New research shows that people who drank some combination of 7-8 coffee, tea and plain water drinks per day were 28% less likely to die from any cause during the study period than people who drank fewer than four drinks.
Using data from the UK Biobank, the research team grouped people by total daily “drinks” of coffee, tea and plain water only. Compared with the group with under four drinks a day, the estimated risk was about 24% lower at 4–6 drinks and 28% lower at 7–8.
The perceived benefits at the 7-8 drink level also extended to specific causes of death, such as digestive diseases and cardiovascular diseases, although the link was less clear for certain cancers.
The peer-reviewed research — which was published online ahead of print publication in the British Journal of Nutrition — sought to clarify how combinations of different drinks might relate to mortality outcomes.
“Previous studies on the health benefits of coffee and tea only focused on the comparisons between different consumptions,” the authors wrote. “Given the compositional nature of diet, the association estimate lacks a clear interpretation in previous studies, especially when the influences of other beverages are not well-controlled.”
The study builds upon public health recommendations regarding the health benefits of plain water, while seeking to un-silo previously researched health benefits of coffee and tea.
“We remain uncertain as to whether the consumption of coffee and tea is inherently beneficial or if the positive influences are primarily due to substituting other beverages with coffee or tea,” the paper states. “Specifically, it is often recommended that plain water is healthy. Given the health benefits of coffee and tea, whether these beverages should replace plain water or be consumed additionally is confusing.”
In the study, the researchers found that, in addition to water, a near-balanced split between coffee and tea drinks per day — a roughly 2:3 ratio — resulted in the lowest incidence of death from any cause.
The study adds to a growing pile of research tying coffee to longevity and healthier aging. In 2024, an analysis linked regular coffee drinking to a 17% lower risk of death, estimating about 1.8 extra years of “healthspan” on average.
Another 2024 report tracking 400,000+ people over roughly a dozen years found coffee drinkers were less likely to die during the study period. One prominent 2025 paper even suggested morning is the best time of day to drink coffee in order to fend off death.
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