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A cup of coffee is part of many people’s daily rituals, but then one cup often turns into many. How much is too much? Well, experts have confirmed the safe number of cups people can enjoy without it harming your heart health. While caffeine is not entirely bad for you, it should be consumed in moderation as excess consumption can cause several issues, including increased heart rate, heart palpitations or a temporary rise in blood pressure. Fortunately, you can still enjoy a decent amount of coffee every day without causing harm.

The American Heart Association has said that consuming up to 400mg of caffeine per day is safe for most adults and can even be linked to better heart health. The figure amounts to around five cups of coffee.

Gregory M. Marcus, co-author of the paper and professor of medicine at the University of California, San Francisco, added that the number of cups “without added sugar or fillers is safe and does not increase cardiovascular risk”.

According to the research, the five cups have also been linked to a lower risk of several cardiovascular conditions, such as heart failure, heart disease and stroke, and hypertensions and Type 2 diabetes in some individuals.

The lowest mortality risk was observed at moderate intake levels, between two and four cups per day, Euro News reports.

While the 400mg has been equated to cups of coffee, it is important to note that other sources, such as tea, chocolate, fizzy drinks, and medications, also contribute to daily intake.

The authors of the study say that more research is needed on the caffeine intake from other sources.

Professor Marcus also highlighted that it is not a one-size-fits-all scenario with coffee consumption as different factors such as genetics, metabolism, age and past intake, affect how individuals process caffeine.

Additionally, adding large amounts of sugar, flavoured syrups, and dairy products to your coffee can increase calorie intake and counteract the potential health benefits associated with the hot drink.

He said: “Although research suggests that caffeine consumption may be associated with certain cardiovascular benefits for some people, it’s important to remember that there is no ‘one-size-fits-all’ strategy for safe caffeine consumption.

“What may be a reasonable amount for one person could cause unwanted effects, such as heart palpitations, anxiety or sleep disruption, in another.”