Benefits of drinking coffee in the morning: what do studies say?
Benefits of drinking coffee in the morning: what do studies say?
Benefits of drinking coffee in the morning: what do studies say?
Many people start their day with a cup of coffee to feel alert and energetic. This effect is mainly due to caffeine, which stimulates the nervous system and reduces the feeling of sleepiness. But does morning coffee have specific health benefits? And what do studies say about the timing of drinking it?
Coffee in the morning and alertness
One of the clearest short-term benefits of coffee is that it helps increase alertness and reduce sleepiness for many people. The European Food Safety Authority notes that caffeine has a stimulating effect on the nervous system and that a moderate intake may increase alertness. But individual responses vary; some people may feel anxious or experience palpitations even with a small amount.
What did the coffee-timing study find?
Published in the European Heart Journal in 2025, a study investigated the timing of coffee consumption and its relationship with mortality. Researchers analyzed data from more than 40,000 adults in the United States and used another cohort to validate drinking patterns.
Drinking coffee in the morning was associated with a 16% relative reduction in all-cause mortality, and a 31% reduction in deaths related to cardiovascular disease, compared with non-coffee drinkers. The same association did not clearly appear among those who drank coffee throughout the day.
However, this is an observational study; that is, it followed people’s habits and outcomes and did not randomly assign them to drink or avoid coffee. Therefore the results show an association and do not prove that drinking coffee in the morning caused the lower mortality. It also does not mean that coffee prevents heart disease or that everyone should start drinking it.
What about coffee’s health benefits in general?
A comprehensive review published in the British Medical Journal examined the results of hundreds of previous analyses on coffee and health. It found that many of the studied associations tended toward benefit rather than harm among adults, but a large portion of the evidence was observational; therefore it does not by itself prove that coffee prevents disease. The outcome is also affected by the amount, the preparation method, and what is added to the cup.
How many cups are appropriate?
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration says that consuming up to 400 mg of caffeine per day is not usually associated with adverse effects in most healthy adults. But the amount of caffeine in a cup varies widely depending on the type of coffee, its size and preparation method; so a specific number of cups cannot be considered suitable for everyone. Caffeine from tea, energy drinks and other sources should also be counted.
As for pregnant women, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends that their consumption should not exceed 200 mg of caffeine per day from all sources.
When might coffee become troublesome?
Coffee may cause anxiety, trembling or palpitations in some people, and it can affect sleep—especially if consumed late in the day or if the person is sensitive to caffeine. So if you notice your sleep is affected, try reducing the amount or drinking coffee earlier. If you drink a lot of unfiltered coffee, such as boiled coffee, pay attention to the preparation method; these types contain compounds that may raise LDL (bad) cholesterol in some people.
Conclusion
The clearest benefit of morning coffee is increased alertness and reduced sleepiness. The association between drinking coffee in the morning and lower mortality in a recent study is encouraging, but it does not prove that coffee protects against disease. Drink it in amounts that suit you, monitor its effects on your sleep and health, and do not treat it as a substitute for medical treatment or a healthy lifestyle.
