A widely-publicised study from last month no doubt sparked terror among hot coffee drinkers.
Regular consumers of drinks with a temperature above 65°C are three times more likely to develop deadly oesophageal cancer, compared to those who opt for cooler beverages.
The risk is thought to be due to the way extreme heat alters cells at the top of the food pipe.
It’s bad news for black coffee fans, with the average cup sitting at a steaming 65-70°C. Tea drinkers, on the other hand, get off lightly; most cuppas with a splash of milk aren’t hotter than around 57°C.
The research, by experts from the University of Oxford, is the latest in a series of endless reports on the effect of tea and coffee on our health.
Both have, at some time or other, been hailed for their benefits for preventing dementia, heart problems, and even for accelerating weight loss.
But which is better for you? Here, experts reveal the morning favourite that’s likely to offer the biggest health boost.
Drinking ‘extra hot’ tea and coffee could significantly increase your risk of deadly oesophageal cancer , a major study suggests
Which drink is better for warding off heart attacks?
More than eight million in the UK are living with cardiovascular disease – twice as many as those living with cancer or Alzheimer’s disease combined.
Both coffee and tea have shown promise in this arena, with coffee often assumed to boast the biggest benefit.
‘Coffee contains polyphenols, particularly something called chlorogenic acids, which have been shown to help protect the lining of blood vessels from damage,’ says Ro Huntriss, dietitian and Chief Nutrition Officer at weight loss platform, Simple Life App.
‘This helps improve blood flow and may reduce the build-up of fatty plaque in the arteries, which is a major trigger for heart attacks.’
A 2026 meta-analysis involving 13 studies and more than 600,000 people found regularly drinking a moderate amount of coffee was associated with an eight per cent lower risk of developing heart failure – when the heart cannot pump blood around the body efficiently.’
‘Moderate consumption is around two to four cups daily,’ adds Ms Huntriss. ‘Decaf counts too, as it retains many of the same healthful compounds.’
However, most of the studies linking reduced heart risk to coffee are based on observations – meaning you can’t prove cause and effect.
Diet, lifestyle, smoking status and other factors could have contributed to the results.
What’s more, the relatively high amount of caffeine in coffee could have negative effects for your heart.
‘At high intakes, caffeine can temporarily raise heart rate and blood pressure and may trigger palpitations, particularly in people who are caffeine-sensitive or have uncontrolled high blood pressure or certain heart-rhythm conditions,’ warns Ms Huntriss.
‘More isn’t always better when it comes to coffee.’
International guidance suggests drinking more than four to five filter coffees a day (the equivalent of 400mg of caffeine) could be risky for 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 1.5 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 Ms Ludlam-Raine.
‘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.
‘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
