A widely reported study last month may have alarmed people who like their coffee piping hot.
Researchers found that people who regularly drink beverages heated above 65C are three times more likely to develop potentially fatal oesophageal cancer than those who choose cooler drinks.
The increased risk is believed to stem from the damage extreme heat can cause to cells lining the upper part of the food pipe.
That could be concerning news for black-coffee drinkers, since the average cup is served at roughly 65C to 70C. Tea drinkers may fare better: most cups with a dash of milk are typically around 57C.
The University of Oxford research is the latest in a long line of studies examining how tea and coffee affect our health.
Over the years, both drinks have been credited with potential benefits ranging from dementia and heart disease protection to helping speed up weight loss.
So which morning staple is the healthier choice? Here, experts assess which drink may deliver the greater boost to your wellbeing.
A major study suggests that drinking tea and coffee ‘extra hot’ could substantially raise the risk of oesophageal cancer
Which drink is better for warding off heart attacks?
More than eight million people in the UK live with cardiovascular disease—twice the number living with cancer or Alzheimer’s disease combined.
Both coffee and tea have shown potential benefits for heart health, although coffee is often regarded as the stronger contender.
“Coffee contains polyphenols, including compounds known as chlorogenic acids, which have been shown to help shield the lining of blood vessels from damage,” says Ro Huntriss, a dietitian and chief nutrition officer at the weight-loss platform Simple Life App.
“That may improve circulation and reduce the accumulation of fatty plaque in the arteries, a key factor in heart attacks.”
A 2026 meta-analysis of 13 studies involving more than 600,000 people found that regularly consuming a moderate amount of coffee was linked to an 8 per cent lower risk of developing heart failure, a condition in which the heart struggles to pump blood efficiently around the body.
“Moderate consumption is generally considered to be around two to four cups a day,” Ms Huntriss says. “Decaf coffee also counts, as it retains many of the same beneficial compounds.”
However, much of the research associating coffee with a lower risk of heart disease is observational, so it cannot establish that coffee itself is responsible for the benefit.
Differences in diet, lifestyle, smoking habits and other factors may also have influenced the findings.
Coffee’s comparatively high caffeine content may also create problems for the heart when consumed in excess.
“At high levels, caffeine can temporarily increase heart rate and blood pressure and may cause palpitations, particularly among people who are sensitive to caffeine, have uncontrolled high blood pressure or certain heart-rhythm disorders,” Ms Huntriss warns.
“When it comes to coffee, more is not necessarily better.”
International guidance advises that drinking more than four or five filter coffees a day—the equivalent of about 400mg of caffeine—could be harmful to heart health.
Meanwhile, you can drink between eight to 13 cups of tea before reaching this limit.
Large analyses have identified tea as a life-saver too: One 2024 review involving nearly two million people found that those drinking the most black tea have a 14 per cent lower risk of death from heart disease.
Researchers concluded that one-and-a-half to three cups a day is the ‘sweet spot’ for benefits.
Another research review published in 2021 suggested that the plant compounds flavonoids, in particular flavan-3-ols, found in tea, were a possible reason behind tea’s potential heart-health benefits.
It also concluded that consistently consuming two cups of unsweetened tea per day offers the correct levels of flavonoids to decrease cardiovascular disease risk and its progression.
‘Flavonoids may support the health and function of our blood vessels,’ says Nichola Ludlam-Raine, dietitian and author of How Not To Eat Ultra-Processed.
‘Randomised controlled trials have found small reductions in blood pressure with regular black tea consumption.’
Ms Ludlam-Raine also adds that what we add to our tea matters too in terms of our heart health.
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‘A traditional cup of tea with a splash of milk can absolutely form part of a healthy balanced diet, but regularly adding several teaspoons of sugar increases our intake of free sugars without adding much nutritionally. It’s the overall dietary pattern that matters most for cardiovascular health.’
Winner: Tea
Can coffee really help you stay trim?
Calories in versus calories out is a fundamental rule of weight loss and weight gain.
But experts say many fail to take account of the calories they consume via drinks.
‘Plain coffee is very low in calories, so choosing it instead of a sugary or fruity drink can help reduce overall calorie intake,’ says Ms Huntriss.
‘Coffee may also temporarily suppress appetite, so while it is not generally recommended as a weight-management intervention, it may inadvertently reduce food intake for some people.’
Studies suggest compounds in coffee – not caffeine – may influence gut hormones involved in signalling fullness to the brain.
One Finnish observational study published in August found that those who drank more coffee tended to have less total and abdominal fat as well as more muscle.
Despite participants’ body mass index being similar, those drinking more coffee had less fat and more muscle. This relationship was particularly prevalent in men.
Ms Ludlam-Raine warns that black coffee or coffee with a splash of milk is different from a large coffee containing syrups, sugar, cream or whipped toppings.
‘There’s nothing wrong with adding milk – it can provide useful nutrients,’ she says.
‘But the issue is when large coffees containing lots of milk are combined with several pumps of syrup, added sugar and/or cream, potentially turning what was a very low-calorie drink into something much more energy-dense.
‘Consumed frequently, those additional calories can add up and we have good evidence that frequent consumption of these types of drinks contributes to weight gain.’
There’s scant evidence to suggest that English breakfast tea has the same potential weight loss effect as coffee.
A 2024 review of 22 trials published in the British Journal of Nutrition compared various teas and coffees and analysed the impact on body weight. Black tea showed no significant weight loss effect, while coffee did.
‘Although black tea contains caffeine and polyphenols, there is limited evidence that it directly causes weight loss or helps people to stay lean. Its main advantage is being a low-calorie alternative to sugary drinks,’ says Ms Huntriss.
Winner: Coffee
Caffeine keeps you alert – but can it prevent dementia?
It’s no secret that coffee can sharpen you up after a bad night’s sleep – but can it benefit your brain health long-term, and even ward off dementia?
Perhaps, suggests intriguing evidence.
Last year, researchers from the US and the UK analysed health data from 130,000 people over a 40-year period. Participants were asked to report how many cups of tea and coffee they drink, on average, every two years.
The lowest dementia risk was seen in people drinking two to three cups of coffee – or one to two cups of tea per day.
But, as Ms Ludlam-Raine points out, ‘the research was observational, which means we can’t prove that the drinks themselves are responsible for the lower risk.’
However it is theoretically possible, she adds.
‘Tea contains a range of polyphenols, including flavonoids, which have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties and therefore have a potential role in brain and vascular health.’
When it comes to supporting long-term brain health, tea and coffee can certainly be part of a healthy diet, but the bigger picture is more important.
‘This includes eating a balanced diet, regular exercise, not smoking, moderating alcohol and staying socially and mentally active,’ says Ms Ludlam-Raine.
Winner: Both