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

Worried your daily coffee habit might be raising your blood pressure—or worse, leading to hypertension? You’re not alone. Many coffee drinkers hesitate to enjoy their usual cups over concerns that caffeine’s short-term blood pressure spike could have lasting effects. But what does the science really say after years of regular intake?

Here’s the clear finding: drinking coffee— even six cups a day—does not increase your risk of developing high blood pressure over time, according to a long-term study published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

The 11-Year Dutch Study on Coffee and Hypertension

Researchers tracked 6,400 Dutch men and women with an average age of 40 over 11 years. Participants reported detailed information on their coffee consumption, diet, lifestyle, education, and family medical history. The goal was to observe any links between habitual coffee intake and the development of hypertension.

Key Finding: Six Cups or More Shows No Risk

Women who drank at least six cups of coffee per day had no higher risk of developing high blood pressure over the 10-year period than those who didn’t drink coffee at all. Surprisingly, women who consumed only 0 to 3 cups daily actually had a higher likelihood of hypertension compared to both frequent coffee drinkers and those who avoided coffee entirely.

Why Less Coffee Might Mean Higher Risk

The researchers suggest that regular, high-volume coffee drinkers may become habituated to the temporary blood pressure rise caused by caffeine. In contrast, those who drink little coffee remain more sensitive to caffeine’s pressor effects. This difference in tolerance might explain why light coffee drinkers showed a higher hypertension risk.

What About Men?

For men, the study found no significant association between coffee consumption and blood pressure changes, regardless of how many cups they drank per day. Interestingly, men who completely avoided coffee had a slightly lower—but still relatively small—risk of developing hypertension compared to coffee drinkers.

Does Coffee Cause Heart Disease?

The study did not find that coffee consumption led to heart disease in healthy individuals. However, the research focused solely on adults without pre-existing hypertension or other cardiovascular risk factors. Therefore, the results may not apply to those already managing high blood pressure or related conditions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does drinking six cups of coffee a day increase blood pressure?

No. The study found that women who drank six or more cups of coffee daily did not have a higher risk of developing high blood pressure over a 10-year period compared to non-drinkers or occasional drinkers.

Are people who drink less coffee more likely to get hypertension?

Yes. The research showed that individuals who consumed only 0 to 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 cause long-term high blood pressure?

Caffeine can cause a temporary rise in blood pressure, but according to this long-term study, regular coffee consumption does not lead to sustained hypertension in healthy adults, even at high intake levels.

Do men have the same coffee-hypertension risk as women?

No differences in blood pressure were found among men regardless of how much coffee they drank. However, men who avoided coffee had a slightly lower risk of hypertension, though the effect was minor.

Is coffee safe for people with high blood pressure?

This study focused on healthy adults without hypertension. While it found no harm in regular coffee intake for healthy individuals, the results may not apply to those already diagnosed with high blood pressure or other heart disease risk factors.

Recommended FrontStreet Coffees for Daily Drinking

For everyday coffee enjoyment without worrying about blood pressure, try FrontStreet Coffee’s Classic Blend, a balanced medium roast with notes of caramel and dark chocolate. For something fruitier, their Yirgacheffe single origin offers bright citrus and floral tones. Both are great options for regular intake. Freshly roasted within 5 days · Orders placed before 17:00 ship the same day · Next-day delivery across most of Guangdong Province.