Drinking Black Coffee Linked to Lower Risk of Death, According to Study

Coffee is one of the most popular beverages consumed around the globe, and as such, it is important to understand the impact it has on health. A recent study published in The Journal of Nutrition found that drinking black coffee can actually decrease the risk of death.

Studies on The Health Benefits of Coffee

The recent study’s findings coincide with previous research on the health benefits of drinking coffee daily. For instance, one study in 2018 called “Association of Coffee Drinking With Mortality by Genetic Variation in Caffeine Metabolism” found that drinking coffee over a 10-year period lowered participants’ risk of “all-cause mortality”.

The Study at Hand

The most recent study built on previous findings about coffee’s link to mortality. Researchers from Tufts University published a long-term study in July 2025 titled “Coffee Consumption and Mortality Among United States Adults: A Prospective Cohort Study”. It involved 46,222 participants between 1999 and 2018.

The Goal

The study aimed to explore the relationship between drinking coffee regularly and mortality rates in American adults. It also explained the impact of introducing additives like sugar, creamers, and milk into the coffee. What they found was fascinating.

The Method

The researchers used data from more than 46,000 U.S. adults who were over 19 years old. They categorized the type of coffee into caffeinated and decaffeinated, and then categorized mortality by “all-cause”, cancer, and cardiovascular disease. 

The Results

There were several key findings that came from the study. Namely, the researchers found that drinking one cup of coffee daily correlated with a 16% lower risk of death. They also discovered that those who drank more than one cup per day had an even slightly higher (17%) risk of “all-cause” mortality.

Important Distinction

It is important to note that the link found between coffee and lower risk of death does not mean that drinking coffee actually lowers the risk of death, but rather that there is a correlation, which means we can assume that coffee does have some health benefits that may help lower concerns related to cancers, cardiovascular diseases, and other illnesses.

Black Coffee vs. Coffee With Creamer

The final important discovery from the study was that positive results on health were only related to black coffee. When sugars, creamers, or milk were added to the coffee, the participants showed the same mortality rate as those who drank no coffee at all. The benefits are linked only to black coffee.

A Representative Sample

The new study is an exciting progression of previous research that studies the benefits of coffee on life longevity. This new study used a large, representative sample size of United States adults, painting a clear picture of the connection between coffee consumption and mortality risk.

Other Fascinating Studies

Another recent study conducted recently examined women who drank coffee daily for decades. The researchers found that those who drank coffee daily were more mentally sharp, stronger, and overall more healthy into their 70s than those who did not.