- A new scientific statement issued by the American Heart Association (AHA) suggests that as many as 5 cups of caffeinated coffee per day are safe for most people, and are not associated with adverse cardiovascular events.
- However, the report also shows that it is difficult to generalize when it comes to coffee consumption and its effects on health, as different types of coffee and different consumption habits have distinct, sometimes divergent impacts on blood pressure, cholesterol, and heart disease risk.
- Two experts in nutrition, a preventive cardiology dietitian and a nutritional therapist comment on the report’s findings and explain their implications for Medical News Today.
On July 20, 2026, the American Heart Association (AHA) published a new scientific statement outlining the complexities of the relationship between coffee consumption and heart health in its flagship journal, Circulation.
The statement reviews and summarizes the cumulative evidence from recent research on coffee and heart health, and issues updated guidelines for safe coffee consumption.
According to the evidence cited in the statement, drinking up to 5 cups of caffeinated coffee per day — which amount to up to 400 milligrams (mg) per day — is generally safe for healthy adults, and may even bring certain cardiovascular benefits.
Among commonly commercialized coffees, a “regular, brewed, non-specialty” caffeinated coffee contains between 9.4 and 20.6 mg per fluid ounce (oz), and a latte between 9.3 and 11.9 mg per fluid oz, the AHA statement notes.
The statement also emphasizes that not all coffees are made equal when it comes to their effect on heart health, and that coffee type and the extent of daily coffee consumption can all lead to very different outcomes when it comes to blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and heart disease risk.
Medical News Today spoke to two nutrition experts, Michelle Routhenstein, MS, RD, CDCES, CDN, preventive cardiology dietitian at EntirelyNourished, and Claire Cohen, dipCNM, mBANT, rCNHC, nutritional therapist at Nat-Nut Nutritional Therapy, to better understand the implications of the AHA statement findings.
Traditionally, folk wisdom has had it that the more coffee a person drinks, the more they are likely to experience high blood pressure, or hypertension. However, the real-world evidence tells a more complicated story.
According to the recent studies reviewed by the AHA, for people with normal blood pressure, drinking a lower amount of coffee — amounting to 1–3 cups per day — may result in a heightened risk of hypertension.
At the same time, healthy individuals drinking more than 3 cups of caffeinated coffee per day appeared to have a lower risk of hypertension.
On first sight, this is a surprising takeaway, as we may instinctively associate more caffeinated coffee consumption with a higher risk of hypertension. Cohen, though, offered a straightforward explanation for the inverse association.
The nutritional therapist suggested that:
“Regular coffee drinkers may develop a degree of tolerance to caffeine’s short-term blood pressure-raising effects, while those who experience adverse effects may naturally reduce their intake, creating what’s known as reverse causation.”
The AHA statement noted a similarly complex relationship between caffeinated coffee consumption and heart rhythm changes.
Based on self-reported data from participants to recent studies, drinking 1–3 cups of caffeinated coffee per day did not appear to lead to an increased risk of atrial fibrillation (AFib) or other heart rhythm problems.
At the same time, however, the AHA statement notes that some randomized controlled trials found an association between caffeine consumption, “even when ingested in beverages in amounts commonly consumed in the general population,” and an increase in premature ventricular contractions (PVCs), a type of arrhythmia which occurs when the heartbeat begins in the lower heart chambers rather than the upper ones.
PVCs can cause various complications, including an enlargement of the left heart ventricle, which can, in turn, cause more severe issues, such as heart failure.
Both caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee consumed in unfiltered versions — for example, in the form of espresso, French press, or Turkish-style coffee — was associated with higher levels of LDL cholesterol.
By contrast, filtered coffee and instant coffee was not associated with higher cholesterol and this, the AHA experts explain, is likely because they lack cafestol, a natural compound from coffee beans, which tends to be eliminated through the filtering process.
“Cafestol […] can raise LDL (‘bad’) cholesterol by reducing the liver’s ability to remove it from the bloodstream,” Cohen explained.
On the one hand, caffeinated coffee consumption was associated with short-term reduced insulin sensitivity, which is far from ideal, given that lower sensitivity is linked with poorer blood sugar control.
On the other hand, regular consumption of black, caffeinated coffee was linked with a lower type 2 diabetes risk. The AHA cites, among other evidence, a “review of 28 prospective cohort studies” which found an association between daily consumption of 3.5–5 cups of coffee and a 20%–30% reduction in type 2 diabetes risk.
However, the AHA experts emphasize that the lower diabetes risk may not be thanks to caffeine but to other natural compounds found on coffee. “In the Health Professionals and Nurses’ Health Study of more than 100,000 women, coffee consumption was associated with reduced incidence of type 2 diabetes, regardless of caffeine content,” they write.
The general takeaway from the AHA statement is that natural, caffeinated coffee may be best for cardiovascular health.
“Large amounts of added sugar, flavored syrups, and dairy products can substantially increase caloric intake and counteract potential health benefits associated with coffee itself,” the AHA experts write.
They also warn that energy shots are likely to have the opposite effect of regular coffee, and are much more likely to harm cardiovascular and metabolic health, as they contain both added sugars and up to 3–4 times more caffeine than natural caffeinated coffee.
“I […] appreciate that this statement clearly distinguishes coffee from energy drinks and caffeine shots,” Routhenstein told MNT. “The reassuring cardiovascular data apply to coffee, not highly caffeinated beverages that often contain added sugars or other stimulants, which have been linked to increases in blood pressure and heart rhythm disturbances.”
Cohen further explained that, “unlike many caffeinated soft drinks or energy drinks, coffee is a complex beverage rich in antioxidants, polyphenols and other plant compounds that may reduce inflammation, improve endothelial function and support metabolic health.”
“Many other caffeinated drinks also contain large amounts of added sugar or artificial ingredients, which can contribute to obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease,” the nutritional therapist also told us.
Cohen thus advised leaning toward natural coffee brews, with some caveats:
“Black or minimally sweetened coffee, particularly when consumed in moderation, appears to offer benefits that extend well beyond its caffeine content. However, individual responses to coffee vary. Our genetics influence how quickly we metabolise caffeine, so while several cups may have little effect on one person, the same amount could raise blood pressure, trigger palpitations or disrupt sleep in someone who metabolises caffeine more slowly.”
According to Routhenstein, the new scientific statement from the AHA bears good news for coffee lovers but should not be taken as an excuse to go overboard with consumption. “As a cardiology dietitian, I find this statement reassuring, but not permissive,” she told MNT.
“I see it as evidence that, for most generally healthy adults, up to about 5 cups of filtered coffee per day can be compatible with cardiovascular health, but it’s not a recommendation or a target intake,” stressed Routhenstein.
“We need to consider the dose, preparation method, what is added to the coffee, [gastrointestinal] tolerance, an individual’s baseline cardiovascular risk, and even genetics, for each individual when assessing the coffee’s overall risk-benefit profile,” she reiterated. “What matters most isn’t just how much coffee you drink, it is how it’s prepared, what you are adding to it, and how your own body responds.”
“I also remind my patients that caffeine isn’t one-size-fits-all. Some people tolerate coffee well, while others notice higher blood pressure, palpitations, anxiety, or disrupted sleep. If you have uncontrolled hypertension, an arrhythmia, or are particularly sensitive to caffeine, your ideal intake may be much lower than someone else’s.”
– Michelle Routhenstein, MS, RD, CDCES, CDN
Finally, Cohen reminded us that coffee is just one small piece of the health puzzle. “Rather than focusing on coffee alone, it’s important to view it within the context of an overall heart-healthy lifestyle that includes a balanced diet, regular exercise, adequate sleep and not smoking,” she advised.
