The short answer
After reviewing the evidence, IARC in 2016 classified coffee itself as 'not classifiable' — the data do not show that coffee causes cancer, and IARC saw reduced risks for liver and endometrial cancers. The one caveat is drinking beverages very hot.
IARC places coffee in Group 3, not classifiable as to its cancer risk.
People are mainly exposed by drinking coffee, which is not classified as a cause of cancer.
Research has not established that coffee causes any cancer, and IARC saw reduced risks for liver and endometrial cancers.
A carcinogen classification describes hazard — whether something can cause cancer — not your personal risk at a given exposure.
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The whole article, with every detail and caution.
The simple version
Good news for coffee lovers. After a thorough review, IARC concluded in 2016 that there was no conclusive evidence that drinking coffee causes cancer, and moved it to the 'not classifiable' group. IARC saw reduced risks for liver and endometrial cancers. The one related concern is drinking beverages very hot.
What changed in 2016
Coffee had been listed as possibly carcinogenic since 1991. Then a 2016 IARC review moved it to Group 3. Coffee now sits in Group 3, 'not classifiable.' In the same review, IARC flagged something else. Drinking very hot beverages is probably carcinogenic (Group 2A). That is a temperature problem, not a coffee problem.
How people are exposed
The main ways people are exposed:
- Drinking coffee as part of a normal diet.
- Drinking beverages very hot, which is the one real caveat.
The cancer connection
Research does not show that coffee causes cancer. IARC reported reduced risks for cancers of the liver and uterine endometrium, and many studies showed no carcinogenic effects of coffee drinking for cancers of the pancreas, female breast and prostate. For more than 20 other cancers, the evidence was inconclusive.
IARC is the cancer research agency run by the World Health Organization. In 2016 it placed coffee in Group 3, not classifiable.
What the classification does and does not say
A Group 3 listing describes hazard, which is what something can do under some conditions. It is not a measure of your personal risk. Group 3 also means IARC could not classify coffee either way. It is not a declaration that coffee is safe. It means the existing data do not allow a conclusion either way. The very hot drinks finding is separate, and it is about the temperature of drinks such as tea and maté as well, not only coffee.
Practical notes for coffee drinkers
- Enjoy coffee in normal amounts as part of a balanced diet.
- Let very hot drinks cool for a few minutes before you drink them.
The bottom line
IARC places coffee in Group 3, not classifiable as to cancer. In plain terms, IARC found the data do not show that coffee causes cancer. The habit worth changing is drinking your coffee, tea, or anything else scalding hot. For where any single exposure sits in the bigger picture, see our overview of cancer prevention and what raises cancer risk.
Sources
Common questions
Does coffee cause cancer?
The evidence is not strong enough to say. Coffee is "not classifiable," meaning studies so far are inconclusive — it is neither confirmed as a cause nor cleared as safe.
How are people exposed to coffee?
Most exposure happens by drinking coffee, which is not classified as a cause of cancer.
Which cancers are linked to coffee?
No cancer has been firmly linked to coffee, and IARC saw reduced risks for liver and endometrial cancers.
How can I reduce my exposure to coffee?
The main steps are enjoying coffee normally and letting very hot drinks cool.
Does a carcinogen label mean I will get cancer?
No. A classification is about hazard — whether coffee can cause cancer under some conditions — not a prediction that any one exposed person will develop cancer. Your actual risk depends on the amount and length of exposure and other factors.
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Last updated: 2026-10-16Next planned review: 2028-07-05
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Cancer Explained does not originate medical claims. Every page restates guidance already published by the National Cancer Institute, the CDC, the USPSTF and the FDA, in plain language, with the source cited so you can check the original yourself. AI does the translating and organizing; automated checks test claims, citations, clarity and safety before anything publishes, and this is translation and navigation, not clinical judgment. Nothing here is personal medical advice, and no page can account for your particular situation.
Editorial status: Source checked — This page was written with AI assistance and then compared with the sources listed on it, looking for statements those sources do not back up. That check is not a sentence-by-sentence record and can miss errors. It is not a medical review, and it does not confirm the page is complete or right for your situation.
Human medical review: not completed. Pages here are not signed off by a clinician before they publish. That is not an oversight we are quietly working around: we restate published guidance and cite it, so the authority belongs to the source rather than to us, and every page names where its claims come from — you can verify us instead of trusting us. Where a volunteer clinician has reviewed a page, their name and credentials appear on it; where no name appears, no clinician has checked it. We are glad to have reviewers and are recruiting them, and we do not hold pages back waiting for one. Use this site to understand your situation and to ask better questions of the people treating you.
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