This Is The Best Time Of Day To Drink Coffee, And It Might Be Better For Your Heart

If coffee is the first thing you reach for after waking up, science says you might be doing something right. New research suggests that when you drink coffee could be just as important as how much you drink—especially

when it comes to heart health and longevity.A study published in the European Heart Journal, titled “Coffee drinking timing and mortality in US adults”, found that people who drink their coffee mainly in the morning had significantly lower health risks than those who sipped coffee throughout the day or didn’t drink it at all.

Morning coffee linked to lower death risk

The research analysed information from more than 40,000 adults in the United States, collected as part of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 1999 to 2018. Participants reported what they ate and drank, including when and how much coffee they consumed. The data was then linked to death records over about 9–10 years of follow-up.Compared with people who didn’t drink coffee, those who limited their coffee consumption to the morning were:16% less likely to die from any cause, and31% less likely to die from cardiovascular disease.In contrast, people who drank coffee all day did not show these benefits. Also Read: Is Bulletproof Coffee Actually Good for You? Nutritionists Weigh In

Does the amount matter?

Yes, but timing still wins. Those who drank two to three cups of coffee in the morning, or even more, showed a clear reduction in health risks. People who had just one cup benefited too, though to a smaller degree. What mattered most was sticking to a morning-only coffee routine, rather than spacing caffeine intake across the day.

Why mornings work best

The reason may lie in your body’s internal clock. Coffee interacts with your circadian rhythm, which controls sleep, hormone release and energy levels. Drinking caffeine later in the day can interfere with sleep and suppress melatonin, a hormone essential for rest and recovery.Poor sleep, in turn, has been linked to a higher risk of heart disease and early death. By keeping coffee earlier in the day, you allow your body to wind down naturally at night.

Coffee still has plenty of benefits

Beyond boosting alertness, coffee is rich in antioxidants that help protect the body from inflammation and cell damage. Moderate coffee intake has also been linked to lower risks of stroke, type 2 diabetes and certain chronic conditions.However, experts stress that these benefits work best when coffee is consumed in moderation and without excessive sugar or syrups. So if your day starts with a cup or two, you don’t need to quit. Just consider switching to water, herbal tea or other non-caffeinated drinks as the day goes on. Your sleep—and possibly your long-term health—may thank you.Also Read: Morning Coffee May Slow Ageing, But Only in the Right Daily Dose