The Cancer Truth About Your Daily Coffee That Research Just Revealed
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I'll confess something. Last week I was having my second cup of The AGOSCInator blend (yes, I counted) when someone told me there's a link between coffee and lung cancer. My heart sank. I don't want to sell my customers anything that makes them ill. That's not what DrDazz Coffee is about. But then they explained something fascinating. The link disappears if you adjust for smoking. Heavy coffee drinkers, it turns out, tend to also be smokers. So I did what any researcher worth their PhD would do. I went looking for what the actual evidence shows.
Here's the thing that nobody seems to talk about. The story about coffee and cancer has one of the biggest plot twists in modern health research.
When Coffee Was on Trial
Back before 2016, coffee sat on the World Health Organisation's list of possible carcinogens.1,2 If you're a coffee lover like me (remember, it took 7,198 cups to get me through my PhD), that's a scary place for your favourite beverage to be listed. Coffee growers in Brazil, Colombia, and Timor Leste, the very people we source our beans from, were watching their life's work being questioned.
Then the research caught up with reality.
The Plot Twist Nobody Saw Coming
After reviewing more than 1,000 studies, the WHO did something remarkable. They removed coffee from that list entirely.1,2 But here's where it gets really interesting. They didn't just say coffee was safe. The evidence started pointing in the opposite direction.
Multiple research studies now show that coffee consumption is associated with a lower risk of several types of cancer.3,4 The American Institute for Cancer Research found strong evidence that drinking coffee reduces the risk of liver cancer and endometrial cancer.5 Recent research from 2025 discovered that coffee drinkers had a 24% reduction in cancer progression risk.6
Let that sink in for a moment. The beverage that once sat on a list of possible cancer causes might actually help protect against it.
What Changed?
Scientists discovered that coffee contains beneficial compounds called polyphenols and other bioactive substances.3,4 These natural chemicals have anti-inflammatory properties, help regulate genes involved in DNA repair, and could even inhibit cancer cell growth.7 It turns out that those complex flavours we chase in a perfectly roasted bean, those hints of chocolate and berries and caramel, come packaged with compounds that our bodies actually benefit from.
The protective effects show up at moderate consumption levels, typically around 2 to 4 cups per day.4,8 Which is convenient, because that's about what it takes to get through a productive morning anyway.
The One Real Concern
There is one genuine caution here, but it's not about coffee itself. It's about temperature.2,9 Drinking any beverage, whether it's coffee, tea, or hot chocolate, at temperatures above 65 degrees Celsius is associated with increased cancer risk. So perhaps let your cup cool for a minute or two before that first sip. Patience has its rewards.
Why This Matters to Us
At DrDazz Coffee, we've always believed that ethical sourcing matters. That the coffee growers in Brazil and Colombia and Timor Leste deserve fair compensation for their work. That quality coffee should create opportunities, not just profits.
Knowing that the coffee we're so passionate about might actually contribute to better health outcomes? That makes every carefully roasted batch feel even more meaningful. Our Adelaide-based roasting at Settlement isn't just about creating determined, bold, and luscious flavour profiles. It's about bringing you something that tastes wonderful and does good in multiple ways.
Just what the doctor ordered, you might say.
So the next time someone asks you about coffee and cancer, you can share the real story. The one with the unexpected ending. The one where your morning ritual might be doing more good than you realised.
What's your coffee story? Have you ever worried about your daily cup, or are you one of those wonderfully stubborn souls who never let the headlines shake your devotion to a good brew? I'd love to hear your thoughts.
Shop our ethically sourced coffee here
References
- Cancer Treatment Centers of America. (2023). Can coffee cause, cure or prevent cancer? Available at: https://www.cancercenter.com/community/blog/2023/11/coffee-and-cancer
- ABC News. (2016). Coffee likely only to cause cancer if very hot, World Health Organization agency says. Available at: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-06-16/coffee-can-cause-cancer-only-if-it-is-very-hot-says-who-agency/7515120
- American Cancer Society. (2018). Coffee and Cancer: What the Research Really Shows. Available at: https://www.cancer.org/research/acs-research-news/coffee-and-cancer-what-the-research-really-shows.html
- National Library of Medicine. (2021). Coffee Consumption and Cancer Risk: An Assessment of the Health Implications. Available at: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8562048/
- American Institute for Cancer Research. (2025). Coffee and Cancer: What the Research Says. Available at: https://www.aicr.org/resources/blog/coffee-and-cancer-what-the-research-says/
- Coffee and Health. (2025). Autumn 2025 Research Digest. Available at: https://www.coffeeandhealth.org/health/media-content/news-alerts/autumn-2025-research-digest
- Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. (2025). Coffee - The Nutrition Source. Available at: https://nutritionsource.hsph.harvard.edu/food-features/coffee/
- World Cancer Research Fund. (2025). Coffee linked to lower recurrence of bowel cancer. Available at: https://www.wcrf.org/about-us/news-and-blogs/coffee-linked-to-lower-recurrence-of-bowel-cancer/
- Western Sydney University. (2025). Do hot drinks really give you cancer? A gut expert explains. Available at: https://www.westernsydney.edu.au/news-centre/stories/2025/do-hot-drinks-really-give-you-cancer-a-gut-expert-explains