NEW ORLEANS — Great news for coffee lovers, especially those who enjoy a cup in the morning! According to a recent study that looked at over 40,000 American adults, when you drink your coffee may be just as crucial as how much you drink. Prior research has already linked moderate coffee consumption to several health benefits, such as reduced risk of Type 2 diabetes heart attack, and stroke.
According to Dr. Lu Qi, HCA Regents Distinguished Chair and Professor at the Tulane University School of Public Health, current research indicates that coffee consumption does not increase the likelihood of heart disease and may even reduce the risk of certain chronic illnesses. Due to caffeine's influence on our bodies, we sought to examine whether the timing of coffee consumption has any effect on cardiovascular health.
Together with Qi, experts from Harvard's T.H. Chan School of Public Health and George Washington University discovered two unique styles of coffee consumption among Americans. The larger group, representing 36% of the sample, were "morning-type" coffee drinkers who preferred to consume their caffeine between 4 a.m. and noon. The remaining 14% were categorized as "all-day-type" coffee drinkers who evenly distributed their coffee intake throughout the day and even into the evening hours. The remaining 48% did not consume coffee at all.
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The reign of morning coffee is unmatched.
Over a period of 9.8 years, tracking these individuals yielded interesting findings. Those who consumed coffee in the morning had a 16% decreased likelihood of death from any cause and a 31% lower chance of dying from heart disease, in comparison to those who did not drink coffee. In contrast, individuals who consumed coffee at various times throughout the day did not experience a significant decrease in mortality risk compared to non-coffee drinkers.
According to a recent report in the European Heart Journal, moderate coffee consumption, particularly among those who drink between two to three cups daily, showed the most significant positive effects. These individuals had a 29% lower risk of all-cause mortality compared to non-coffee drinkers. Similarly, heavy coffee consumers (more than three cups per day) had a 21% lower risk of death, while individuals who consumed one cup or less in the morning also experienced a 15% lower risk.
According to studies, consuming 2-3 cups of coffee in the early morning hours until noon decreased the likelihood of all-cause mortality by 29%.
The most significant impact was seen on heart health, with moderate coffee intake in the morning resulting in a remarkable 48% decrease in deaths related to heart issues. Even heavy coffee drinkers had a 39% lower chance of cardiovascular death, and light drinkers experienced a 35% reduction.
Experts have put forth two hypotheses for the potential benefits of morning coffee. One possibility is that drinking coffee in the afternoon or evening could disturb our body's natural sleep-wake rhythm, likely due to its impact on melatonin levels. Previous studies have found that consuming a large amount of coffee later in the day can decrease nighttime melatonin production by as much as 30%. Since melatonin is critical for maintaining our internal clock and has been linked to heart health, interfering with its production may cancel out some of the positive effects of coffee.
Another aspect of coffee's effect is its anti-inflammatory properties. In the morning, our bodies tend to produce higher levels of inflammatory markers, which then decrease throughout the day. Hence, drinking coffee with its anti-inflammatory compounds during morning hours could potentially offer the greatest advantage when our bodies require it most.
Given coffee's lasting popularity worldwide, these findings could greatly impact public health. Current U.S. Dietary Guidelines, spanning from 2015 to 2020, already promote moderate coffee intake as a component of a wholesome eating plan. However, this fresh study indicates that timing may also play a role in making choices about consuming coffee.
Although the findings may cause some afternoon coffee lovers to rethink their routines, it's important to mention that the research only looked at correlations, not definitive causal links. However, for individuals aiming to enhance the potential health advantages of coffee, the morning is likely the optimal time.
Throughout the 9.8-year follow-up, the results consistently demonstrated better health outcomes for individuals who consumed 2-3 cups of coffee daily, with morning-type coffee drinkers experiencing the greatest benefits. Notably, researchers observed a strong correlation between morning coffee intake and decreased risks of mortality from all causes and cardiovascular disease.
Publication details
The newly published article in the European Heart Journal (2025), written by Xuan Wang and a team of researchers from multiple institutions such as Tulane University, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Brigham and Women's Hospital, and The George Washington University, can be accessed freely under a Creative Commons Attribution License. This means that it can be shared and utilized without limitations as long as proper citation is given.