Coffee

Studies in people

• Benefit

  Kidney stone risk³

  Genetically predicted higher coffee and caffeine consumption was linked to a lower risk of kidney stones, the study found.

• Benefit

  Body weight and belly fat⁴

  In people, drinking more coffee was linked to slightly lower weight and belly fat, especially in men.

• Benefit

  Dementia risk and memory⁵

  In adults, drinking caffeinated coffee was linked to lower dementia risk and slightly better cognitive test scores.

• Benefit

  Morning drinking and survival⁶

  In US adults, drinking coffee mainly in the morning was linked to a lower risk of death than not drinking coffee.

• Concern

  Heart rhythm and sleep⁷

  In people, drinking caffeinated coffee was linked to more skipped heartbeats, more steps, and less sleep.

Animal and lab studies only

• Open question

  Gut and brain health¹²

  In lab studies, coffee affected the gut lining, gut movement, and the gut-brain connection, but much is still unknown.

Study type not stated

• Open question

  Heart health⁹

  Moderate coffee drinking is linked to lower risk of heart problems, though unfiltered coffee may raise cholesterol.

• Benefit

  Brain and mood effects¹⁰

  Coffee can boost alertness, concentration and mood, and may lower risk of stroke and Parkinson's disease.

How it’s made and used

• Appetite and food intake²

  In people, coffee 3–4.5 hours before a meal barely changed how much they ate, but caffeine may cut short-term eating.

• Gut bacteria⁸

  Coffee feeds a specific gut germ called Lawsonibacter asaccharolyticus, and scientists found this same link in thousands of people.

• Bitter taste receptors¹¹

  Mozambioside, cafestol and kahweol in coffee switch on two human bitter taste sensors.

The signal at the top counts the findings in people and in animal and lab studies. A concern in studies of people outranks animal and lab studies, and “No concerns” needs at least two findings in people. Findings whose study type is not stated are shown but not counted. This page is a reference, not medical advice. It describes what regulators and published research say. Talk to a doctor or dietitian about your own diet.