Does coffee raise blood pressure?

For a few hours, yes. Over weeks of regular drinking, barely. In 5 trials in people with hypertension, 200 to 300 mg of caffeine, about 2 to 3 cups of brewed coffee, raised blood pressure by 8.1/5.7 mmHg within an hour, and the rise lasted 3 hours or more. In a meta-analysis of randomized trials lasting a week or longer, regular coffee raised systolic pressure by 1.22 mmHg (95% CI 0.52 to 1.92). A later pool of 10 trials found no significant change.

Established. In people with hypertension, a dose of caffeine raises blood pressure for a few hours. 200 to 300 mg raised systolic pressure by 8.1 mmHg (95% CI 5.7 to 10.6) and diastolic by 5.7 mmHg (95% CI 4.1 to 7.4) across 5 trials, starting within an hour.

Unsettled. Whether daily coffee raises blood pressure over months is less clear, and it matters less than the short rise suggests. The two pools of randomized trials found about 1 mmHg and nothing significant. The authors of the second rated their evidence low quality and said no recommendation for or against coffee was possible.

What the trials found

The first few hours

The rise after a dose of caffeine is the solid finding, and in people with hypertension it starts within an hour and lasts three hours or more. It matters for when a reading is taken. Regular drinkers react less. In a crossover trial of 77 healthy adults with a mean age of 27, an espresso raised systolic pressure only in the 39 who did not usually drink coffee. The 38 habitual drinkers showed no such rise. That was a single dose in young, healthy people.

Weeks of regular coffee

A 2005 meta-analysis of 16 randomized trials in 1,010 adults, each lasting at least 7 days, split coffee from caffeine. Coffee trials, at a median of 25 fl oz (725 ml) a day, raised systolic pressure by 1.22 mmHg (95% CI 0.52 to 1.92). The rise in diastolic pressure, 0.49 mmHg (95% CI -0.06 to 1.04), was not significant. Caffeine given on its own, at a median of 410 mg a day, raised pressure by 4.16/2.41 mmHg. The trials in that review ran up to 2003. A 2012 meta-analysis of 10 randomized trials found systolic pressure changed by -0.55 mmHg (95% CI -2.46 to 1.36) and diastolic by -0.45 mmHg (95% CI -1.52 to 0.61), neither significant.

People who already have hypertension were tested too, in very few trials. In 3 trials lasting two weeks, coffee did not raise blood pressure compared with a caffeine-free diet or with decaf. Three small short trials are not much to stand on.

Caffeine without the coffee

Caffeine supplements behave differently from the drink. A 2023 meta-analysis of 8 randomized trials found they raised systolic pressure by 1.94 mmHg (95% CI 0.52 to 3.35) and diastolic by 1.66 mmHg (95% CI 0.75 to 2.57). The diastolic rise was larger above 400 mg a day and beyond 9 weeks, and the effect was larger in men.

Green coffee bean extract goes the other way. In a 2019 meta-analysis of 9 randomized trials, capsules of the unroasted extract lowered systolic pressure by 3.09 mmHg (95% CI 2.27 to 3.91) and diastolic by 2.17 mmHg (95% CI 1.59 to 2.75), more in people with hypertension. These were small supplement trials of an extract, and they tell you nothing about a cup of brewed coffee.

Who goes on to develop high blood pressure

Observational data point slightly the other way from the short-term rise. Across 12 cohorts with 321,978 adults, people drinking the most coffee had a 7% lower risk of developing hypertension than those drinking the least, a risk ratio of 0.93 (95% CI 0.88 to 0.97). The association was significant only in the US cohorts. Smokers drink more coffee, and people who feel unwell may drink less, so this pattern cannot show that coffee protects. The 2012 review's five cohorts found a risk ratio of 1.03 (95% CI 0.98 to 1.08), no association either way.

