflammatory neuroprotection. There’s a substantial body of evidence to back these benefits.

Relevant research

Reducing risk of or preventing chronic diseases such as heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and hypertension that affect millions of Americans is a public health priority. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 129 million Americans have at least one major chronic disease.

Here’s the great news for coffee drinkers: research shows that drinking coffee has been associated with a decreased risk of heart disease and stroke, type 2 diabetes, Alzheimer’s and dementia, and multiple cancers.

Coffee contains natural compounds with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that could be responsible for its links to reduced risk of certain chronic diseases. Most notably, strong evidence links coffee consumption with lower risk of heart disease, diabetes and liver disease, as well as uterine, liver and skin cancer.

Numerous health authorities affirm the evidence that drinking coffee is associated with significant health outcomes:

The World Cancer Research Fund says “…there is strong evidence that coffee decreases the risk of liver and womb cancers. There’s also some evidence that coffee decreases the risk of mouth, pharynx and larynx, and skin cancers.”

The World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) determined that coffee is not likely to cause cancer and may be protective against some cancers.

California’s state scientific agency, OEHHA, in separate reviews concluded: “A very large number of human studies, taken together, show inadequate evidence that drinking coffee causes cancer. Drinking coffee even appears to reduce the risk of liver cancer and endometrial cancer.”

The American Cancer Society updated its dietary guidelines for cancer prevention in 2020 and concluded that coffee reduces the risk of skin, mouth, and throat cancer and likely reduces the risk of liver and endometrial cancer.

The American Institute for Cancer Research recommends consuming coffee “regularly.”

Relevant research

Related FAQs

Does coffee raise blood pressure?

How much caffeine is in a cup of coffee?

Does coffee hydrate you?

Whether you’re a serious athlete, a casual exerciser, or just trying to get more steps into your day, drinking coffee can help. Coffee gives you a natural energy boost and has been associated with improved physical performance and endurance.

The benefits of coffee for energy, endurance, and physical activity—seen in activities ranging from running and cycling to weightlifting, high intensity interval training (HITT), and daily step counts—are likely due to coffee’s unique combination of caffeine and bioactive compounds.

Coffee’s complex makeup can help increase alertness and reaction time, improve lung function, and calm inflammation and oxidative stress—all factors that offer an athletic edge. A large body of research and sports nutrition experts from around the world support coffee as a beneficial drink for healthy, active individuals looking to step up their game.

Relevant research

Related FAQs

Is it OK to drink coffee before working out?

Does coffee hydrate you?

Is it OK to drink coffee after working out?

It’s true: research suggests that coffee drinkers generally live longer than people who don’t drink coffee. Thinking about all the evidence on coffee and health, this makes a lot of sense. If drinking coffee can help improve cognition and mood, reduce risk of chronic disease, and increase energy and endurance, then it’s not hard to see how drinking coffee could help you live a longer, healthier, happier life.

There is a large body of scientific research that specifically links drinking coffee to longevity. One very large, well-designed study using UK Biobank data found that drinking 3 cups of any kind of coffee per day was associated with a 12% reduction in overall mortality, and the study specifies that “Similar associations were observed for instant, ground, and decaffeinated coffee…”

Relevant research

All information presented is general and not intended as a substitute for individualized healthcare or advice. Please consult your healthcare provider about your personal health.