Can Coffee Harm Your Heart? Doctors Weigh In

United States: Every day, about 2/3 of Americans start their morning by enjoying coffee. 

For many, having a cup of coffee is so ingrained in their morning routine that they own an automatic coffee maker, which is pre-scheduled to brew a pot, making the coffee ready to drink as soon as they wake up. 

Regular habits influence our health more than anything else, so you should understand the heart effects of coffee use. Doctors say heart health depends on what you do with coffee. 

More about experts’ recommendations 

Medical tests show that black coffee helps heart health when taken moderately, but cardiologists note that customizing your brew changes its heart benefits. 

Doctors strongly advise against consuming sugar-based coffee drinks because they harm heart health. 

According to Dr. Edo Paz, MD, MPH, a cardiologist and the Senior Vice President of Medical Affairs at Hello Heart, “There have been many studies looking at coffee, with mixed results. We do know that coffee can raise blood pressure and increase the stiffness of arteries, both of which are bad for your heart. However, one study found that drinking coffee in moderation could decrease the risk of high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and other heart health risk factors,” parade.com reported. 

Furthermore, along with this conflicting idea in mind, Dr. Paz recommends drinking coffee in moderation, with one cup per day being an ideal choice. 

Dr. Sam Setareh, MD, MS, FACC, the Director of Clinical Cardiology and Cardiovascular Performance at Beverly Hills Cardiovascular, also recommends having black coffee in moderation. 

“Studies suggest that one to two cups of black coffee daily can improve cardiovascular health by lowering the risk of heart failure and promoting vascular function due to its antioxidant properties. However, excessive caffeine can increase heart rate and blood pressure, especially in sensitive individuals,” Satareh added. 

Which is the worst type of coffee? 

When it comes to how black coffee (with nothing in it) impacts heart health, scientific research is mixed. 

While scientific studies do show that drinking black coffee in moderation can benefit cardiovascular health, both cardiologists say that how you prepare your coffee matters. Both doctors say that coffee drinks that contain sugar are absolutely not good for heart health. 

As per Dr. Setareh, “Highly sweetened specialty drinks like caramel macchiatos or blended frappuccinos do more harm than good when it comes to heart health. These beverages often contain hundreds of calories, large amounts of sugar, and unhealthy fats, which can negate any potential heart-healthy benefits of coffee,” parade.com reported. 

According to Dr. Paz, both cafe-purchased and ready-to-drink coffee products can contain excessive amounts of sugar. Studies show that daily sugar-sweetened coffee usage damages your health.