Who should be careful

Not for everyone. If your blood pressure is severely high, be cautious with two or more cups a day. In a Japanese cohort followed for 19 years, people with grade 2 to 3 hypertension who drank 2 or more cups a day had about twice the risk of death from cardiovascular disease of non-drinkers, a hazard ratio of 2.05 (95% CI 1.17 to 3.59). That is one subgroup of one cohort, the trend across intakes did not reach significance, and the study gives no absolute rates. People with lower blood pressure showed no such association, and green tea showed none.

Coffee may blunt felodipine, a blood pressure drug. In a single-dose crossover trial in middle-aged people with normal blood pressure, coffee after 2 days without caffeine left brachial pressure 4.0/3.9 mmHg higher than felodipine alone. Coffee alone raised it by 7.6/4.9 mmHg over the first four hours. The trial was small and the scenario was occasional coffee, so its relevance to daily drinkers is unclear. Caffeine supplements are the other caution, given the larger diastolic rise above 400 mg a day.

The FDA's 400 mg a day, below, is a figure for adults in general and not for pregnancy. EFSA judged that up to 200 mg of caffeine a day from all sources in pregnancy raises no safety concern for the fetus, about two 8 fl oz cups of brewed coffee.

What expert bodies say

The US Food and Drug Administration cites 400 mg of caffeine a day, about two to three 12-fluid-ounce cups of coffee, as an amount not generally associated with negative effects for most adults. It notes that sensitivity varies with medications, health conditions and how fast a person clears caffeine. That statement is about adults in general and does not address people with hypertension. We could not read the EFSA safety opinion on caffeine, and we did not find wording on coffee in the European or US hypertension guidelines.

For a regular drinker with normal blood pressure, the trials suggest coffee makes very little difference. If you have high blood pressure, avoid coffee in the hours before a reading, and if it is severe, talk to whoever treats you about how many cups you drink. More on the drink itself is on the coffee page.

How we searched

What would change this answer

• A trial lasting months that compares regular coffee with decaf in people with grade 2 to 3 hypertension, using 24-hour blood pressure monitoring. We found none registered.
• A test of the Japanese cohort signal in another population. One subgroup of one study is a reason for caution and too little to set a limit.
• A fresh pool of coffee trials. The review that found the 1.22 mmHg rise stopped at 2003.

Sources

1. ev-cfbp-01 · Meta-analysis or systematic review · meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials · n = 1,010
   When coffee trials (n = 18, median intake: 725 ml/day) and caffeine trials (n = 7, median dose: 410 mg/day) were analysed separately, BP elevations appeared to be larger for caffeine [systolic: 4.16 mmHg (2.13-6.20); diastolic: 2.41 mmHg (0.98-3.84)] than for coffee [systolic: 1.22 mmHg (0.52-1.92) and diastolic: 0.49 mmHg (-0.06-1.04)].
   
   Who: adults in 16 randomized controlled trials of coffee or caffeine, at least 7 days of intervention
   Effect: coffee: SBP +1.22 mmHg (0.52 to 1.92), DBP +0.49 (-0.06 to 1.04); caffeine: SBP +4.16 (2.13 to 6.20), DBP +2.41 (0.98 to 3.84)
   Certainty: Older review (trials to 2003); median coffee intake 725 ml/day, caffeine 410 mg/day. Coffee effect on DBP not significant.
   Journal of Hypertension, 2005, 23(5):921-928 (Noordzij et al.) · checked 2026-10-06 · we read the abstract
2. ev-cfbp-02 · Meta-analysis or systematic review · systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials and cohort studies · n = 10 RCTs and 5 cohorts
   Meta-analysis of RCTs demonstrated a pooled weighted difference in mean change in SBP of -0.55 mmHg [95% confidence interval (CI) -2.46 to 1.36) and DBP -0.45 mmHg (95% CI -1.52 to 0.61).
   
