In short: caffeine raises blood pressure for a few hours, especially in people who do not usually drink coffee. In most people, regular coffee drinking is not linked to high blood pressure in the long term. But if your blood pressure is very high, 160/100 or more, it makes sense to limit how much coffee you drink and to talk to your doctor about it.
What happens after a cup of coffee?
Caffeine blocks adenosine receptors in the brain and increases the effect of adrenaline. Blood vessels narrow slightly and blood pressure rises. In a meta-analysis that pooled studies of people with high blood pressure, 200 to 300 mg of caffeine, or roughly two to three cups of coffee, raised systolic pressure by an average of 8 mmHg and diastolic pressure by 6 mmHg. The rise began within the first hour and lasted at least three hours (Mesas et al. 2011).
In people who drink coffee every day the effect is usually smaller, because the body gets used to caffeine.
Does coffee cause high blood pressure?
In long-term studies, regular coffee drinking has not been linked to higher blood pressure in most people. The same meta-analysis also found no link between regular coffee drinking and the risk of cardiovascular disease in people with high blood pressure (Mesas et al. 2011).
What you may not know: very high blood pressure
In Japan, more than 18,600 adults were followed for almost 19 years. In people whose blood pressure was 160/100 or higher, drinking two or more cups of coffee a day was linked to twice the risk of dying from cardiovascular disease, compared with those who did not drink coffee. No such link was found in people with normal or mildly raised blood pressure, and none was found for green tea (Teramoto et al. 2023).
This is an observational study, so it shows a link, not a cause. Even so, it is a reason for people with very high blood pressure to go over their coffee intake with a doctor.
How much caffeine is safe?
According to the European Food Safety Authority, up to 400 mg of caffeine a day, and up to 200 mg at a time, does not raise safety concerns for healthy adults. During pregnancy the recommended limit is 200 mg a day (EFSA 2015). A cup of filter coffee contains about 80 to 100 mg of caffeine.
Practical tips
- Measure correctly: blood pressure guidelines advise against drinking coffee, smoking or exercising for at least 30 minutes before a measurement. Otherwise the reading may come out higher than it really is.
- Watch the amount: if your blood pressure is high, agree with your doctor on how much coffee is right for you.
- Notice how you feel: if you get palpitations, a headache or restlessness after coffee, cut down.
- Medication: if you take blood pressure medication, ask your doctor or pharmacist whether coffee is suitable for you, and how much.
Is mushroom coffee better for blood pressure?
Ra Hygge mushroom coffee contains caffeine just like ordinary coffee. The mushroom extract does not make the coffee caffeine-free, and it does not lower blood pressure. A meta-analysis that pooled 17 reishi studies found no effect on blood pressure (Jafari et al. 2025). If you are sensitive to caffeine, choose a caffeine-free drink for the evening, such as Spice It Up herbal tea.
This article is general information and does not replace advice from a doctor.
Sources
- Mesas AE, Leon-Muñoz LM, Rodriguez-Artalejo F, Lopez-Garcia E. The effect of coffee on blood pressure and cardiovascular disease in hypertensive individuals: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Am J Clin Nutr 2011;94(4):1113-1126.
- Teramoto M, Yamagishi K, Muraki I et al. Coffee and green tea consumption and cardiovascular disease mortality among people with and without hypertension. J Am Heart Assoc 2023;12(2):e026477.
- EFSA NDA Panel. Scientific Opinion on the safety of caffeine. EFSA Journal 2015;13(5):4102.
- Jafari A et al. The nutritional significance of Ganoderma lucidum on human health: a GRADE-assessed systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical trials. Food Sci Nutr 2025;13(6):e70423.