For millions of Americans, the day doesn’t really start until the coffee does. Coffee is the most popular drink in the U.S., according to the National Coffee Association, with nearly 195 million Americans drinking it at least once a week. Whether you brew a pot at home, grab a cup on your commute or rely on a single-serve machine, chances are you have a routine—and you probably don’t think twice about it.But anything you consume every day deserves a closer look. An estimated 30% to 40% of cancers may be preventable through diet and lifestyle alone, which means the small choices you repeat each morning can add up over years and decades. Coffee has had a complicated reputation—praised one decade, blamed the next—but a growing body of research has given scientists a much clearer picture of how it affects long-term health.Related: If You Love Coffee a Latte, Here Are 31 Types of Coffee—From Affogato to ViennaSo where does your daily cup land when it comes to cancer? Does the amount you drink matter? And does it make a difference whether you take it black or dressed up with flavored syrups and creamers? Oncologists have weighed in on what the research shows, along with the habits that could tip the scales in either direction.🩺SIGN UP for Parade’s health newsletter with expert-approved tips, healthy eats, exercises, news & more to help you stay healthy & feel your best self💊How Many Cups of Coffee a Day Are Linked to Lower Cancer Risk?Drinking two more cups of coffee a day was linked to a 43% lower risk of liver cancer, according to a meta-analysis published in Gastroenterology.Dr. Avishek Kumar, MD, oncologist, Regional Cancer Care Associates, previously told Parade that people who drink their coffee black may already have a helpful habit in place. “Several studies have suggested that coffee may be associated with a lower risk of certain cancers, especially liver cancer,” Dr. Kumar said.More recent research points in the same direction. A 2021 study of nearly 495,000 UK Biobank participants published in BMC Public Health found that coffee drinkers had a 21% lower risk of chronic liver disease and a 49% lower risk of dying from it compared with people who didn’t drink coffee. A 2023 review in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences also linked coffee to a lower risk of colorectal, breast and endometrial cancers.Coffee contains more than 1,000 compounds, so it’s hard to pinpoint which ones matter most. One theory is that they help reduce oxidative stress in the body. It’s worth noting that these findings are associations—they don’t prove coffee prevents cancer.Related: Here’s Exactly What Happens to Your Body When You Drink Coffee Every DayWhy What You Add to Your Coffee MattersThe benefit appears to shrink once coffee becomes more dessert than drink. Dr. Mark Ashamalla, MD, chief of radiation oncology, Episcopal Health Services, previously told Parade that the distinction is significant. “Plain coffee is very different from a large flavored drink loaded with sugar, syrups, whipped cream and processed creamers,” he said.Both oncologists said sugary syrups and highly processed creamers can contribute to inflammation, obesity and insulin resistance—all risk factors for cancer. “One sweet coffee will not cause cancer. But a daily sugar-heavy coffee drink can become part of the long-term pattern that increases cancer risk,” Dr. Kumar said.Related: Drinking Coffee Has One Very Surprising Health BenefitTemperature matters, too. “Very hot beverages may increase the risk of esophageal cancer, likely because repeated thermal injury can damage the lining of the esophagus. So I tell people it is reasonable to let very hot coffee cool a bit before drinking it,” Dr. Ashamalla said.If black coffee isn’t your thing, he suggested reaching for cinnamon, nutmeg or cocoa instead of syrups. “Many spices contain plant compounds with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, but the bigger benefit for most people is that they can help reduce the need for sweetened syrups and sugar-heavy creamers,” Dr. Ashamalla said.The takeaway: Keep your everyday cup simple, and save the flavored drinks for an occasional treat.Adapted from Parade’s Oncologists Are Begging You To Stop Adding This to Your Coffee Every Morning by Emily Laurence Sardinha.Up Next:Sources:Kennedy, O. J., Fallowfield, J. A., Poole, R., Hayes, P. C., Parkes, J., & Roderick, P. J. (2021). All coffee types decrease the risk of adverse clinical outcomes in chronic liver disease: A UK Biobank study. BMC Public Health, 21(1), 970.Safe, S., Kothari, J., Hailemariam, A., Upadhyay, S., Davidson, L. A., & Chapkin, R. S. (2023). Health benefits of coffee consumption for cancer and other diseases and mechanisms of action. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 24(3), 2706. This story was originally published by Parade on Nov 4, 2026, where it first appeared in the Health & Wellness section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
