Coffee is a daily habit for around 66% of American adults, according to the National Coffee Association. Recent research covered by Medical News Today has examined whether moderate consumption may support heart and liver health, with findings pointing to possible protection against cirrhosis, liver cancer, and AFib.

The American Heart Association recently published a scientific statement in Circulation addressing coffee and cardiovascular health. It suggests that 3 to 5 cups per day, measured at 8 ounces per cup, or 400 milligrams of caffeine daily, is generally safe for most adults.

The statement also suggests that consuming up to 5 cups of coffee could help reduce the risk of cardiovascular problems. Its conclusions focus on moderate intake rather than treating coffee consumption as a specific goal for every adult.

A regular, brewed, nonspecialty coffee contains about 9.4 to 20.6 milligrams of caffeine per fluid ounce, according to the statement. Specialty coffees contain 7.9 to 15.8 milligrams per fluid ounce, while decaffeinated coffee contains about 0.25 milligrams per fluid ounce.

Michelle Routhenstein, MS, RD, CDCES, CDN, a preventive cardiology dietitian at EntirelyNourished, emphasized that the findings are not a prescription. “I see it as evidence that, for most generally healthy adults, up to about 5 cups of filtered coffee per day can be compatible with cardiovascular health, but it’s not a recommendation or a target intake,” she said.

Claire Cohen, dipCNM, mBANT, rCNHC, a nutritional therapist at Nat-Nut Nutritional Therapy, also pointed to potential value beyond caffeine. “Black or minimally sweetened coffee, particularly when consumed in moderation, appears to offer benefits that extend well beyond its caffeine content,” Cohen said.

Cohen also stressed that people can respond differently to the same amount of coffee. “However, individual responses to coffee vary. Our genetics influence how quickly we metabolize caffeine, so while several cups may have little effect on one person, the same amount could raise blood pressure, trigger palpitations, or disrupt sleep in someone who metabolizes caffeine more slowly,” she said.

A study published in Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology examined coffee consumption and liver health using data from more than 354,000 adults in the U.K. Biobank. None of the participants had liver cancer or liver cirrhosis when the study began.

After a median period of 13 years, participants who consumed 5 or more cups of coffee each day experienced a reduced risk of certain liver problems. The conditions highlighted in the research included cirrhosis and liver cancer.

Meridan Zerner, MS, RDN, CSSD, LD, CHWC, founder of Meridan Zerner Nutrition in Dallas, was not involved in the study. “The synergistic mechanisms could include that coffee is a rich source of antioxidants and plant compounds that may help reduce chronic inflammation,” Zerner told Medical News Today.

Zerner also discussed coffee’s possible connections with metabolic and liver health. “In addition, the components in coffee have been shown to improve insulin sensitivity and support healthier blood sugar regulation. Regular coffee consumption has also been associated with lower liver fat and slower progression of liver fibrosis, both of which are important because fatty liver disease and cirrhosis are major risk factors for liver cancer,” she said.

Another line of research examined caffeinated coffee among people with persistent AFib. In a 2025 clinical trial, 200 adults were randomly assigned either to consume at least 1 cup of caffeinated coffee daily, or 7 cups per week, or to avoid caffeine for 6 months.

Researchers found that participants who drank coffee had a 39% lower risk of recurrent atrial flutter compared with those who consumed no coffee. Two study authors later wrote in August 2026 that the trial should “strongly challenge conventional beliefs” about caffeine potentially worsening arrhythmias.

Gregory M. Marcus, MD, MAS, professor of medicine in the Division of Cardiology at the University of California, San Francisco, was the lead author of the JAMA study. “It is important to emphasize that these were participants randomly assigned to consume at least 1 cup of caffeinated coffee a day. This is the first long-term randomized trial of caffeinated coffee in general,” Marcus said.

Marcus said the result should reassure patients with atrial fibrillation who already enjoy caffeinated coffee. He added that healthcare providers should not generally prohibit those patients from consuming it based on concerns about their condition.

“This study also opens the door to future studies to determine if caffeinated coffee might actually be a tool to protect against atrial fibrillation,” Marcus concluded. The findings collectively present encouraging possibilities, although the researchers and nutrition experts emphasized moderation and individual differences in response to caffeine.