The study, recently published in the International Journal of Cancer, was conducted by scientists from the Cancer Epidemiology Unit, Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford (UK). The research team analyzed data from 977,282 adults to assess the relationship between temperature and the amount of tea and coffee consumed and esophageal cancer.
During the average follow-up period of 11-14 years, there were 2,348 cases of esophageal cancer, including 1,045 cases of squamous cell carcinoma and 1,303 cases of adenocarcinoma.
For regular tea and coffee drinkers, a simple but worthwhile change is: don't drink it when it's too hot.
Photo: PH created using AI
The hotter the drink, the greater the risk.
The results showed that people who preferred to drink tea or coffee at a "very hot" temperature had approximately three times the risk of developing esophageal squamous cell carcinoma compared to the group who drank it at a "warm" temperature. Specifically, the relative risk was 3.17 times.
This is an observational study, so the results show an association but do not in itself prove a causal relationship. However, this finding is consistent with previous evidence regarding the impact of very hot beverages on the esophagus.
High temperatures can damage the esophagus.
According to the researchers, one possible mechanism explaining this link is repeated heat-induced damage to the esophageal mucosa.
The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), part of the World Health Organization, previously classified very hot beverages, above 65°C, as "possibly carcinogenic to humans" (Group 2A), based on evidence linking them to esophageal cancer. However, 65°C is a risk assessment threshold, not an absolute biological benchmark that automatically guarantees cancer.
A study published in the British Journal of Cancer in 2025 also analyzed more than 454,000 people at the UK Biobank and noted a higher risk of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma in people who regularly drink hot tea or coffee, especially when the beverage is served at a "very hot" temperature.
Don't give up tea and coffee just yet.
It's important not to interpret the research findings as a reason to stop drinking tea or coffee. The researchers emphasized the importance of temperature and quantity consumed.
Therefore, instead of drinking it immediately after preparation, wait for the drink to cool down before drinking, and especially avoid drinking it when it still feels burning in your mouth or on your tongue.
Tea and coffee can be part of a healthy diet in appropriate amounts. However, it's best to limit the addition of sugar, condensed milk, or sweet syrups.
For regular tea and coffee drinkers, a simple but worthwhile change is: avoid drinking them when they're too hot. Waiting a few minutes for the beverage to cool down doesn't diminish the enjoyment, but it can help limit repeated thermal damage to the esophagus.