You might not drink coffee for health reasons, but a new study shows it could help you live longer—especially if you drink it black or with very little sugar and fat. The study, from Tufts University’s Friedman School of Nutrition, looked at the link between coffee and the risk of death.
Researchers studied health data from over 46,000 U.S. adults between 1999 and 2018. They found that people who drank 1–2 cups of caffeinated coffee daily had a lower risk of dying from any cause, especially heart disease. Drinking black coffee or coffee with low amounts of sugar and saturated fat was linked to a 14% lower risk of death compared to people who didn’t drink coffee. However, this benefit wasn’t seen in people who added a lot of sugar and fat to their coffee.
The study found that drinking up to three cups per day could slightly increase the benefits, but drinking more than three didn’t help much more. There was no strong link between coffee and lower cancer death rates, and decaf coffee didn’t show the same results—possibly because fewer people drink it.
Experts say that the helpful effects may come from natural compounds in coffee, but adding too much sugar or cream may cancel out the benefits. This research supports current health guidelines that suggest keeping sugar and saturated fat intake low.