A study that followed nearly 400,000 middle-aged individuals in the U.K. for a median of over 10 years found that, compared to individuals who reported drinking less than one cup of coffee a day, drinking four or more eight-ounce cups a day was associated with lower risk of 30 medical conditions (for reference, a Starbucks “grande” equals two cups). The most common conditions were cardiometabolic (including high blood pressure, ischemic heart disease, and diabetes) and gastrointestinal (like stomach ulcers, diverticulitis, and gallstones).
This study confirms the results of many earlier studies suggesting coffee consumption has health benefits. Coffee is a bean extract and contains a number of components that may have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, including phenolic compounds. High intake of decaffeinated coffee was also associated with health benefits, although the association was somewhat weaker.
This study does not prove cause and effect. If you do not currently drink coffee, there is no recommendation to start. If you drink a lot of coffee, avoid brews with lots of added sugar and cream—otherwise, enjoy it.