The short answer
Coffee is not classified as a cause of cancer. After reviewing the evidence, IARC removed coffee from its 'possibly carcinogenic' list in 2016, and some studies suggest coffee may be linked to lower risk of certain cancers, like liver and uterine. The real caveat is that drinking any beverage very hot is 'probably carcinogenic.'
Coffee itself is not classified as a cause of cancer.
In 2016, IARC removed coffee from its 'possibly carcinogenic' list after reviewing the evidence.
Some research links coffee to lower risk of liver and uterine (endometrial) cancers.
The real caveat: very hot drinks (any kind) are classed as 'probably carcinogenic.'
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The full explanation.
The claim
Coffee has long been suspected of causing cancer, partly because it was once classified by IARC as 'possibly carcinogenic' back in 1991. That older label stuck in people's minds and still fuels the idea that coffee is risky.
What the evidence shows
After reviewing a large body of newer research, an expert IARC working group concluded in 2016 that there was not enough evidence to classify coffee as a cause of cancer, and moved it to the 'not classifiable' category. In fact, the review noted that coffee drinking may be associated with a reduced risk of some cancers, including cancers of the liver and the lining of the uterus (endometrium). So the modern evidence is reassuring rather than alarming about coffee itself.
The one real caveat
The same 2016 review flagged a different issue: drinking beverages at a very hot temperature (about 65°C/149°F or above) is 'probably carcinogenic to humans,' linked to cancer of the esophagus. Crucially, this is about heat, not coffee — the same concern applies to very hot tea or other drinks. Letting hot drinks cool a little before drinking addresses it.
The bottom line
Based on current evidence, coffee is not a cause of cancer, and it may even be linked to lower risk of a few cancers. The sensible takeaway is to enjoy coffee if you like it, but avoid drinking it — or any beverage — scalding hot. As always, overall lifestyle factors matter more than any single food or drink.
Words to know
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Common questions
▸Does coffee cause cancer?
No. After reviewing the evidence, IARC moved coffee out of the 'possibly carcinogenic' category in 2016, and some studies link it to lower risk of certain cancers.
▸Wasn't coffee once listed as a possible carcinogen?
Yes, in 1991. Newer and larger studies led experts to reclassify it in 2016 as 'not classifiable' — that is, not shown to cause cancer.
▸So what is the real risk?
Drinking any beverage very hot (about 65°C/149°F or above) is 'probably carcinogenic,' linked to esophageal cancer. The risk is the temperature, not the coffee.
▸Can coffee lower cancer risk?
Some research links coffee drinking to lower risk of liver and uterine (endometrial) cancers, though it is not a reason to start drinking it.
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