Drinking Coffee Doesn't Cause High Blood Pressure, Study Finds

If you’ve ever worried your morning coffee habit might be quietly raising your blood pressure over time, you’re not alone. The concern stems from caffeine’s well-known short-term effect on raising blood pressure—but what does long-term coffee consumption actually do to your cardiovascular health? A major long-term study offers clear answers.

The short answer: Drinking coffee—even six or more cups a day—does not increase your risk of developing high blood pressure. In fact, women who drank 0–3 cups daily were more likely to develop hypertension than those who drank more, or none at all.

What the Study Found About Coffee and Hypertension

Published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, the research tracked 6,400 Dutch men and women with an average age of 40 over 11 years. Participants provided detailed data on their dietary habits, lifestyle, education, and family medical history. Researchers monitored their coffee intake and incidence of hypertension during the follow-up period.

The key finding: Women who consumed at least six cups of coffee per day had no higher risk of developing high blood pressure over 10 years compared to those who never drank coffee. Surprisingly, women who drank only 0–3 cups daily had a higher likelihood of hypertension than both frequent coffee drinkers and non-drinkers.

Why Less Coffee Might Mean Higher Risk

Researchers suggest that regular, high-volume coffee drinkers may become habituated to caffeine’s temporary blood-pressure-raising effects. In contrast, those who drink little coffee remain more sensitive to caffeine, leading to more pronounced short-term spikes—and possibly longer-term vulnerability. This could explain why light coffee drinkers showed a higher hypertension risk.

The study adjusted for other health factors, isolating coffee intake as a variable. It found no evidence that coffee consumption directly causes hypertension in healthy individuals.

Gender Differences and Overall Findings

For men, the study found no significant link between any level of coffee consumption and blood pressure outcomes. Interestingly, men who completely avoided coffee had a slightly lower—but still relatively small—risk of hypertension compared to coffee drinkers. However, the difference was minor.

Lead researcher Dr. Eitelberg of Utrecht University Medical Center emphasized that since the study showed no harm from moderate to high coffee intake, there’s no reason to discourage healthy adults from enjoying coffee. The findings apply only to healthy individuals without existing hypertension or other cardiovascular risk factors.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does drinking 6 or more cups of coffee a day raise blood pressure?

No. The study found that women who drank at least six cups of coffee daily had the same risk of developing hypertension over 10 years as those who never drank coffee. There was no increased risk linked to high coffee intake.

Are people who drink little coffee more likely to get high blood pressure?

Yes. The research showed that women who drank only 0–3 cups of coffee per day had a higher chance of developing hypertension than both frequent coffee drinkers and those who didn’t drink coffee at all.

Does caffeine in coffee cause long-term hypertension?

Not according to this study. While caffeine can cause a temporary rise in blood pressure, regular coffee drinkers appear to adapt to this effect. The study found no evidence that long-term coffee consumption leads to sustained high blood pressure in healthy adults.

Do men have the same coffee-blood pressure relationship as women?

No. The study found no meaningful connection between coffee intake and hypertension risk in men. Men who avoided coffee had a slightly lower risk, but the difference was small and not statistically significant.

Is coffee safe for people with high blood pressure?

This study focused on healthy individuals without hypertension. The findings do not apply to people who already have high blood pressure or other cardiovascular risks. Such individuals should consult their doctor regarding coffee consumption.

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