We asked a cardiologist if it’s safe to drink coffee with high blood pressure

Americans drink more coffee than any other beverage, and research has shown that a few cups a day are safe for most people and provide health benefits.

But coffee can cause an increase in blood pressure, so we asked John Higgins, MD, a cardiologist and professor of medicine at UTHealth Houston, if it’s still safe to drink coffee when you’ve been diagnosed with high blood pressure, and if so, how much.

Q: I’m a coffee drinker, but I was recently diagnosed with high blood pressure. Is it still safe for me to enjoy one or two cups of coffee a day?

Higgins: The short answer is yes. Moderate coffee consumption seems reasonably safe for most people with controlled or mildly elevated blood pressure, although answers vary.

Although caffeine has been shown to increase blood pressure in the short term, long-term habitual coffee consumption tells a different story.

Several studies show no increased risk of hypertension with regular coffee consumption. A meta-analysis of 13 cohort studies found no association between coffee consumption and incident hypertension. Another 2023 meta-analysis even found that higher coffee consumption was associated with a 7% lower risk of hypertension.

Research suggests that habitual drinkers develop a tolerance to the effects of caffeine on blood pressure.

The 2025 AHA/ACC hypertension guidelines also do not specify coffee restrictions, and the American Heart Association states that moderate coffee appears safe for healthy adults.

How much coffee is safe?

Although no formal limit exists, evidence supports drinking 1 to 3 cups daily for most people with controlled blood pressure.

It’s important to note that caffeine content varies greatly depending on the brewing method, and you should consider your total caffeine intake from all sources, including tea, soda, and energy drinks.

Keep these tips in mind when drinking coffee:

• Think about what you add to your coffee: Sugar, syrups, and whole milk contribute to weight gain and metabolic dysfunction, which are indirect blood pressure risks that compound the effects of caffeine.
• Avoid coffee after 2-3 p.m.: Coffee late in the day disrupts sleep and independently worsens blood pressure.
• Wait to measure blood pressure after drinking it: This could cause artificially high readings. If you want to test the immediate impact of caffeine on your blood pressure, you can do so at home before drinking coffee and 30 to 60 minutes afterward.

Some people should be very careful with caffeine

Although drinking coffee with controlled or slightly elevated blood pressure seems safe, the main risk comes from untreated hypertension itself.

However, people sensitive to caffeine or those with uncontrolled blood pressure should use extra caution.

You should be especially careful if you have:

Consider having little or no caffeinated coffee until your blood pressure stabilizes in these cases. Remember, coffee is only a small part of blood pressure management. Don’t neglect sodium restriction, exercise, weight control and medications.