The American Heart Association confirmed that drinking up to five cups of caffeinated coffee per day is safe for most adults when it comes to heart health. The statement, published July 20, draws on the latest research on caffeine and cardiovascular disease. It also warns that added sugar, cream, and flavored syrups can cancel out the heart benefits that black coffee provides. Higher caffeine levels found in energy drinks, the statement notes, can be harmful to heart health.
According to Healthline, the statement was led by Gregory M. Marcus, MD, professor of medicine at the University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine, and chair of the AHA's scientific statement volunteer writing group. After reviewing current research, the group determined that 400 mg of caffeinated coffee per day, roughly five cups, is safe for most adults.
"For those that currently enjoy consuming caffeinated coffee or tea, they should be reassured that doing so is very likely not increasing their cardiovascular risk and may even have some benefits," Marcus told Healthline.
He also added a note of caution for some people. "However, those suffering from insomnia or premature ventricular contractions may consider at least experimenting with less caffeine or caffeine abstinence to determine if it helps," he said.
One point the statement addresses is how people measure a cup. Cheng-Han Chen, MD, a board certified interventional cardiologist and medical director of the Structural Heart Program at MemorialCare Saddleback Medical Center in Laguna Hills, California, explained that the statement defines a cup as an 8-ounce serving. "Most people don't understand what an 8-ounce serving is," Chen told Healthline. He pointed out that a standard Starbucks cup holds 16 ounces, which counts as two servings under the AHA definition.
Matthew Saybolt, MD, medical director of the Structural Heart Disease Program at Hackensack Meridian Jersey Shore University Medical Center in New Jersey, said the statement gives doctors something concrete to share with patients. "I am regularly asked about coffee intake as it pertains to cardiovascular diseases like hypertension, atrial fibrillation, and coronary artery disease," Saybolt told Healthline. "Physicians now have a scientific statement and the support of the AHA to give patients evidence-based guidance on the topic. And as a habitual coffee drinker myself, I am thrilled with the results."
Saybolt was not involved in writing the statement. Neither was Chen. The statement was broadly intended, Marcus said, to summarize the latest and best evidence regarding caffeine and various forms of cardiovascular disease.
The AHA guidance applies to caffeinated coffee specifically. The statement draws a line between coffee and energy drinks, noting that the much higher caffeine concentrations in energy drinks present a different risk profile for the heart.
