According to a new study published in the journal Nutrients, drinking three or more cups of coffee per day is linked to lower blood pressure.
Three Cups a Day Show the Greatest Benefit
The research found that consuming at least three cups of coffee daily can help maintain lower blood pressure levels. However, even those who drink fewer than three cups a day may experience blood-pressure benefits.
A team of researchers at Sant’Orsola-Malpighi University Hospital in Bologna, Italy, observed that regular coffee drinkers had significantly lower central and peripheral aortic blood pressure than non-coffee drinkers. In their large population sample, those who consumed three or more cups daily showed lower central and peripheral blood pressure—an indicator of reduced arterial stiffness or aging—compared with non-drinkers.
How Coffee Affects Blood Pressure?
Coffee’s health benefits include a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and cognitive decline. But its effect on blood pressure remains debated, largely because of caffeine.
Caffeine is one of many compounds in coffee and is known to raise blood pressure. According to study author Claudio Borghi Cicero, caffeine may indeed cause a short-term increase. Yet coffee also contains powerful antioxidants, including flavonoids such as quercetin, caffeic acid, and chlorogenic acid, along with tannins, which can reduce inflammation in arterial walls and have an anti-aging effect on blood vessels. Quercetin, in particular, has previously been shown to help regulate blood pressure.
Data from 720 men and 783 women—participants in a long-term study dating back to 1972—were analyzed for coffee consumption habits, blood pressure readings, and cardiovascular health indicators. The researchers found that people drinking one to three cups a day had significantly lower peripheral blood pressure than those who drank no coffee at all.
Should You Drink Coffee to Lower Blood Pressure?
Dr. Mohanty, a cardiovascular specialist, cautioned that the study has limitations. For example, the definition of a “cup” of coffee varies by country and culture.
He also emphasized that drinking coffee is only one factor in an overall healthy lifestyle. A balanced diet and regular exercise remain key to maintaining healthy blood pressure. Moreover, these findings were based on an Italian population and may not apply equally across different countries or ethnic groups.
In short, moderate coffee consumption—around one to three cups per day—may be associated with lower blood pressure, but it should be combined with a healthy diet and active lifestyle for best results.