Coffee and cardiovascular disease: what the research shows
What it found
Moderate coffee drinking is linked to lower risk of high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, heart attack, irregular heartbeats, heart failure and death from any cause.
Some exceptions exist, including unfiltered coffee raising LDL cholesterol and a trial finding more premature ventricular contractions right after coffee.
What they found
Studies in people
Lower risk with moderate intake
Moderate coffee consumption is associated with a reduced risk of hypertension, type 2 diabetes, myocardial infarction, arrhythmias, heart failure, and even overall mortality.
Unfiltered coffee and cholesterol
Unfiltered coffee may have harmful effects on LDL cholesterol.
Extra heartbeats after coffee
Randomized controlled data showed an acute increase in the frequency of premature ventricular contractions with coffee consumption.
Other findings
Effects beyond caffeine
In many instances, the beneficial effects of coffee appear to be independent of caffeine.
Individual differences
Coffee has complex effects that can vary between individuals depending on inherited predispositions and consumption habits.
What the authors conclude
“Despite the common concern and conventional 'wisdom' that coffee can promote various cardiovascular diseases, the available data suggest that moderate coffee consumption is associated with a reduced risk of hypertension, type 2 diabetes, myocardial infarction, arrhythmias, heart failure, and even overall mortality.”
Also in their conclusions
- They say that despite common concern and conventional wisdom that coffee can promote various cardiovascular diseases, the available data suggest that moderate coffee consumption is associated with a reduced risk of hypertension, type 2 diabetes, myocardial infarction, arrhythmias, heart failure, and even overall mortality.
- They note some exceptions, including the potentially harmful effects of unfiltered coffee with respect to LDL cholesterol and randomized controlled data demonstrating an acute increase in frequency of premature ventricular contractions with coffee consumption.
- They state that translating the latest science into accessible knowledge has the capability to tremendously empower patients and impact global health.
How it was done
Coffee is widely and enthusiastically consumed, and many people believe it can promote cardiovascular disease. The authors wanted to translate the latest science into accessible knowledge to empower patients and impact global health.
What it can’t tell you
- We summarised it from the abstract only.
- This is a review of existing studies, not a new experiment. It cannot prove that coffee itself causes the reduced risks seen.
- The findings are about moderate coffee consumption. They do not show what happens at other amounts.
- The effects can vary between individuals, so these results may not apply to everyone.
Who paid
- Authors work at
- University of California, USA; The George Washington University, USA
The paper
- Title
- Coffee and cardiovascular disease
- Type
- ReviewThe authors read earlier studies and describe what they found. It isn’t a new study.
- Evidence
- Studies in people
- Summarised from
- Abstract only
- Cite
- Dewland TA, van Dam RM, Marcus GM (2025). Coffee and cardiovascular disease. European heart journal. doi:10.1093/eurheartj/ehaf421PubMed 40626862DOI
Summary written 26 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error