Brief
Study links extra‑hot coffee to higher oesophageal cancer risk, compares health benefits of tea and coffee
Researchers say very hot coffee raises cancer risk, while moderate coffee consumption may lower heart failure risk, according to dietitian Ro Huntriss.
By Felo News Desk · Published
A University of Oxford study released last month found that regular consumption of drinks hotter than 65 °C triples the risk of oesophageal cancer, researchers reported. The study contrasted typical coffee temperatures of 65‑70 °C with tea served around 57 °C, suggesting tea drinkers face lower heat‑related risk.
What happened
The research examined temperature data for common hot beverages and linked higher temperatures to cellular damage in the oesophagus. Coffee, often served at 65‑70 °C, was identified as the hotter of the two drinks, while tea, especially when mixed with milk, usually stays below 60 °C.
What the reports add
The Daily Mail article notes that the Oxford team’s findings join a broader body of work on coffee and tea health effects, including previous claims about dementia, heart disease and weight loss. It also cites a 2026 meta‑analysis of 13 studies involving over 600,000 participants, which associated drinking two to four cups of coffee daily with an eight per cent lower risk of heart failure. The article stresses that most coffee‑heart studies are observational, so causation cannot be confirmed.
What was said
Ro Huntriss, dietitian and Chief Nutrition Officer at Simple Life App, told the Daily Mail, “Coffee contains polyphenols, particularly something called chlorogenic acids, which have been shown to help protect the lining of blood vessels from damage. 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.” She added that “moderate consumption is around two to four cups daily, and decaf counts too, as it retains many of the same healthful compounds.”
How it came about
The Oxford temperature study follows earlier coverage of coffee’s varied health impacts, such as Felo News’ recent piece on optimal coffee drinking habits (see How to Drink Coffee for Optimal Health) and the report on unusual coffee effects (see Scientists Detail Seven Unusual Ways Coffee Affects the Body). Together they illustrate a growing focus on how preparation and consumption patterns influence health outcomes.
Key facts
- Drinks hotter than 65 °C are linked to a three‑fold increase in oesophageal cancer risk. (dailymail.co.uk)
- Typical coffee is served at 65‑70 °C, while tea is usually around 57 °C. (dailymail.co.uk)
- A 2026 meta‑analysis of 13 studies found moderate coffee intake (2‑4 cups daily) associated with an 8% lower risk of heart failure. (dailymail.co.uk)
- Ro Huntriss says coffee’s chlorogenic acids may protect blood‑vessel linings and reduce plaque buildup. (dailymail.co.uk)
Sources
- [1] dailymail.co.uk — originally reported as “What's healthier, tea or coffee? Experts reveal surprising truth”
