A new study published in the European Heart Journal suggests that when you drink your coffee may be just as important as how much you drink. The research found that people who consume their coffee primarily in the morning have lower risks of death compared to those who drink coffee throughout the day.
Researchers analyzed data from over 40,000 U.S. adults, identifying two distinct patterns of coffee consumption: “morning-type” drinkers (36% of participants) who consumed coffee mainly before noon, and “all-day-type” drinkers (14%) who spread their coffee intake throughout the day. The remaining participants were non-coffee drinkers.
During nearly 10 years of follow-up, the morning coffee drinkers showed a 16% lower risk of death from any cause and a 31% lower risk of death from cardiovascular disease compared to non-coffee drinkers. In contrast, people who drank coffee throughout the day showed no significant reduction in mortality risk.
The study also found that the amount of coffee consumed had different effects depending on timing. For morning coffee drinkers, consuming more coffee (up to 3 cups daily) was associated with greater health benefits. However, increasing consumption didn’t provide additional benefits for all-day coffee drinkers.
The researchers suggest two potential explanations for these findings. First, afternoon or evening coffee consumption may disrupt circadian rhythms and sleep patterns, potentially offsetting coffee’s benefits. Second, coffee’s anti-inflammatory effects may be more beneficial in the morning when inflammatory markers are naturally higher.
“These findings suggest that morning coffee consumption may have beneficial effects on cardiovascular health at the population level,” said the researchers. However, they note that more research is needed to confirm these results and understand the underlying mechanisms.
The study’s results could have important implications for public health recommendations about coffee consumption, suggesting that when people drink their coffee might be an important consideration alongside how much they drink.