   Who: adults in RCTs of at least 1 week comparing coffee with less or no coffee
   Effect: SBP -0.55 mmHg (95% CI -2.46 to 1.36); DBP -0.45 (-1.52 to 0.61); cohorts: hypertension RR 1.03 (0.98 to 1.08)
   Certainty: Authors: low-quality evidence, no recommendation possible for or against coffee in relation to blood pressure.
   Journal of Hypertension, 2012, 30(12):2245-2254 (Steffen et al.) · checked 2026-10-06 · we read the abstract
3. ev-cfbp-03 · Meta-analysis or systematic review · systematic review and meta-analysis of controlled trials and cohort studies · n = 5 trials
   In 5 trials, the administration of 200-300 mg caffeine produced a mean increase of 8.1 mm Hg (95% CI: 5.7, 10.6 mm Hg) in systolic BP and of 5.7 mm Hg (95% CI: 4.1, 7.4 mm Hg) in diastolic BP.
   
   Who: hypertensive individuals in controlled trials of acute caffeine intake
   Effect: SBP +8.1 mmHg (95% CI 5.7 to 10.6), DBP +5.7 mmHg (4.1 to 7.4); onset within 1 h, lasting 3 h or more
   Certainty: Acute effect; 200-300 mg is about 2-3 cups of brewed coffee. Relevant to timing of BP measurement.
   American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 2011, 94(4):1113-1126 (Mesas et al.) · checked 2026-10-06 · we read the abstract
4. ev-cfbp-04 · Meta-analysis or systematic review · systematic review and meta-analysis of controlled trials and cohort studies · n = 3 trials
   In 3 studies of the longer-term effect (2 wk) of coffee, no increase in BP was observed after coffee was compared with a caffeine-free diet or was compared with decaffeinated coffee.
   
   Who: hypertensive individuals in longer-term coffee trials
   Effect: no increase in BP after 2 weeks versus caffeine-free diet or decaffeinated coffee; 7 cohorts found no higher CVD risk with habitual coffee
   Certainty: Only 3 small, short trials; tolerance to the pressor effect is the usual explanation.
   American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 2011, 94(4):1113-1126 (Mesas et al.) · checked 2026-10-06 · we read the abstract
5. ev-cfbp-05 · Meta-analysis or systematic review · systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials · n = 8 studies, 11 effect sizes
   The pooled of 11 effect sizes analysis of 8 studies demonstrated significant increases in SBP (WMD:1.94 mmHg; 95%CI:0.52, 3.35; p = 0.007) and DBP (WMD:1.66 mmHg; 95% CI:0.75, 2.57; p = 0.000) after caffeine supplementation.
   
   Who: adults 18 years or older in RCTs of caffeine supplementation
   Effect: SBP +1.94 mmHg (95% CI 0.52 to 3.35); DBP +1.66 mmHg (0.75 to 2.57); DBP rise with doses above 400 mg/day and duration over 9 weeks
   Certainty: Caffeine as a supplement, not coffee; larger effect in men.
   Clin Nutr ESPEN, 2023 · checked 2026-10-06 · we read the abstract
6. ev-cfbp-06 · Meta-analysis or systematic review · systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials · n = 9 studies
   Results revealed significant reduction in SBP (weighted mean difference: -3.093 mmHg, 95% confidence interval [CI]: -3.914, -2.273; I2 = 0.0%) and DBP (-2.170 mmHg, 95% CI: -2.749, -1.590; I2 = 46.5%) after green coffee supplementation with low heterogeneity among the studies.
   
   Who: adults in randomized trials of green coffee bean extract supplements
   Effect: SBP -3.09 mmHg (95% CI -3.91 to -2.27); DBP -2.17 mmHg (-2.75 to -1.59); larger in hypertensive patients
   Certainty: Unroasted extract (chlorogenic acids), not brewed coffee; many small supplement trials.
   Phytother Res, 2019 · checked 2026-10-06 · we read the abstract
7. ev-cfbp-07 · Observational data · systematic review and meta-analysis of cohort and cross-sectional studies · n = 321,978
   The pooled results of the meta-analysis revealed that individuals with the highest coffee consumption in comparison with the lowest intake had 7% lower risk for HTN (RR = 0.93, 95% CI: 0.88, 0.97; I2: 22.3%) (Figure 2).
   
