Coffee and Tea Both Benefit Heart Health, Study Finds

If you’ve been told to cut back on coffee for your heart, or heard that only tea drinkers live longer, here’s some news worth sipping over: both coffee and tea can be good for your heart—if you prepare and consume them the right way.

The short answer? Drinking 2–6 cups of filtered coffee daily doesn’t raise your risk of heart disease and may even help relax your arteries. For tea, aim for 5–6 cups a day to see measurable heart benefits. Just skip unfiltered brews like French press or boiled coffee—they can raise bad cholesterol.

What We Used to Think About Coffee and the Heart

In the 1600s, Europeans believed coffee aided digestion and treated gout—but also caused impotence and paralysis. Not exactly accurate. Fast-forward to today, and researchers are still debating coffee’s effects on the heart, especially blood pressure, arterial health, and risk of heart attack.

Some older studies suggested coffee raised blood pressure—by 2–3 mm Hg in non-habitual drinkers—but regular coffee drinkers show no such spike. Others claimed coffee increased heart rate temporarily, yet found no link to dangerous arrhythmias. And then there was the cholesterol issue: unfiltered brews (like French press or boiled coffee) contain coffee oils that can raise LDL and total cholesterol, but filtered coffee removes those compounds.

One myth busted: coffee does not cause hypertension. Even people with high blood pressure can usually keep drinking coffee without issues.

Coffee and Heart Disease: What the Science Really Says

Large, long-term studies (tracking people for 10–20 years) consistently show no increase in coronary heart disease risk among coffee drinkers—whether they prefer regular or decaf. That includes over a decade of monitoring data proving coffee can be part of a healthy diet.

What about people who already have heart disease? Some research indicates coffee might slightly raise the chance of a heart attack—but only in certain cases. For example, inactive individuals with other heart risk factors who aren’t used to drinking coffee might see a tiny increase in morning heart attack risk after their first cup. But this effect is small, and likely tied to temporary spikes in blood pressure or nervous system activity, especially in those who overestimate those changes. Genetics play a role too: a Costa Rican study found slow caffeine metabolizers had a higher risk of heart attack after coffee, but overall, the danger is minimal.

What About Tea? Does It Protect the Heart Too?

Comparing coffee and tea directly is tricky—tea drinkers often have healthier diets and lifestyles overall. But observational studies suggest both black and green tea can help lower coronary heart disease risk, particularly when you drink around 5–6 cups per day. No need to overdo it: the benefits appear at moderate levels.

So which is better? There’s no clear winner. Your choice should come down to taste. Just avoid unfiltered coffee (like French press or boiled) if you’re watching your cholesterol. And if you take sugar in your coffee, opt for low-calorie, low-fat choices.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does coffee really raise blood pressure?

Coffee may cause a small, temporary rise in blood pressure—about 2–3 mm Hg—in people who don’t drink it regularly. But for habitual coffee drinkers, there’s no significant increase. Even those with hypertension can usually continue drinking coffee without worsening their condition.

Is unfiltered coffee bad for my heart?

Yes. Unfiltered coffee—such as French press, boiled, or Turkish coffee—contains natural oils that can raise your LDL and total cholesterol levels. Using a filter removes these oils, making filtered coffee much safer for heart health.

Can coffee cause a heart attack?

For most people, no. But in inactive individuals with existing heart risk factors who aren’t used to drinking coffee, a single cup in the morning might slightly increase the risk of a heart attack. This is rare and linked to temporary changes in blood pressure or nervous system response.

How much tea should I drink for heart benefits?

Observational studies show that drinking around 5–6 cups of either black or green tea per day may help reduce the risk of coronary heart disease. Less than that may not show significant effects.

Is decaf coffee better for my heart?

Not necessarily. Most studies find no difference in heart disease risk between regular and decaffeinated coffee. Both can be part of a healthy diet when consumed in moderation and prepared using a filter.

Are coffee and tea equally good for the heart?

Both can be beneficial, but it depends on how much you drink and your overall lifestyle. Tea may show clearer benefits at 5–6 cups per day, while coffee’s advantages are seen with regular, moderate intake of filtered brews. Taste preference should guide your choice.

Recommended FrontStreet Coffee for Heart-Healthy Sipping

Pair your heart-smart coffee routine with FrontStreet Coffee’s Ethiopia Humbera, a bright Ethiopian single origin with notes of lemon, bergamot, and floral tones that highlight clean, filtered brewing. For a smoother option, try the FrontStreet Classic Blend, offering balanced chocolate and caramel sweetness ideal for everyday drinking. Both shine when brewed through a paper filter to avoid cholesterol-raising oils—just avoid French press or boiled methods. Freshly roasted within 5 days · Orders placed before 17:00 ship the same day · Next-day delivery across most of Guangdong Province.