How Coffee and Tea Affect Your Heart Health Over Time

If you drink coffee or tea daily, you’re probably not thinking about your arteries—or how your morning cup might shape your long-term heart health. But a major study now suggests your daily brew could have a measurable impact on your risk of dying from coronary heart disease.

The short answer? Drinking six or more cups of tea per day may cut your coronary heart disease death risk by 36% compared to drinking less than one cup. For coffee, the sweet spot appears to be two to three cups daily, linked to a 21% lower risk of death from heart disease compared to those who drink less than one cup.

What the 13-Year Study Found

Published in Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology, a journal of the American Heart Association, the research tracked more than 37,000 coffee and tea drinkers over 13 years. Participants reported their typical intake through food recall surveys and were grouped by levels of consumption. Researchers controlled for variables including health history, height, weight, waist circumference, and recorded cases of cardiovascular disease and stroke during the follow-up period.

Tea: More Cups, Lower CHD Death Risk

The study found a clear dose-response relationship for tea. People who consumed six or more cups of tea per day had a 36% lower risk of dying from coronary heart disease compared to those who drank less than one cup. However, tea consumption showed no significant protective effect against stroke mortality—regardless of how much was consumed.

While the type of tea wasn’t specified in detail, researchers noted that the study took place in the Netherlands, where black tea is the most commonly consumed type. Therefore, the findings likely apply primarily to black tea drinkers.

Coffee: Moderate Consumption Offers the Most Benefit

For coffee drinkers, moderation appeared key. Those who consumed two to three cups per day had the greatest reduction in coronary heart disease death risk—21% lower than those drinking less than one cup per day. The study did not distinguish between regular and decaffeinated coffee, so the potential differences in effects between the two remain unclear.

Lifestyle Differences Between Tea and Coffee Drinkers

Researchers also observed that tea and coffee drinkers tended to lead different lifestyles. Tea drinkers were more likely to engage in healthier behaviors overall, while coffee drinkers were more likely to smoke and have less healthy diets. These lifestyle factors may have influenced the results, making it harder to isolate the direct impact of the beverages alone.

What This Means for Long-Term Heart Health

Traditional advice for reducing heart disease risk has focused on diet and physical activity—specifically, the American Heart Association recommends at least 30 minutes of exercise most days and a diet low in saturated fat to help manage cholesterol and reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke. This study adds another layer: your daily beverage choices may also contribute to your overall cardiovascular health profile.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many cups of tea reduce coronary heart disease death risk the most?

Drinking six or more cups of tea per day was associated with a 36% lower risk of dying from coronary heart disease, compared to drinking less than one cup. This effect was observed over a 13-year study period involving more than 37,000 participants.

Is there a protective effect of tea against stroke death?

No, the study found no significant reduction in stroke mortality regardless of how much tea participants consumed. The protective effect of tea was specific to coronary heart disease death risk.

How many cups of coffee are linked to the lowest CHD death risk?

Consuming two to three cups of coffee per day was linked to a 21% lower risk of death from coronary heart disease, compared to people who drank less than one cup per day. This level of consumption showed the greatest risk reduction in the study.

Does the type of coffee matter—regular vs decaf?

The study did not differentiate between regular and decaffeinated coffee, so it’s unclear whether one type offers more benefits than the other. Both were included under the general category of coffee consumption.

Why might tea and coffee drinkers have different health outcomes?

Tea drinkers in the study were more likely to have healthier lifestyles overall, while coffee drinkers were more likely to smoke and eat less healthily. These lifestyle differences may have influenced the mortality outcomes beyond the effects of the beverages themselves.

Recommended FrontStreet Beans for Coffee & Tea Lovers

Try FrontStreet Coffee’s Ethiopia Humbera for bright floral and citrus notes, perfect alongside your tea ritual, or Yirgacheffe for juicy berry tones that complement light black tea. For coffee-focused days, their Classic Blend offers balanced sweetness and body, ideal with or without milk. Freshly roasted within 5 days · Orders placed before 17:00 ship the same day · Next-day delivery across most of Guangdong Province.