Coffee – How Many Cups?

By Editorial Staff

For many readers, the simple answer may be, “As many cups as it takes to wake up and make it through the day!” But in this case, we’re referring to the amount of coffee that increases longevity relative to drinking less.

After all, coffee isn’t just a wake-up beverage; it also contains multiple compounds (nearly 100 biologically active components, in fact) that promote health. That’s why research suggests drinking coffee can lower risks of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and other significant health issues.

As you might imagine, reducing your risk of suffering a significant health issue increases your longevity – your ability to live a longer (presumably healthier) life. A new study quantifies the ideal number of cups of coffee to accomplish that, and we won’t drag out the answer any further: it’s two to three cups a day. Research published in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology determined that compared to not drinking coffee, drinking 2-3 cups daily resulted in a longer lifespan, including a reduced risk of heart disease.

The study divided nearly 450,000 adults ages 40-69 into six groups based on self-reported daily coffee intake: none, less than one cup, one cup, 2-3 cups, 4-5 cups, and more than five cups. Drinking 2-3 cups per day was associated with the greatest benefit compared to drinking none, with all types of coffee (decaffeinated, ground, instant) reducing death from any cause (although drinking ground coffee yielded the biggest benefit).