Routines are powerful tools in shaping our health, and few rituals are as widespread — or cherished — as morning coffee. Now, emerging research suggests that the timing of this daily habit may matter more than previously thought.
Coffee Timing Tied to Longevity and Heart Health
A new study published in the European Heart Journal indicates that drinking coffee primarily in the morning may be linked to a lower risk of death from all causes — particularly cardiovascular disease.
According to the findings, people who limited their coffee intake to morning hours had a 16% lower all-cause mortality risk and a 31% lower risk of cardiovascular-related death compared to non-coffee drinkers.
Those who sipped their brew throughout the day or into the evening, however, did not see the same benefit.
As Healthline reports, the study analyzed over 40,000 adults from national health surveys and found that only the “morning-type” coffee drinkers reaped these potential health gains.
Dr. Lu Qi, lead researcher from Tulane University, suggested this may be tied to the body's natural circadian rhythm.
“Morning coffee goes along this cycle, while continued drinking, particularly in the late afternoon, disrupts this cycle and sleep,” he said.
Why Morning Matters — and What We Don’t Know
Experts caution that while the results are compelling, they’re not definitive. The research is observational, meaning it can identify associations, not causes. Moreover, most morning coffee drinkers in the study were white and from higher-income households, limiting how widely the findings can be applied.
Still, there’s some biological reasoning behind the timing. Drinking coffee later in the day can disrupt sleep and affect melatonin production, potentially interfering with heart health in the long run.
Dr. Thomas Lüscher, a UK-based cardiologist, emphasized that the body's internal clock may play a key role. Moderate to heavy morning coffee consumption — two cups or more — was especially beneficial, the study noted.
Yet other experts, like Stanford’s Dr. Abha Khandelwal, remain cautious. “At most, one can say if you are a coffee drinker, consider limiting it to AM hours,” she told Healthline. But she added that much more research is needed before making concrete behavioral recommendations.
A Cup Worth Considering
While this study doesn’t offer all the answers, it adds an interesting layer to ongoing research about coffee’s place in a healthy lifestyle. For those already enjoying their caffeine kick in the morning, it may be a habit worth keeping — just don’t assume it’s a cure-all.
The big takeaway? Timing might just matter as much as quantity when it comes to your morning brew.
