Science Has Found Even More Ways Coffee Is Good for You – WIRED

By Javier Carbajal, Science, May 4, 2026 5:30 AM

Science Has Found Even More Ways Coffee Is Good for You

A new study shows the mechanisms of how coffee modifies the microbiome, reduces inflammation, and influences mood. Even decaf has its perks.

Are you a fan of coffee but not sure if it’s good for you? Perhaps you’re aware of its well-known stimulant effect but aren’t sure about the other effects it has on your health. A recent study explores how regular coffee consumption influences the gut-brain axis, a bidirectional communication network that connects the digestive system with brain activity. The results reveal a highly complex interaction that goes beyond caffeine.

“Public interest in gut health has risen hugely,” said John Cryan, coauthor of the study published this week in Nature Communications. “The relationship between digestive and mental health is also increasingly being better understood, but the mechanisms behind coffee’s effects on this gut-brain axis have remained unclear.”

Scientists at APC Microbiome Ireland, a research center at the University of Cork, compared 31 healthy adults who regularly consume coffee with 31 non-coffee drinkers. According to the European Food Safety Authority, a “regular” coffee drinker is one who drinks between three and five cups a day, a safe and moderate intake for most people.

The researchers also analyzed what happened when consumers suspended their intake for two weeks and then resumed it, either with caffeinated or decaffeinated coffee. This design made it possible to distinguish the effects of caffeine from the other compounds present in coffee.

“Coffee is more than just caffeine,” said Cryan in a press release, “it’s a complex dietary factor that interacts with our gut microbes, our metabolism, and even our emotional well-being. Our findings suggest that coffee, whether caffeinated or decaffeinated, can influence health in distinct but complementary ways.”

The Surprising Effects of Coffee

One of the most relevant findings was that coffee consumption modifies the composition of the intestinal microbiome. In regular drinkers, changes were detected in the abundance of certain bacteria, such as Eggerthella species and Cryptobacterium curtum, suggesting that coffee favors specific microorganisms. The former are believed to contribute to gastric and intestinal acid secretion, while the latter are involved in bile acid synthesis. APC Microbiome Ireland explains that both bacteria contribute to the elimination of harmful intestinal bacteria, preventing infections.

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