For millions of Americans, the day really only begins with coffee. Coffee is the most popular beverage in the United States, according to the National Coffee Association, with nearly 195 million Americans drinking it at least once a week. Whether you make a casserole at home, grab a cup on your commute, or use a single-serve machine, chances are you have a routine and you probably don’t think twice about it.
But everything you consume on a daily basis is worth a closer look. It’s estimated that 30-40% of cancers are preventable through diet and lifestyle alone, meaning the small choices you repeat every morning can add up over years and decades. Coffee has had a complicated reputation – praised one decade, blamed the next – but a growing body of research has given scientists a much clearer picture of how it affects long-term health.
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So where does your daily cup fit when it comes to cancer? Does it matter how much you drink? And does it make a difference whether you take it black or dressed with flavored syrups and creams? Oncologists have weighed in on what the research shows, as well as what habits might tip the scales one way or the other.
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How many cups of coffee per day are linked to a lower risk of cancer?
Drinking two extra cups of coffee per day was associated with a 43% lower risk of liver cancer, according to a meta-analysis published in Gastroenterology.
Dr. Avishek Kumar, MD, oncologist, Regional Cancer Care Associates, previously said Parade that people who drink their coffee black may have already formed a useful habit. “Several studies have suggested that coffee may be associated with a lower risk of certain cancers, including liver cancer,” Dr. Kumar said.
More recent research points in the same direction. A 2021 study of nearly 495,000 UK Biobank participants published in BMC Public Health found that coffee drinkers had a 21% lower risk of developing chronic liver disease and a 49% lower risk of dying from it compared to people who didn’t drink coffee. A review of 2023 in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences Coffee has also been linked to a lower risk of colorectal, breast, and endometrial cancers.
Coffee contains over 1,000 compounds, so it’s difficult to determine which ones are the most important. One theory is that they help reduce oxidative stress in the body. It should be noted that these results are associations: they do not prove that coffee prevents cancer.
Related: Here’s Exactly What Happens to Your Body When You Drink Coffee Every Day
Why What You Add to Your Coffee Matters
The benefit seems to diminish once coffee becomes more of a dessert than a drink. Dr. Mark Ashamalla, MDhead of radiation oncology at Episcopal Health Services, previously said Parade that the distinction is significant. “Plain coffee is very different from a big flavored drink loaded with sugar, syrups, whipped cream and processed creamers,” he said.
The two oncologists said sugary syrups and highly processed creams may contribute to inflammation, obesity and insulin resistance, all risk factors for cancer. “Sugary coffee will not cause cancer. But a daily coffee drink high in sugar may be part of a long-term pattern that increases cancer risk,” Dr Kumar said.
Related: Drinking coffee has very surprising health benefits
Temperature matters too. “Very hot drinks may increase the risk of esophageal cancer, probably because repeated thermal injury can damage the lining of the esophagus. So I tell people it’s reasonable to let very hot coffee cool a bit before drinking it,” Dr. Ashamalla said.
If black coffee isn’t your thing, he suggests opting for cinnamon, nutmeg, or cocoa instead of syrups. “Many spices contain plant compounds with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, but the biggest benefit for most people is that they can help reduce the need for sugary syrups and high-sugar creamers,” Dr. Ashamalla said.
The bottom line: Keep your everyday cup simple and save flavored drinks for an occasional treat.
Adapted from Parade Oncologists beg you to stop adding it to your coffee every morning by Emily Laurence Sardinha.
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Sources:
Kennedy, O.J., Fallowfield, J.A., Poole, R., Hayes, P.C., Parkes, J., & Roderick, P.J. (2021). All types of coffee reduce the risk of adverse clinical effects linked to chronic liver diseases: a UK Biobank study. BMC Public Health, 21(1), 970.
Safe, S., Kothari, J., Hailemariam, A., Upadhyay, S., Davidson, LA and Chapkin, RS (2023). Health benefits of coffee consumption against cancer and other diseases and mechanisms of action. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 24(3), 2706.
This story was originally published by Parade on November 4, 2026, where he first appeared in the Health and wellness section. Add a parade as Favorite source by clicking here.
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