American Heart Association says up to five cups of black coffee a day are safe for most adults
A review by the American Heart Association finds that most adults can drink up to five cups of black coffee daily without raising cardiovascular risk, while added sugars and high-caffeine energy drinks may be harmful.
The American Heart Association’s latest scientific statement, published in the journal Circulation on July 20, concludes that most adults can safely consume up to five cups of coffee per day – roughly 400 mg of caffeine – without an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. The recommendation applies to black coffee; the authors note that added sugar, flavored syrups and dairy can substantially raise caloric intake and offset coffee’s potential health benefits.
"High doses of caffeine, such as those found in energy drinks including energy shots, may have harmful effects on the heart and should be avoided," said Dr. Gregory M. Marcus, a professor of medicine at UCSF and chair of the AHA’s scientific statement writing group.
The statement warns that energy-drink shots can contain three to four times more caffeine per ounce than regular coffee and may raise the risk of high blood pressure or arrhythmia. By contrast, black coffee was linked to lower incidences of type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, heart failure and certain irregular heart rhythms.
The review also highlighted that unfiltered coffee varieties—such as espresso, French press, Turkish or boiled coffee—contain compounds associated with higher levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Researchers added that other caffeine sources, including tea, soda and chocolate, contribute to total intake and that individual responses to caffeine vary based on age, medications, health conditions, genetics and metabolism.