New Study Finds No Link Between Coffee and Hypertension

Concerned that your daily coffee habit might be quietly raising your blood pressure? You’re not alone—many coffee drinkers worry that their favorite morning ritual could contribute to hypertension, a condition closely tied to heart disease and stroke.

Here’s the clear finding: a comprehensive 33-year study of more than 170,000 people shows no strong evidence that coffee increases your risk of developing hypertension, regardless of whether you drink less than one cup or more than five cups per day.

What the Long-Term Study Found

Researchers from the School of Public Health at Louisiana State University analyzed data from six earlier studies, which together followed 170,000 participants for up to 33 years. Each study recorded participants’ daily coffee consumption, ranging from fewer than one cup to more than five cups daily. Over the follow-up period, around 20% of those participants were eventually diagnosed with hypertension.

The analysis revealed no significant difference in hypertension risk between people who drank less than one cup of coffee per day and those who drank more than five cups. In short, coffee intake across a wide range showed no clear connection to developing high blood pressure over the long term.

The Surprising Detail on 1–3 Cups Per Day

While overall coffee consumption showed no strong link to hypertension, researchers did notice one unexpected trend: people who drank one to three cups of coffee per day had a slightly higher chance of developing hypertension compared to those who drank less. However, this difference was small, and the study’s authors emphasized that the reason for this slight increase remains unclear. More targeted research is needed to explore what might be behind this effect.

Why Earlier Concerns About Coffee and Blood Pressure Exist

Coffee contains caffeine, a stimulant that can cause short-term increases in blood pressure, especially in people not used to it. Because of caffeine’s known acute effects, some scientists have long hypothesized that regular coffee drinking might contribute to long-term hypertension or cardiovascular problems. But this large-scale, long-term study suggests those fears may not hold up under closer scrutiny.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does drinking more than five cups of coffee per day increase hypertension risk?

No, according to this 33-year study of over 170,000 people, those who drank more than five cups of coffee daily did not show a higher risk of hypertension compared to those who drank less than one cup per day. The study found no significant difference in hypertension rates across the full range of coffee consumption levels.

What did the study find about people who drink one to three cups per day?

Participants who consumed one to three cups of coffee daily had a slightly higher chance of developing hypertension than those who drank less—but the difference was small, and researchers couldn’t explain why. The overall study still found no strong link between coffee and hypertension risk at any consumption level.

How long was the study, and how many people were involved?

The analysis combined data from six previous studies involving a total of 170,000 participants, followed for up to 33 years. During that time, roughly 20% of the participants developed hypertension.

Why might coffee have seemed linked to hypertension in the past?

Caffeine can cause short-term blood pressure spikes, especially in people not accustomed to it. That led some scientists to suspect that regular coffee drinking might also raise long-term hypertension risk. This study challenges that assumption with long-term population data.

Should people with high blood pressure avoid coffee?

This study doesn’t make specific medical recommendations, but it found no strong evidence that moderate or even high coffee consumption increases hypertension risk. People with concerns should consult their doctor, but the data suggest coffee isn’t clearly linked to causing high blood pressure.

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