How much coffee is healthy to drink per day?

Drinking up to five cups of American-style coffee per day is considered safe and may lower the risk of cardiovascular issues, including heart failure and stroke, according to a scientific statement from the American Heart Association.

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Consuming up to five cups of American coffee a day (about 225 milligrams) is safe for health and is associated with a lower cardiovascular risk, such as heart failure or stroke.

The association's findings, published in the journal Circulation, suggest that up to 400 milligrams of caffeine daily is generally safe for most people. However, they differentiate this from caffeine consumed in sodas and energy drinks, which can elevate risks of high blood pressure and irregular heartbeats.

Previous research indicates that bioactive compounds in coffee possess antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. These could contribute to coffee's health benefits, such as a reduced risk of type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and heart failure, particularly when coffee is consumed without added sugar, flavorings, or cream.

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Up to 400 milligrams of 'healthy' caffeine per day would be 'safe' and 'seems to be associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular disease in some people'.

While randomized trials show caffeine in coffee is linked to a lower risk of atrial fibrillation, it may also increase the risk of premature ventricular contractions. The presence of cafestol, a component found in unfiltered coffee like espresso and French press, is associated with higher levels of LDL cholesterol, but it is not present in filtered or instant coffee.

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Cafestol... is related to higher levels of low-density lipoproteins (also known as 'bad' cholesterol).