   Who: adults in 12 cohort studies, Europe, Asia and the United States
   Effect: highest vs lowest coffee: hypertension RR 0.93 (95% CI 0.88 to 0.97); I2 22.3%; significant only in US cohorts
   Certainty: Observational; confounding by smoking and healthy-drinker effects possible. Consistent with Xie 2018 dose-response (RR 0.98 per cup/day).
   Nutrients, 2023, 15(13):3060 (Haghighatdoost et al.) · checked 2026-10-06 · we read the fulltext
8. ev-cfbp-08 · Observational data · prospective cohort study · n = 18,609 in the full cohort; 842 CVD deaths
   The multivariable hazard ratios of CVD mortality among grade 2 to 3 hypertension were 0.98 (95% CI, 0.67–1.43) for <1 cup/day, 0.74 (95% CI, 0.37–1.46) for 1 cup/day, and 2.05 (95% CI, 1.17–3.59) for ≥2 cups/day compared with non‐drinkers (P for trend=0.09).
   
   Who: Japanese adults aged 40 to 79 with grade 2 to 3 hypertension (JACC Study)
   Effect: grade 2-3 hypertension, 2+ cups/day vs none: HR 2.05 (95% CI 1.17 to 3.59); no association at lower BP grades
   Certainty: Single cohort, subgroup finding, P for trend 0.09; green tea showed no such risk.
   Journal of the American Heart Association, 2023, 12(2):e026477 (Teramoto et al.) · checked 2026-10-06 · we read the fulltext
9. ev-cfbp-09 · Randomized controlled trial(s) · randomized single-dose crossover trial · n = —
   After coffee plus felodipine, they were higher for brachial systolic (4.0, P < 0.05) and diastolic (3.9, P < 0.001) and aortic systolic (4.6, P < 0.05) compared to felodipine alone.
   
   Who: middle-aged normotensive subjects, single-dose crossover
   Effect: coffee plus felodipine vs felodipine alone: brachial SBP +4.0 mmHg, DBP +3.9 mmHg; coffee alone +7.6/+4.9 mmHg over hours 1-4
   Certainty: Small pharmacodynamic study in normotensive people; intermittent rather than daily coffee drinking is the scenario.
   Am J Hypertens, 2016 · checked 2026-10-06 · we read the abstract
10. ev-cfbp-10 · Randomized controlled trial(s) · randomized crossover trial (espresso, decaf espresso, water) · n = 77
    Increases of systolic blood pressure were only found in the non-habitual consumers.
    
    Who: healthy adults, 38 habitual and 39 non-habitual coffee consumers, mean age 27
    Effect: systolic BP increase after caffeinated espresso in non-habitual consumers only
    Certainty: Short-term, healthy young people; supports tolerance in regular drinkers.
    Nutr Neurosci, 2016 · checked 2026-10-06 · we read the abstract
11. ev-cfbp-11 · Position of an expert body · government consumer guidance · n = —
    For most adults, the FDA has cited 400 milligrams* a day — that's about two to three 12-fluid-ounce cups of coffee — as an amount not generally associated with negative effects.
    
    Who: most healthy adults, US
    Effect: 400 mg/day reference amount; sensitivity varies with medications, conditions and individual metabolism
    Certainty: Not specific to people with hypertension.
    US Food and Drug Administration, Spilling the Beans: How Much Caffeine is Too Much? (consumer update) · checked 2026-10-06 · we read the section
12. bcof-daily-r4-13 · Position of an expert body · agency scientific opinion · n = —
    Caffeine intakes from all sources up to 200mg per day consumed throughout the day do not raise safety concerns for the foetus.
    
    Who: pregnant and lactating women, EU
    Effect: up to 200 mg caffeine per day
    Certainty: conversion to cups is from FNDDS 96 mg per 240 g
    EFSA, Caffeine topic page (Scientific Opinion on the safety of caffeine, 2015) · checked 2026-09-29 · we read the section